College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
Date of Last Revision
2023-05-05 13:18:26
Major
Biology
Honors Course
3100 499 - Senior Honors Program in Biology
Number of Credits
2
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2022
Abstract
Ohio forests are threatened by the invasive ecosystem engineer A. agrestis. A. agrestis invasion typically co-occurs with the ecosystem engineer, Odocoileus virginianus, where their impacts may synergize. To determine the direct effects of A. agrestis invasion, fenced plots across the Cuyahoga Valley National Park that excluded deer were utilized. The species richness, Shannon diversity and evenness of woody understory flora was measured in each plot. Mustard extraction was used to determine earthworm abundance. Correlations between abundance and measured variables were used to highlight potential invasion effects. Abundance and species richness was found to have a significant, positive correlation (p = 0.042, r = 0.67). Abundance and diversity, and abundance and evenness, were not significantly correlated (p = 0.16, r = 0.5, and p = 0.22, r = -0.48 respectively). Invasion by A. agrestis may facilitate an increase in species richness in the woody understory, while potentially having no significant impact on diversity and species evenness. These results contradict previous studies. However, these results match a previous study in the CVNP that also utilized fenced plots. This suggests that the direct effects of A. agrestis on woody understory flora may be different than those observed in the presence of White-tailed Deer.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Randall Mitchell
First Reader
Dr. Christine Sprunger
Second Reader
Tvisha Martin
Honors Faculty Advisor
Brian P. Bagatto
Recommended Citation
MAMMANA, CHRISTIAN, "Potential Effects of Amynthas Agrestis Invasion on Woody Understory Flora in the CVNP" (2022). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1465.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1465
Included in
Botany Commons, Forest Biology Commons, Forest Management Commons, Population Biology Commons