Lena Reeves
Research Mentor(s): Aadia Moseley-Mccloud
Mentor Department: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Authors: Lena Reeves, Aadia Moseley-McCloud, Aimee Classen
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 1
Abstract
Title: The Effects of Bracken Fern on Traits of Acer Rubrum Seedlings Authors: Lena Reeves, Aadia Moseley-McCloud, Aimee Classen Affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan; University of Michigan Biological Station, University of Michigan Understory plants play an important role in ecosystem processes in driving ecosystem function and biodiversity. Understory plant communities can differ in species composition abundance–some ecosystems having species that dominate the community and affect ecosystem processes. Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilium L. Khun) is a dominant species found in the understory of the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS). Because bracken fern is so widespread, it is likely that it plays a role in influencing ecosystem processes like seedling growth and can even dictate the allocation of resources in seedlings which can impact plant traits. To explore how dominant species influence plant traits, we established a dominant species removal experiment at UMBS. In this study, we addressed one main question: what effects do dominant species have on plant traits of Red maple (Acer rubrum) seedlings? Leaf area of seedlings did not significantly differ across bracken fern densities in natural or removal plots. In 75% natural plots, removal had a significant negative effect on seedling leaf % nitrogen. Specific root length and specific root area did not significantly differ across bracken densities in natural or removal plots. These results highlight that Bracken fern differentially, though not proportionally, affects seedling traits and have implications for predicting the community structure of forests.
