Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College/School

College of Science and Mathematics

Department/Program

Biology

Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair

Jennifer Krumins

Committee Member

Dirk Vanderklein

Committee Member

Matthew Schuler

Committee Member

Elena Tartaglia

Abstract

Old fields dominated by flowering forbs are frequent targets for ecological restoration, particularly because they are often inhabited by invasive species whose ecological effects remain context dependent and widely debated. While native plants are typically favored in restoration efforts, and invasive species viewed as threats to biodiversity, such classifications may oversimplify ecological function. This study investigates two dominant genera of the Asteraceae family —Centaurea stoebe (L) (non-native) and Solidago spp. (S. rugosa and S. canadensis, both native)—to examine whether biogeographic origin or ecological strategy more strongly influences their impact on above and below ground community structure. Despite their contrasting origins, C. stoebe and Solidago supported similar aboveground plant communities and bulk soil microbial assemblages. However, in rhizospheric soils, both bacterial and fungal communities diverged significantly between the two species. These findings suggest that while functional roles may overlap—particularly in terms of nutrient cycling—the microbial associations of each species remain taxonomically distinct. This divergence underscores the importance of evolutionary history in shaping plant–microbe interactions, even among ecologically analogous species.

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