See the Paper: Patterns of Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) Distribution in Relation to Soil Moisture

Background

Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) is an invasive plant species in Minnesota. While there are some native species of reed canary grass, the plant is aggressive and can take over prairies and wetlands. It has spread across the United States since the 1800s as a type of hay crop, and was also used in roadside ditches to prevent erosion. While Minnesota has stopped this practice, some other states in the U.S. still plant reed canary grass in ditches to help stabilize the soil. Reed canary grass has since escaped domestication and pushed out many other native plant species from wetlands and other ecosystems. 

Managing reed canary grass in wetlands at St. Olaf is a priority of land managers. Understanding the various environmental conditions that help reed canary grass spread and push out other desirable species is crucial in order to try to minimize its negative effects. 

In 2005, a St. Olaf student investigated the relationship between soil moisture and the abundance of reed canary grass, that is, how the presence of reed canary grass changes based on how much water is in the soil in a given area. 

The Study

Mark R. Glineburg (Class of 2006, B.A. Biology) surveyed the growth patterns of reed canary grass at three different sites, the Skoglund Pond at St. Olaf, a pond at the Carleton College Arboretum, and Heath Creek. Transects (lines in which measurements are evenly recorded) were placed at each of these sites and both abundance of reed canary grass and soil samples were taken. 

The Findings

The study expected to find evidence that growth of reed canary grass relies on wetter soil. For each site studied, reed canary grass abundance decreased as the soil became drier, and the statistical analyses were significant. At every site, reed canary growth stopped when soil moisture levels were below 20 percent. This pattern may not necessarily be related to the distance from a water source, as one of the sites didn’t follow a consistent pattern. 

Relevance

Research that helps understand where and why reed canary grass may be more abundant can help managers focus efforts on eradicating the detrimental effects of the species. A major goal of the Natural Lands is to restore wetland, prairie, and forest habitats while controlling invasive species, and this can only be done effectively if area-specific knowledge is available.

Citation

Glineburg, M. R. 2005. Patterns of Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) Distribution in Relation to Soil Moisture. St. Olaf College Local Ecology Papers.