Dr. S. Luke Flory, Assistant Professor of ecology at University of Florida visited Wuhan Botanical Garden during September 26-28, at the invitation of Prof. Ding Jianqing.

Dr. Flory delivered a lecture entitled “Mechanisms and impacts of non-native grass invasion in eastern U.S. forests"  to the staff and students. His lecture focused on the cause and consequence of an invasive weed— Japanese stiltgrass and the ecological effect of pathogen accumulation. According to Dr. Flory,post introduction evolution and resource fluctuation caused by the fire cycle are the two causes of Japanese stiltgrass invasion.

After the lecture, Dr. Flory held talks with relevant scientists. During the visit, Dr. S. Luke Flory also went to Xianning to take samples of Japanese stiltgrass and observe its distribution.

Dr. Flory is interested in plant invasions, evolution of invaders, community invisibility, periodical cicadas and restoration of invaded communities.

Dr. Flory delivering lecture at WBG (Image by Song Zhichun)