Native plant species show differential growth when planted at low and high densities, as well as in mixed species plantings
Level of Education of Students Involved
Undergraduate
Faculty Sponsor
Rob Swanson
College
College of Arts & Sciences (CAS)
Discipline(s)
Biology
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Symposium Date
Spring 4-24-2025
Abstract
The successful germination and growth of native plant species in ecological restoration efforts are not well-characterized. Native seed mixes are often used in restoration efforts, but oftentimes the success of these seed mixes are not known and factors enhancing this success are neglected. We studied how well native restoration plants grow in low competition, high competition monocultures and mixed. We studied three native plant species, P. digitalis, C. lanceolata, and A. tuberosa. Growth performance was measured by wet and dry biomass of the plants after 5 weeks of growth when planted in low density monocultures, and high density mono and mixed cultures. We found that plants in low competition conditions grew better than those in high competition conditions. All three species showed significantly lower dry weight in high density monocultures (p<0.0167). P. digitalis performed worse in high competition mixed species than in high competition monocultures (p<0.167), while A. tuberosa showed no significant difference between these conditions (p>0.167). C. lanceolata showed mixed results. A. tuberosa is likely a strong competitor in mixed species restoration; however, P. digitalis appears more sensitive to competition, which could impact its success in restoration mixes or when facing invasive species.
Recommended Citation
Suprenant, Alyssa; Tabor, Gavin S.; and Goss-Peirce, Lilli, "Native plant species show differential growth when planted at low and high densities, as well as in mixed species plantings" (2025). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 1382.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/1382
