I am going to a conference!
I know you may be thinking, how do I have anything ready for a conference? I am a little behind in reporting on tumblr because I like trying to post things weekly, and I am further along in my thesis than reported so far (sorry it just worked out this way). But I am going to the IAGLR conference at the University of Guelph next week! It may take a little while on here to be caught up with how far along I actually am in my thesis, but If you would like to see my progress as it stands currently come visit me. The poster session will be Tuesday June 7. you can see all of this at the IAGLR website : http://iaglr.org/iaglr2016/
my abstract for the poster :
SZABO, J.L., FREELAND, J.R., DORKEN, M.E., and PIEPER, S.J., Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, peterborough, ON, K9J 7B8, CANADA. Environmental factors can help explain the domination of wetlands by invasive hybrid cattails.
In northeastern North America, native broadleaf cattail T. latifolia hybridize with introduced narrow leaf cattail T.angustifolia to form the invasive hybrid T. x glauca. One mechanism by which T. x glauca reduces wetland plant diversity is through the production of copious amounts of leaf litter, which decomposes and leaches into the water system while reducing available sunlight to germinating seeds and young seedlings. In the summer of 2015, we used a common garden experiment to test the effects of T. x glauca leaf litter on the hybrid plants and both parental species. Seeds from parents that had been identified to species from their genotypes were germinated, and young plants were transferred to 20 ponds that were randomized for four treatments: 50% shade, application of litter from T. x glauca stands, a combination of shade and litter, and a control (no shade or litter). We measured plant growth for six weeks and assessed final productivity from above-and-below-ground biomass. The results provide insight into mechanisms that help invasive Typha hybrids to outcompete parental species and dominate wetlands in the eastern Great Lakes region. These results provide guidance for managers on the importance of clearing litter from wetlands that are increasingly dominated by hybrid cattails. Keywords: Biological invasions, Wetlands, Environmental effects.