Sericea lespedeza is an aggressive invasive plant which can suppress and displace native plant species in grasslands and prairies in the United States. The goal of the study is to determine how large the seed bank of lespedeza might be. Furthermore, the author tries to determine if a pre-emergent herbicide treatment could suppress Lespedeza germination and whether this provided benefits to a typical native species propagated into the site.
In the work, the author first characterized the soil seed bank at different invaded sites on SIUE campus using the seedling emergence method. In the second part, the author assessed the success of a pre-emergent herbicide in preventing the germination of lespedeza seed bank after lespedeza removal. The growth of a native grass (Sorghastrum nutans) as a replacement species has also been evaluated.
Currently Sericea lespedeza is rapidly spreading throughout the U.S and has been estimated to eventually invade about 61percent of the total land area. Lespedeza has become a successful colonizer because of its ability to tolerate and thrive under a wide range of environmental and soil conditions. Once established, lespedeza is very difficult to remove due to its persistent seed bank which can remain viable for years. To successfully control lespedeza, we must find effective ways to suppress or kill seeds in the soil, but this has received little research attention.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- INTRODUCTION
- Overview of Invasive Plants in United States: Upper Midwest
- Distribution and Occurrence of Invasive Plants in The Upper Midwest
- Ecological and Economic Impacts of Invasive Plants
- Restoration of Grassland in North America
- Distribution and Occurrence of Sericea Lespedeza in The United States
- Botanical and Ecological Characteristics of Sericea Lespedeza
- Study Questions / Objectives
- METHODS
- Study Areas
- Soil Seed Bank Sampling
- Greenhouse Seed Bank Procedure
- Field Treatment Experiment
- Data Analysis
- RESULTS
- Seed Bank
- Effect of Pre-Emergent Herbicides on The Performance of Height and Stem Count of Indian Grass
- Effect of Pre-Emergent Herbicide on The Emergence and Cover of Lespedeza Seedlings
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This thesis explores the ecological implications of the invasive plant Sericea Lespedeza in grasslands and prairies of the United States, focusing on its ability to suppress native plant species. The work aims to characterize the seed bank dynamics of Sericea Lespedeza in invaded sites and assess the effectiveness of a pre-emergent herbicide in controlling its germination and promoting the growth of native grasses as replacement species.
- The ecological impacts of invasive plants in the Upper Midwest
- The distribution and occurrence of Sericea Lespedeza in the United States
- The characteristics of Sericea Lespedeza seed banks and their impact on restoration efforts
- The effectiveness of pre-emergent herbicides in controlling Sericea Lespedeza germination
- The potential of native grasses as replacement species for Sericea Lespedeza in grassland restoration
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The Introduction chapter provides a general overview of invasive plants in the United States, focusing on the Upper Midwest region. It discusses the ecological and economic impacts of invasive species, highlighting the challenges they pose to biodiversity and ecosystem function. The chapter then delves into the specific case of Sericea Lespedeza, exploring its distribution, botanical characteristics, and ecological impacts. The chapter concludes by outlining the research questions and objectives of the thesis.
The Methods chapter details the study areas, sampling methods, and experimental procedures used in the research. This includes information on soil seed bank sampling, greenhouse seed bank experiments, and field treatment experiments using pre-emergent herbicides. The chapter also describes the data analysis methods employed.
The Results chapter presents the findings of the study, including the characterization of the seed bank dynamics of Sericea Lespedeza in invaded sites. It examines the germination rates of the invasive species, its persistence in the soil seed bank, and the effectiveness of pre-emergent herbicide treatments in controlling its germination. The chapter also analyzes the growth and performance of Indian grass as a potential replacement species.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key terms and concepts of the thesis include invasive plants, Sericea Lespedeza, seed bank dynamics, grassland restoration, pre-emergent herbicides, native grasses, ecological impacts, and biodiversity.
- Quote paper
- Eric Ntiamoah (Author), 2017, Invasive Plants. Restoration of Grasslands Invaded by Sericea Lespedeza, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/517366
