Purple Loosestrife?
Where do they come from?
Where in Michigan are they?
How did it get in Michigan?
What do they eat?
Why is iit well adapted/thriving in michigan?
Harmful effects on michigan ecosystems
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Purple loosestrife aka Lythrum salicaria was introduced to the eastern half of the US as a garden species and for its medicinal purposes in the early 1800's.Shortly after its introduction the plant began to spread in our wetlands ditches and other moist areas.
It is native to the Eurasian area,especially southeast Europe and the Balkan peninsula.
This highly invasive plant can be found in the Great lakes region in Michigan. It adapts well not only because of the moisture but the numerous seeds that are produced by one plant.
The of the effects on the ecosystem are that native plant communities are reduced drastically and because of that wildlife species are forced to find food and shelter elsewhere.It can also effect spawning of some species of fish.
I can't tell you what they eat but for biological control several species of insects from Europe are being tried for long term control.
I'm sorry you didn't get my answer sooner and I do hope this helps you.
I should be able to help you on this because I was assigned to write a paper on the Purple Loosestrife for my Biology class in college 7 years ago!
But my report was erased from the floppy disk accidentally. I still have have the disk, though, labeled: "I hate the Purple Loosestrife!" Sorry!
Lol!
Good luck!
You have to be careful here. In America purple loosestrife means something different to what it does in Europe. In Europe it applies only to Lythrum salicaria, while in America it may also be used as a common name for Epilobium augustifolium.
Here are the Wikipedia entries for both of those species:
L. salicaria - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_loosestrife
E. augustifolium - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosebay_willowherb
L. salicaria is a wildflower native to Europe which only grows in very damp environments, typically beside rivers. E. augustifolium is an invasive weed, native to both Europe and USA, which spreads rapidly on disturbed ground.
They are native in Eurasia.
Here you find a lot of informations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_loosestrife
http://www.nps.gov/plants/ALIEN/fact/lysa1.htm
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/veg/pla...
http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/pp/index.html
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:pWvg7DRz1qYJ:ww...
Hope, you find all, you need.