Buoyancy and Emergence in Elymus Species

Author

Sandor JakabFollow

College

Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences

Date of Last Revision

2023-05-06 09:23:31

Major

Biology

Honors Course

BIOL 499-002

Number of Credits

2

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Date of Expected Graduation

Spring 2023

Abstract

It is important that native plants are able to successfully emerge in wetlands because they play an important role in maintaining diversity. The relationship between seed buoyancy and seedling emergence was analyzed for three wetland species of the same genus: Elymus canadensis (FACU), Elymus macgregorii (FACW), and Elymus virginicus (FACW). E. macgregorii seemed to be the most buoyant, and E. virginicus and E. canadensis demonstrated very similar, less buoyant levels. Based on the idea that more buoyant seeds will be deposited at a shallow depth, and less buoyant seeds will be deposited at a deeper soil level, a relationship between depth of the artificially placed seed and the ability to emerge was evident in the FACW species. E. macgregorii was less buoyant (with respect to the other two species) and more successful in emerging from a shallow depth. E. virginicus was more buoyant and more successful in emerging from a deep soil level. This relationship was not observed in the FACU species. E. canadensis was more buoyant and more successful in emerging from a shallow depth.

Research Sponsor

Dr. Randall Mitchell

First Reader

Brad Small

Second Reader

Dr. Jordan Renna

Honors Faculty Advisor

Dr. Brain Bagatto

Proprietary and/or Confidential Information

No

Recommended Citation

Jakab, Sandor, "Buoyancy and Emergence in Elymus Species" (2023). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1687.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1687