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The effect of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) density on soil nutrient availability and microbial enzyme activity in Northwest Ohio: a gradient analysis

Pisarczyk, Elizabeth W.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1260236506

Abstract Details

2009, Master of Science, University of Toledo, Biology (Ecology).
Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is a biennial herb, native to Eurasia that may have been imported to North America in the 1800’s and since has invaded most of the Eastern and Midwestern United States. It possesses allelopathic compounds in its leaf litter and root exudates that have been found to decrease the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and suppress the germination of several hardwood tree species and other mycorrhizal species in several studies. Suppression of mycorrhizae suggests possible effects of garlic mustard on other soil microorganisms, and preliminary studies show impacts on bacterial community diversity and extracellular enzyme activity. I examined the effect of garlic mustard densities on soil enzyme activity in three forested sites in Northwest Ohio. Garlic mustard density gradients were identified at each site, and each gradient was divided into areas of high, medium and low density. A manipulative weeding experiment was also performed on other plots of high-density garlic mustard: plots were divided in half and one side was weeded for garlic mustard whereas the other half remained a control. Monthly soil samples from both experiments were analyzed for enzyme activity, nutrient availability and microbial carbon and nitrogen content. Stepwise regressions produced few models that included garlic mustard density as a predictor of enzyme activity, however the results suggest that garlic mustard density significantly affects N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, an enzyme associated with chitin breakdown. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) of all transect data suggested that nitrogen availability and cycling rates are increased in the presence of garlic mustard, however the results of the manipulative weeding experiment were less indicative of this relationship. The MANOVA for the split-plot weeding experiment revealed several significant differences in enzyme activity, however some of these differences may be due to physical disturbance at one site. These results suggest that garlic mustard density does not have a consistent effect on microbial enzyme activity over time and between study sites, however there are suggestions that garlic mustard density affects microbial communities and rates of nitrogen cycling in some areas. Further study of this relationship is warranted.
Dr. Daryl L. Moorhead, PhD (Committee Co-Chair)
Dr. Michael N. Weintraub, PhD (Committee Co-Chair)
Dr. Alison L. Spongberg, PhD (Committee Member)
59 p.
Ecology; Environmental Science
garlic mustard; extracellular enzymes; nutrient availability; invasive species

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Citations

  • Pisarczyk, E. W. (2009). The effect of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) density on soil nutrient availability and microbial enzyme activity in Northwest Ohio: a gradient analysis [Master's thesis, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1260236506

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Pisarczyk, Elizabeth. The effect of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) density on soil nutrient availability and microbial enzyme activity in Northwest Ohio: a gradient analysis. 2009. University of Toledo, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1260236506.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Pisarczyk, Elizabeth. "The effect of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) density on soil nutrient availability and microbial enzyme activity in Northwest Ohio: a gradient analysis." Master's thesis, University of Toledo, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1260236506

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Toledo and OhioLINK.