Trending: black ash (Fraxinus nigra) — 294 observations this week
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Native Plants
Black ash trees woven into the soggy edges of northern swamps and river corridors are disappearing faster than most people realize — and every observation logged right now helps conservationists map what's left before the emerald ash borer takes the rest.
Black ash is a native tree that grows in wet, boggy areas across the northern US and Canada. It's been heavily hit by an invasive beetle called the emerald ash borer, which has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees. This week, nearly 300 people spotted and documented black ash in the wild, which helps scientists and conservationists track where surviving trees still exist.
Key Findings
294 research-grade observations of black ash were recorded on iNaturalist in a single week, placing it among the most-observed plant species.
Black ash is a wetland-specialist native tree critically threatened by the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), which has devastated North American ash populations.
Citizen-science observation spikes like this can serve as early-warning signals or reflect seasonal phenology windows when the species is most identifiable.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Black ash (Fraxinus nigra) is one of the most-observed plants on iNaturalist this week, with 294 research-grade observations logged. This native wetland tree, already under severe pressure from the invasive emerald ash borer, is drawing heightened attention from naturalists across its range.
Abstract Preview
black ash is among the most observed plant species this week with 294 research-grade observations.
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Species Mentioned
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