Class
Article
College
S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources
Department
Watershed Sciences Department
Faculty Mentor
Karin Kettenring
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
One of the threats currently facing Great Salt Lake wetlands is Phragmites australis. Its rapid expansion since 1987 has displaced native vegetation and changed the composition of plant communities. Removal is very costly and takes multiple years of different treatments like herbicide, mowing, and flooding. To ensure Phragmites australis does not return, native seeds will need to be sown. This experiment is to determine the best seed composition and sowing density. In the USU greenhouse, I will sow four different native seed mixes: 100% desirable perennial natives, 75% perennial natives and 25% fast growing natives, 50% perennial natives and 50% fast growing natives, and 100% fast growing natives. The desirable natives are Bolboschoenus maritimus, Schoenoplectus acutus, Distichlis spicata, Eleocharis palustris, and Puccinellia nuttalliana. The fast growing natives include Bidens cernua, Epilobium ciliatum, Rumex maritimus, Euthamia occidentalis, and Symphyotrichum ciliatum. The mixes will be sown at two different densities, 1,938 and 9,690 PLS/m2, in wetland mesocosms. Phragmites australis will be sown in at 2 different densities, 538 and 5,382 PLS/m2 , with the native seed mixes. Each of these combinations will be replicated 4 times for a total of 64 experimental units. Each treatment will occur in each of the four randomized blocks to account for variability of temperature, light, and wetland reservoir within the greenhouse. I expect that as the fast growing native seed mixture percentage and density increases, so will that mixture’s ability to outcompete Phragmites. Presentation Time: Wednesday, 1-2 p.m. Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/87892002075?pwd=Ym1Tcy9NOVhaaGZWczZWY1JCL3owUT09
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-11-2021 12:00 AM
Revegetation of Native Plant Communities in Great Salt Lake Wetlands: The Effects of Native Seed Mix Composition and Sowing Density
Logan, UT
One of the threats currently facing Great Salt Lake wetlands is Phragmites australis. Its rapid expansion since 1987 has displaced native vegetation and changed the composition of plant communities. Removal is very costly and takes multiple years of different treatments like herbicide, mowing, and flooding. To ensure Phragmites australis does not return, native seeds will need to be sown. This experiment is to determine the best seed composition and sowing density. In the USU greenhouse, I will sow four different native seed mixes: 100% desirable perennial natives, 75% perennial natives and 25% fast growing natives, 50% perennial natives and 50% fast growing natives, and 100% fast growing natives. The desirable natives are Bolboschoenus maritimus, Schoenoplectus acutus, Distichlis spicata, Eleocharis palustris, and Puccinellia nuttalliana. The fast growing natives include Bidens cernua, Epilobium ciliatum, Rumex maritimus, Euthamia occidentalis, and Symphyotrichum ciliatum. The mixes will be sown at two different densities, 1,938 and 9,690 PLS/m2, in wetland mesocosms. Phragmites australis will be sown in at 2 different densities, 538 and 5,382 PLS/m2 , with the native seed mixes. Each of these combinations will be replicated 4 times for a total of 64 experimental units. Each treatment will occur in each of the four randomized blocks to account for variability of temperature, light, and wetland reservoir within the greenhouse. I expect that as the fast growing native seed mixture percentage and density increases, so will that mixture’s ability to outcompete Phragmites. Presentation Time: Wednesday, 1-2 p.m. Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/87892002075?pwd=Ym1Tcy9NOVhaaGZWczZWY1JCL3owUT09