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Assessing survivorship and germination of seeded and planted species in restored Great Lakes coastal wetlands invaded by hybrid cattail, Typha x glauca
Belleville, Rene
Belleville, Rene
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2025-06
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Coastal wetlands of the Laurentian Great Lakes face significant threats to their biodiversity and ecological function, driven by factors such as the spread of invasive plant species and the decline in native plant communities. These ecosystems, critical for flood mitigation, water quality, and wildlife habitat, have been severely altered by hybrid cattail, Typha x glauca. This species forms dense monocultures that outcompete native vegetation, leading to a change in the structure and function of these ecosystems. In Lake Ontario, native sedge-grass meadow habitats have diminished over the past several decades as T. x glauca populations continue to increase. To evaluate the effectiveness of restoration methods to control T. x glauca and establish native sedge-grass meadow communities, I assessed the long-term survivorship of seeded and planted species across three restored wetlands in the Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area in Greece, NY. Long-term survivorship was around 50% of seeded or planted species persisting. Soil characteristics such as bulk density and soil moisture played a key role in increased survivorship of planted and seeded species. I conducted a field study at Cranberry Pond in the Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area, testing seeding, plug planting, and hay transfer treatments to determine the method for seeding or planting associated with the highest germination, survivorship, and percent cover of native sedge-grass meadow species and their ability to suppress T. x glauca. Plug planting and seeding were most effective, while hay transfer showed limited success. Across sites, T. x glauca persisted, but native species establishment was successful when the seeding or planting method was tailored to the species’ characteristics and germination requirements. This study highlights the importance of diverse planting strategies, treatment combinations, and soil preparation to improve restoration success. These results provide practical guidance for land managers working to restore Great Lakes wetlands when seeding and planting native species in the face of invasive species challenges.
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