Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Invasive Species Shift Fungal Driven Decomposition in Midwestern Forests

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, Biological Sciences.
Midwestern forests are currently impacted by two prominent invaders, Agrilus planipennis and Lonicera maackii. The Ag. planipennis induced loss of Fraxinus spp. trees can facilitate Lo. maackii invasion, which is likely altering microbial driven forest nutrient cycling. To assess these changes in microbial processes, I conducted litter bag and culture-based decomposition experiments using leaf litter from Acer spp., Quercus spp., F. nigra, F. pennsylvanica, Lindera benzoin, and Lo. maackii. For the culture-based decomposition experiment, I inoculated six species of fungi separately onto both single species and multispecies (half Lo. maackii and half native spp.) leaf litter and measured decomposition rate, fungal growth and enzymatic activity. Both Lo. maackii and multispecies leaf litter had faster decomposition, increased fungal growth, and higher carbon degrading enzyme activities than native species leaf litter. Thus, forests affected by this dual invasion will have faster decomposition, potentially resulting in an influx of nutrients for nutrient cycling.
Megan A. Rua, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Don Cipollini, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Laura Rouhana, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
73 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Reed, A. M. (2020). Invasive Species Shift Fungal Driven Decomposition in Midwestern Forests [Master's thesis, Wright State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1588805656631018

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Reed, Adam. Invasive Species Shift Fungal Driven Decomposition in Midwestern Forests. 2020. Wright State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1588805656631018.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Reed, Adam. "Invasive Species Shift Fungal Driven Decomposition in Midwestern Forests." Master's thesis, Wright State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1588805656631018

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)