Thursday, August 9, 2018
243, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Vikki Rodgers, Math and Science Division, Babson College, Wellesley, MA, Kristine N. Hopfensperger, Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY, Jason Kilgore, Biology Department, Washington & Jefferson College, Washington, PA, Danielle E. Garneau, Center for Earth and Environmental Science, SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY, Anna Aguilera, Biology, Simmons College, Boston, MA, Sara E. Scanga, Department of Biology, Utica College, Utica, NY, Mary Beth Kolozsvary, Environmental Studies and Sciences, Siena College, Loudonville, NY, Rebecca A. Urban, Biology Department, Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA, Kevyn J. Juneau, Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, Patricia Saunders, Department of Biology and Environmental Science Program, Ashland University, Ashland, OH and Laurel J. Anderson, Department of Botany and Microbiology, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH
This is the story of a new EREN project, designed for summer research students, trying to move beyond the pilot phase. The biennial herb garlic mustard has invaded forest understories and edge habitats in patchy, fluctuating distributions throughout the US. In the field we investigated the variation in plant performance and soil phosphorus availability, and in replicated greenhouse experiments we tested the association between rosette size and coarse woody debris. EREN’s multi-site network is ideal for studying ubiquitous invaders; however, we have struggled in finding responses larger than the site variations. Challenges and future directions will be discussed.
