Date of Award
5-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College/School
College of Science and Mathematics
Department/Program
Earth and Environmental Studies
Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair
Dirk Vanderklein
Committee Member
Jennifer Krumins
Committee Member
Paul Bologna
Committee Member
Daniel Bunker
Abstract
Wetlands are important areas in the landscape, providing important ecosystem services. Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), native to Europe and Asia, invades wetlands in North America, outcompeting native wetland plants and disrupting ecosystem services. While purple loosestrife is invasive in North America, it is not in its native range. Winged loosestrife (Lythrum alatum), a North American native congener, is not invasive in North America. Purple loosestrife from Sussex County, N.J. U.S.A. and purple loosestrife from the United Kingdom, and winged loosestrife were compared in this study. Their response to soil edaphic factors, such as seed vernalization, soil nutrients, soil pH, water, and salinity, as well as seed germination, and soil microorganisms were compared in order to determine their comparative degree of invasiveness. Purple loosestrife from North America responded essentially the same way as purple loosestrife from the United Kingdom showing that purple loosestrife has not become more invasive since arriving in North America, but already had this potential when first arriving from the United Kingdom. In addition, purple loosestrife from both populations showed a greater response to soil nutrients and soil water conditions than winged loosestrife, which contributes to the greater competitiveness of purple loosestrife.
File Format
Recommended Citation
Mahady, Martha, "The Influence of Edaphic Factors on the Growth and Competitiveness of Loosestrife (Lythrum spp.)" (2024). Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects. 1473.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/etd/1473