for the Tidal Hudson River and the Northeastern States

Abstract. Phragmites australis (common reed) is an invasive marsh plant spreading in many wetlands on and near the tidal Hudson River. Phragmites is generally considered a pest with low value to wildlife and threatening rare plants, but scientific documentation is ambivalent. Some organisms are favored by Phragmites invasion and some are not. Phragmites appears to have considerable value for water quality amelioration and soil stabilization. Ecological functions of Phragmites vary greatly depending on site and stand factors. Important site factors include depth and duration of flooding, salinity, soil organic matter content, and microtopography; important stand factors include Phragmites height, density, dominance, prevalence of inflorescences (tassels), vine loads, presence of trees or shrubs, stand size, and interspersion of Phragmites patches with other plant communities. Phragmites is often encouraged by, and a symptom of, underlying problems, such as siltation, nutrient loading, and hydrological alteration. Yet Phragmites does not necessarily indicate poor habitat quality. Many restoration and management projects seek to remove Phragmites despite poor understanding of its ecology, the nontarget impacts of removal, and the sustainability of alternate species. I conducted a review and synthesis of information pertinent to the ecology and management of Phragmites on the Hudso