APES Scavenger Hunt by Elise Poole

INVASIVE

ep269 — 2025-08-24 16:56:06 UTC

Common Name: Running Bamboo

Scientific Name: Phyllostachys aurea

Native Habitats & Range: East Asia, Oceania - Can also be found in Sub-Saharan Africa

Impact: Running bamboo can have a positive effect on our environment due to its ability to conserve water in its root system, as well as helping stabilize the soil preventing erosion. However, running bamboo imposes problems as well. Due to its aggressive spread it can displace many native plant species and cause a decrease in biodiversity.

INVASIVE

ep269 — 2025-08-24 16:56:57 UTC

Common Name: Japanese Barberry

Scientific Name: Berberis thunbergii

Native Habitats & Range: Japan & East Asia - Also has a presence in Canada

Impact: Japanese Barberry can have a positive impact on the environment as its roots are so dense that it reduces erosion. However, Japanese Barberry alters soil chemistry by changing the pH in the soil causing native plants to be less able to grow in that same soil.

NATIVE PLANT

ep269 — 2025-08-24 16:57:34 UTC

Common Name: Magnolia

Scientific Name: Magnolia grandiflora

Native Habitats & Range: Southeastern United States - Can lead all the way up to New York and Massachusetts

Impact: Since Magnolias are a native species they provide habitat support as well as food for some native animal species. Magnolias leaf litter also contributes to organic matter in the soil and overall helps strengthen the soil.

NATIVE PLANT

ep269 — 2025-08-24 16:58:16 UTC

Common Name: Weeping Eastern White Pine

Scientific Name: Pinus strobus

Native Habitats & Range: Ranges from Canada to the southeastern United States

Impact: Weeping Eastern White Pine is impactful for many reasons as it helps provide a habitat for native wildlife and its contribution to biodiversity.

NATIVE ANIMAL

ep269 — 2025-08-24 16:58:46 UTC

Common Name: Eastern Cottontail

Scientific Name: Sylvilagus floridanus

Native Habitats & Range: Eastern United States - Can also be found in Mexico and Southern Canada

Impact: The Eastern Cottontail is a common food source for predators, playing a vital role in the food chain. The Eastern Cottontail also is beneficial for seed dispersal as they help disperse through their droppings.

NATIVE ANIMAL

ep269 — 2025-08-24 17:01:05 UTC

Common Name: White-tailed Deer

Scientific Name: Odocoileus virginianus

Native Habitats & Range: Commonly found in North America, Central America, and even some parts of South America

Impact: Although white-tailed deer are native to the Northeast, they do not provide as many benefits due to their abundance. Oftentimes, the deer overgraze, which hinders forest regeneration and limits biodiversity.

HUMAN IMPACT

ep269 — 2025-08-24 17:01:53 UTC

Pollution/Litter: Humans will often pollute our own environment by not picking up after ourselves, leaving trash, debris, and other junk in nature around us. This contributes to our environment negatively, as the trash is widely available to wildlife around us. Oftentimes, animals will consume plastic or other litter, leading to health problems and ultimately death. As this issue rises, not only will the environment and soil feel the effects of the harmful chemicals within the junk, but our wildlife population will start to decline.

HUMAN IMPACT

ep269 — 2025-08-24 17:02:35 UTC

Roundup Weed Killer: People often use products like RoundUp to garden and get rid of any pesky weeds that have infiltrated their gardens. While this can be useful to upkeep the aesthetic of one's home, RoundUp causes lots of negative harm to the environment. The chemicals in the weedkiller disturb the soil by reducing beneficial microbes as well as decomposing the biodiversity over a long period of time. The weed killer is also harmful because the chemicals infiltrate run-off after there has been rainfall. The chemicals in the water are typically transported to creeks and rivers, which then disturbs the habitat of aquatic creatures.