The gray areas are non-forested lands, including prairies, farmlands and urban areas. And when the land was replanted, different types of trees were often used, altering the ecosystem of the area even more. Another influence on the flora in the region has been the introduction of non-native, or nonindigenous , plants. As the area became more populated, people began bringing plants and trees from other regions to plant in their yards and fields. Diverse plant communities that once populated an area and supported a large animal community are often choked out by non-native plants, changing the ecosystem drastically.
Purple loosestrife is one of the most common non-native plants in the Great Lakes region.
Once used in landscaping because of its beauty, purple loosestrife quickly invaded native plant areas and took over riverbanks and wetlands. For example, wetlands infested with purple loosestrife can lose as much as 50 percent of their native plants, limiting food and protection for birds and causing some birds to leave the region altogether. Today, growing purple loosestrife as an ornamental plant is discouraged, and it is illegal to sell it in nurseries in many areas. Ohio Non-native species are not only limited to plants.