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Shelby Cosman, Christina Gosiewski, Danica Gray
“Decomposition in Aquatic and Terrestrial Invaded Systems”
Shelby Cosman, Christina Gosiewski, Danica Gray
Augustana College
This study compared the decomposition rates between native and invasive leaf litters in both a terrestrial and aquatic environment. We used leaves from the invasive species Tree of Heaven and native species Smooth Sumac, in mixed and single species leaf litterbags. Both of these species are found in Rock Island, and the surrounding areas. The decomposition rates found are used to decide if a threshold exists for invasive species to have an effect on native decomposition, thus altering ecosystems. This is the third and final year of this project. Our research along with the past two years of data collected from Augustana will be sent to the Ecological Research as Education Network. It will the be paired with similar data from multiple other undergraduate institutions to compare a variety of geographical and climate conditions.
Shelby Cosman, Christina Gosiewski, Danica Gray
“Decomposition in Aquatic and Terrestrial Invaded Systems”
Shelby Cosman, Christina Gosiewski, Danica Gray
Augustana College
This study compared the decomposition rates between native and invasive leaf litters in both a terrestrial and aquatic environment. We used leaves from the invasive species Tree of Heaven and native species Smooth Sumac, in mixed and single species leaf litterbags. Both of these species are found in Rock Island, and the surrounding areas. The decomposition rates found are used to decide if a threshold exists for invasive species to have an effect on native decomposition, thus altering ecosystems. This is the third and final year of this project. Our research along with the past two years of data collected from Augustana will be sent to the Ecological Research as Education Network. It will the be paired with similar data from multiple other undergraduate institutions to compare a variety of geographical and climate conditions.