Pupils of the ecological university class of “Vētrungė” gymnasium cleaned the area on Suorių prospekt, near the state company “Regitra”.
Over the course of a few years, the Japanese vole here managed to expand considerably and occupy an area of several tens of square meters. The students said that breaking the stems of a herbaceous plant is not difficult and does not require much force.
“It’s like cutting a cake,” laughed high school student Lukas.
It took the high school students several hours to clean up the area.
It heals very quickly
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Table of Contents
Methodologist Indrė Venskuvienė, a biology teacher at “Vētrungė” gymnasium, said that this educational institution has been taking care of the research and removal of this invasive plant for several years.
In Klaipėda, the Japanese vole is particularly scattered on the banks of the Dane, near the Joniškė cemetery.
About the Japanese vole
- It is a large herbaceous plant of the sour family, originating from East Asia.
- It is a perennial plant that can grow up to 3-4 meters high, with a strong stem.
- Blooms in late summer or early fall. It mostly grows on coasts, roadsides, wastelands, forms dense thickets, and depletes the soil.
- The roots survive even -35 degrees of cold. When cut, it grows back quickly.
- As told by Dr. T.Ruginis, the plant is edible. It is especially popular in Eastern cuisine.
“Two twelfth-graders are writing senior theses about this invasive species. One focused on morphometric parameters, that is, measured the height of the plants and studied the above-ground part. Another student studied the Japanese vole under laboratory conditions.
Since this plant spreads through the root system, the student experimented with root samples on how to reduce the population under laboratory conditions: watering one part with a vinegar solution and covering the other with a dark film.
It turned out that the stems of the roots covered with the film extended, and the surface area of the leaves decreased. Vinegar kills more effectively,” said the teacher.
Aurelijos Jašinskienė / 15min.lt photo/Leaf of the Japanese sedge
In North Avenue, an ecological method of plant destruction was chosen – by simply cutting off its above-ground part. However, the Japanese knotweed reproduces by roots, and according to scientists, this is not enough.
“Vētrungė” high school students at the Joniškė cemetery tried another method of destroying an invasive plant – digging. However, the vegetation recovered very quickly. In the spring, the schoolchildren dug up the roots of the plant, but it was not enough. In the summer, the plant was green again.
“It is invasive because it spreads very quickly by multiplying through the root system,” emphasized I.Veskuvienė.
Scientist: “Hard to eradicate”
Klaipėda University scientist dr. Tomas Ruginis said that the Japanese vole is extremely difficult to eradicate.
Aurelijos Jašinskienės / 15min.lt photo/Dr. Tomas Ruginis says that the shoots of the Japanese gorse can stretch several meters
“It also ‘crowds out’ other plants.” When it takes root, there are practically no other plants left. The root is so strong that it can lift both asphalt and tiles. And if it reproduces, it is very difficult to use it, and chemicals are also needed,” said the scientist.
It is noticeable that this plant is rarely destroyed in cities – haymakers often do not have the appropriate equipment for this.
According to T. Ruginis, the plant from Asia could spread through the lands in Lithuania, a small part of the root was enough. The plant spreads uncontrollably, cutting out the woody parts is quite difficult.
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#Klaipėda #schoolchildren #began #destroy #invasive #bamboo #immovable #spreads #plague
2024-09-14 22:41:23
– How are students from “Vētrungė” Gymnasium contributing to environmental conservation in Klaipėda?
Here is a comprehensive and SEO-optimized article on the topic:
Title: Students from “Vētrungė” Gymnasium Clean Up Invasive Japanese Vole in Klaipėda
Meta Description: Students from “Vētrungė” Gymnasium in Klaipėda take action against the invasive Japanese vole, cleaning up the area on Suorių prospekt near the state company “Regitra”.
Keywords: Japanese vole, invasive species, Klaipėda, “Vētrungė” Gymnasium, ecological university class, students, environment, conservation.
Article:
Pupils from the ecological university class of “Vētrungė” gymnasium in Klaipėda took a proactive approach to protecting their environment by cleaning up an area infested with the invasive Japanese vole (Fallopia japonica) on Suorių prospekt, near the state company “Regitra”.
Over the course of a few years, the Japanese vole had expanded considerably, occupying an area of several tens of square meters. The students found that breaking the stems of the herbaceous plant was not difficult and did not require much force. ”It’s like cutting a cake,” laughed high school student Lukas. The cleanup operation took several hours, but the students were determined to make a difference.
Image: [Image of the Japanese vole stems, with caption “Aurelijos Jašinskienės / 15min.lt photo/The stems of this herbaceous plant resemble bamboo”]
It Heals Very Quickly
Methodologist Indrė Venskuvienė, a biology teacher at “Vētrungė” Gymnasium, explained that the educational institution has been taking care of the research and removal of this invasive plant for several years. She emphasized that the Japanese vole heals very quickly, making it a challenging species to eradicate.
Japanese Vole: An Invasive Species
The Japanese vole is a large herbaceous plant of the sour family, originating from East Asia. It is a perennial plant that can grow up to 3-4 meters high, with a strong stem. It blooms in late summer or early fall, and mostly grows on coasts, roadsides, wastelands, forming dense thickets and depleting the soil. The roots survive even -35 degrees of cold, and when cut, it grows back quickly.
Interesting Facts:
The Japanese vole is edible and is especially popular in Eastern cuisine, according to Dr. T. Ruginis.
Two twelfth-graders from “Vētrungė” Gymnasium are writing senior theses about this invasive species, with one focusing on morphometric parameters and the other studying the Japanese vole under laboratory conditions.
Student Research:
One of the students experimented with root samples to reduce the population under laboratory conditions. The experiment involved watering one part with a vinegar solution and covering the other with a dark film. The results showed that the stems of the roots covered with the film extended, and the surface area of the leaves decreased. Vinegar killed more effectively, said the teacher.
Conclusion:
The cleanup operation by the students from “Vētrungė” Gymnasium is a great example of environmental stewardship and community engagement. By working together, we can make a difference in protecting our environment and preserving biodiversity. The fight against invasive species like the Japanese vole requires continued effort and dedication, but with the help of young minds, we can make a positive impact on our ecosystem.
Pervasive plant that can cause ecological harm and damage to native species.
High School Students Take on the Invasive Japanese Vole in Klaipėda
In a commendable effort to contribute to environmental conservation, pupils from the ecological university class of “Vētrungė” gymnasium in Klaipėda, Lithuania, recently cleaned up an area on Suorių prospekt, near the state company “Regitra”. The area had been overrun by the invasive Japanese vole, a herbaceous plant that had expanded significantly over the past few years.
A Weed that’s Hard to Eradicate
The Japanese vole, also known as Japanese knotweed, is a
