APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE: Survey of Exotic Vascular Plants

Tillinghast, Emily

A 1993 survey of vascular flora of the Apostle Islands found 37 state listed species (Judziewicz 1993). These threatened, endangered, and rare species occur in the rockscapes, clayscapes, old growth forest, and sandscapes of the Apostle Islands. Both these habitats and plants are threatened by infestations of non- native invasive plants and rare species appear to be particularly vulnerable to the changes brought about by non-native plants (Randall 2000). A survey of exotic plants was performed in 1999 by Emmet Judziewicz. He focused his survey on the cultural and historic areas in the park. He found that “these habitats, comprising docks, campgrounds, lighthouse stations, old agricultural areas, and the vicinities of private residences, constitute the greatest reservoir for exotics in the Lakeshore.” (Judziewicz 2000) This report updates the 1999 Judziewicz survey and gives exotic plant population estimates and percent coverage in the cultural, historic, and developed areas of the park.