Analysis of the risk of Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) to the state of Oklahoma

Abstract

Invasive species have profound impacts on the wildlife of the habitats they invade. One such invasive that has had an impact on the state of Oklahoma is Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.). This vine suppresses the growth of new seedlings and young plants by twining around them thus cutting off circulation of water and nutrients within the plant and reducing the sunlight available to the host plant. The vine has become one of the most prevalent invasive plant in the southeastern United States. The purpose of this project was to provide a guide for identifying the plant, map the current distribution of the plant throughout the state, and develop a plan to contain and reduce the density of the vine in habitats where it already exists. To meet these objectives, the vine was observed at Lake Sanborn in Stillwater alongside 2 other species of the genus. In addition to this, scientific literature was synthesized to provide a broader understanding of how the vine interacts with native ecosystems. While complete eradication of the vine within the state is economically impractical, efforts to suppress the vine are necessary to preserve the state's natural resources.