RATopic1_95 - Geosystems Research Institute - Mississippi State ...

Task 1.1. Growth of Common Salvinia (Salvinia minima) and Waterhyacinth
(Eichhornia crassipes) as Regulated by Loading Rates of Water Column Nitrogen
and Phosphorus
PI: John Madsen
Collaborators: Randy Westbrooks, USGS
Common reed (Phragmites
australis) is a non-native
invasive perennial grass
that creates a nuisance in
aquatic and riparian environments
across the United
States. The ability of common
reed to reproduce
quickly combined with its
ability to cycle nutrients has
made it an aggressive invader
of riparian and wetland
ecosystems. Phragmites
often forms monotypic
stands that displace
native vegetation more desirable
as wildlife food and
cover than Phragmites.
Phragmites has been differentiated
into 29 haplotypes,
13 haplotypes being native
to North America, and 16
non-native haplotypes. The
European haplotype M and
South American/Asian haplotype
I are of concern due
to their ability to out compete
native vegetation, alter
hydrology, and change
community structure of
aquatic and riparian habitats.
An understanding of
Life History and Starch Allocation of Common Reed (Phragmites australis)
Joshua C. Cheshier and John D. Madsen
common reed life history and starch allocation can be used as a predictive tool in management regimes and wetland planning
and restoration. Our objectives were to measure the biomass and starch allocation of common reed over a two year
period to get identify trends in the growth of common reed.
Life History
Figure 1. Average biomass allocation of above and below ground tissues of common reed
in the Mobile River Delta.
Common reed was sampled every month for two years beginning in January 2006 and ending in December 2007. 48, 1
m 2 samples were taken from the Mobile River Delta in southern Alabama each month and separated to above and below
ground tissues, then dried at 70ºC for 72 hrs to obtain a constant weight. Biomass were analyzed using a mixed model
procedure in SAS and differences were assessed at P