Hybrid Phragmites in Georgian Bay

By Laura Thipphawong

Staff Member Erin Allen in a hybrid Phragmites patch

Georgian Bay Forever has been managing invasive Phragmites for nearly thirteen years in the Georgian Bay area. Over these years, we have become well-versed in identifying native versus invasive Phragmites, and dealing with the massive patches of hazardous and pervasive stands of the invasive variety. Over the recent years, however, we’ve noticed that identifying the difference has become increasingly more challenging, so last year we decided to send some particularly hard-to-identify samples to the Invasive Species Centre for DNA testing. The news was shocking—a hybrid species of native and invasive Phragmites.

Structure of the seedheads when upright. From left to right: native seedhead(smallest, somewhat densely packed, weak/does not hold upright shape), confirmed hybrid seedhead (large but loosely packed and fanned out), invasive seedhead (large with dense clustering of seeds, retains upright shape).

The implications are alarming, as hybrid Phragmites have the potential to combine the invasive’s powerful capability to spread with the native’s ability to adapt. Invasive Phragmites already pose immeasurable threats to the local environment, by eroding coastlines, affecting water levels, increasing the risks of drought and fire, depleting wildlife habitat, and blocking shorelines. From an economic standpoint, they depreciate property and reduce access to water-based recreation, while impeding the view and taking over the rugged and biodiverse coastline we all know and love.

A native Phragmites patch off of Beausoleil Island - The shorter, sparser patches of native Phragmites are not hazardous to the environment, compared to the tall, dense monocultures of invasive Phragmites

GBF summer student, Madi, holding a painted turtle - We do seasonal work to conserve and report on the turtle population in Georgian Bay wetlands. Invasive Phragmites poses a significant threat to the already threatened turtle population all over Ontario.

As the first organization in Canada to officially confirm the discovery of hybrid Phragmites, and as Ontario’s leading Phragmites management team dedicated to the Georgian Bay area, we will continue to monitor and research this new breed of invasive species. Every year, our team of Phragbusters made up of staff and volunteers map, cut, and eradicate hundreds of invasive Phragmites stands in the Georgian Bay wetlands and coastal areas. With the ongoing help of our donors and volunteers, we will continue to learn, grow, and adapt as we work for the betterment of Georgian Bay’s ecosystem.

Our Phragbusters off to work on manually cutting (the least destructive and most sustainable form of Phragmites management) an invasive Phragmites patch.