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Examining the relationship between garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and European earthworms

Zelles, Alexandra M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1348589345

Abstract Details

2012, Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, Biological Sciences.
Our goal was to characterize the interactive feedback between garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and European earthworm species in southwest Ohio. Earthworm community composition, abundance and biomass were compared between 0.1 m2 plots of garlic mustard, cut-leaved toothwort (Cardamine concatenate), wild ginger (Asarum canadense), or no plant cover. Exotic earthworms were present in the study site. Earthworm abundance and biomass did not correlate with garlic mustard percent cover. There was a greater density of earthworms in the fall than in the spring. Worm abundance differed between garlic mustard and wild ginger plots and cut-leaved toothwort and control plots, suggesting that earthworms may prefer to be located under plants that produce high biomass. Worm biomass did not differ between the plants. There was a greater abundance of endogeic worms below all plants, while anecic worms contributed the most biomass. Our results do not support strong feedback between garlic mustard and European earthworms.
Thomas Rooney, PhD (Advisor)
James Runkle, PhD (Committee Member)
Don Cipollini, PhD (Committee Member)
63 p.
Biology; Ecology
Alliaria petiolata; garlic mustard; European earthworms; facilitation; invasion ecology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Zelles, A. M. (2012). Examining the relationship between garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and European earthworms [Master's thesis, Wright State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1348589345

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zelles, Alexandra. Examining the relationship between garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and European earthworms. 2012. Wright State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1348589345.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zelles, Alexandra. "Examining the relationship between garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and European earthworms." Master's thesis, Wright State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1348589345

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

wright1348589345
576
© 2012, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Examining the relationship between garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and European earthworms by Alexandra M. Zelles is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.