ALWAYS
ASK

WHO?
WHAT? 
WHEN?
WHERE?
and WHY? 

Start
 mapping

So, now we know about what kind of problems invasive plants and even some common ornamental plants can cause. Have you seen any of these plants in your community? What about in other parts of the state that you have visited? Where are invasive plants in Alaska? Lets find out!

1. First check out the statewide (All Alaska) map of the four common invasive plants: orange hawkweed, butter and eggs, common tansy and oxeye daisy. Where are most of the invasive plants recorded?

2. Now click to zoom in on each of the following regions and record how many of the four species were reported in that region.
Fairbanks:
Mat-Su Valley:
Anchorage:
What area seems to have the most records? How could you explain the pattern? What about the number of species reported?

3. Make some guesses about the Southeast. Do you think there will be all of the species recorded there? Why or why not?

Click to zoom in to the Southeast from the All Alaska map. What do you think about the distribution of the recorded locations? Are there very many?

Now, you have two options - the northern section (Juneau, Haines and Sitka) or the southern section (Ketchikan and Petersburg). Compare these. Are the reported locations scattered or clustered? How does this compare with Kodiak Island?

4. Now lets look at the Kenai Peninsula - click on it from the All Alaska map. Do you see any patterns? Let's look closer and prepare a graph of the # of species and # of reported locations of invasives in:
Anchor Point:
Hope:
Homer:
Kenai/Soldotna:

Now your on your own! Check out some of the other areas, learn about some of the other invasive plants in Alaska and what you can do to help...

INTRO: Invasive Plants
Taking Root in AK

Exercises, Discussion Topics
and More

USDA Plants Database

AK Natural Heritage Program

Statewide CNIPM

Cooperative Weed 
Management Area