Document Type

Article

Abstract

The high fecundity and high germination rates of Rhamus cathartica serves the species to out-compete regional plant native species. Its high abundance in deciduous forest ecosystems forces species that are unable to utilize R. cathartica as a food source to migrate to areas of lower density, further contributing to the decline in regional biodiversity. Bare soil conditions left as the result of the high concentration of Nitrogen in senesced leaves and leaf litter, cause further amplification of the migration of non-plant species to areas of lower R. cathartica density. Nitrogen is essential to primary and secondary metabolism, thus minimizing the loss of N to herbivory attack serves to maintain plant performance and fitness. This research sought to explore the relative content ratio of carbon to nitrogen in the invasive species, R. cathartica, before and after two sessions of goat grazing to determine if herbivory attack induces nutrient reallocation to metabolic pathways. Our results demonstrate R. cathartica responds to the first session of goat grazing by investing N in the photosynthetic pathway. This reinvestment in N early in the growing season, looks to deplete the plant of resources so that it is unable to effectively respond to another session of herbivory attack late in the growing season. The lower Chl levels reduces plant efficiency during a time where the plant wants to maximize uptake to prepare for the approaching cold season. With successive grazing, I would expect growth in the fall season to decline, since earlier grazing looks to deplete resources necessary for the revitalization or reproduction of R. cathartica to restore its phenological advantage.

Department(s)

Biochemistry/Molecular Biology Program

Date Accepted/Awarded

2023

Award/Distinction

Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium Judge's Choice Award

First Advisor/Reader

Sara Wyse

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