Group

Knotweed

Research Questions: What are the impacts of knotweed on our ecosystems? How do knotweed populations compare across our region? Are knotweed populations changing over time and in relation to climate change? How can we manage knotweed populations?

Why this matters

Invasive knotweed is disrupting ecosystems across the Gulf of Maine watershed. We need more data to understand how knotweed populations are changing so that we can find ways to control it.

Season

Fall

Knotweed

Protocol Overview:

  1. Find a patch of knotweed to monitor.
  2. Estimate the size of the patch.
  3. Lay a transect across the patch and place quadrats at even intervals along the transect.
  4. Scan your quadrat for ants.
  5. Identify the species of knotweed as Japanese, giant, or a hybrid species.
  6. Count and record the number of knotweed stems in the quadrat.
  7. Estimate the height of the tallest stem.

Resources: