Date of Award

8-2023

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Biology

Program

Biology (MS)

First Advisor/Chairperson

Dr. Alan Rebertus

Abstract

Typha x glauca is one of the most invasive plants in North America. The plant exhibits hybrid vigor and displaces native flora by rapidly forming dense monotypic stands that can break free from the substrate and form floating mat types when established. I tested the effects of prescribed burning, on Typha x glauca in wetlands to adjacent large lakes in Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota. My team surveyed four wetlands that were burned in late winter of 2020-21, and six that were unburned controls. Pre-burn data was also collected for all ten wetlands. Pre-flooding data from other wetlands within the Park were used to compare and highlight the impacts of the historic flood of 2022 on Typha x glauca. Changes in percent cover of Typha were not significantly different between burned and unburned wetlands (P=0.85). Typha dropped for both treatments by about 50%. In spring of 2022, the study area was impacted by the greatest flood on historical record, so I took advantage of preflood data to examine how flooding alone affected Typha cover. Mean cover of Typha on floating mats was not significantly different from 2021 to 2022 (P>0.05). However, cover on non-floating mats dropped by 62.4% in 2022 (PTypha x glauca. The 2022 flood only reduced cover on non-floating mats, so manipulating water levels is not likely to eradicate invasive Typha x glauca long term.

Access Type

Open Access

Download

Share

COinS