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The San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge provides vital year-round habitat for a diverse population of birds, animals and fish. Its bottomland forests, coastal prairies, ponds, lakes, and salt marshes also provide essential winter habitat for over 237 species of migratory birds.
Chinese tallow is one of the major invasive plant species threatening San Bernard NWR. A fast-growing deciduous tree, Chinese tallow has diamond-shaped leaves and flowers that range from yellow to scarlet and maroon, depending on the season. Forest patches of Chinese tallow crowd out native vegetation and reduce habitat for native insects, thus providing poor stopover areas for migratory birds. As the leaves drop into aquatic systems and decay, the resulting excess of mineral nutrient disturbs the native balance.
Water hyacinth also poses a major threat to San Bernard's freshwater habitats. Believed to be native to the Amazon River basin, it has been used as an ornamental in ponds and water gardens, but has rapidly spread and become a serious weed. Water hyacinth forms dense mats and impedes water flow, while excluding all other plants.
Click on any photo for a larger view.
All photos provided by Mandy Tu
of The Nature Conservancy
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