It's basic to my research. Mehrhoff, who specializes in plant ecology and plant geography, has been documenting the spread of non-native invasives around New England for 25 years. But instead, he explains, its function is like that of a library. Every single sheet in here represents a single plant's distribution at a certain vignette of time. What that does is provide an historical record, a composite record of the distribution of the species in space and time.
Scientists believe the current global rate of plant extinction is unprecedented.
Since the 1800s, the United States has lost close to 200 plant species. These plants are disappearing because humans are destroying their habitats. Native plants are an integral part of all ecosystems, says Mehrhoff. Each species belongs to a carefully balanced system that supports other species. In a healthy ecosystem, plant and animal species interact to keep the system working properly.