Biological invasions, the introduction of species outside of their normal range of distribution, are currently occurring at an unprecedented rate which threatens the diversity and functioning of ecosystems throughout the globe. As a result, land managers are dedicating substantial resources to the control of these invasive species, sometimes with mixed results. Controlling invasive species is even more challenging in areas with a high conservation value like the Chicago Botanic Garden, where control solutions – such has the use of herbicides or mechanical removal – must be cost-efficient while minimizing impacts on native resident species.

The goal of this summer research project is to assess how different assemblages of native species can promote the biotic resistance (i.e., capacity of ecosystems to resist biological invasion) of aquatic ecosystems in the Chicago Botanic Garden. This will be achieved through the repeated monitoring of survey plots seeded with different native species to assess which plant characteristics and assemblages can best resist the propagation of two problematic invasive species: Butomus umbellatus and Phalaris arundinacea.

This project will contribute to developing efficient and non-disruptive control strategies that can be implemented in ecosystems of the Chicago Botanic Garden and elsewhere. Involved undergraduate student researchers will advance their knowledge of invasion ecology while gaining skills and experience in plant survey and data management and analysis.