Invasive Species Change Plant Community Composition of Preserved Prairie Pothole Wetlands

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Botany
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Prairie pothole wetlands are crucial ecosystems in North America.
• Plant communities are influenced by hydrology, salinity, and human disturbance.
• Understanding current conditions is vital for conservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess prairie pothole conditions and plant community composition.
• To evaluate sites on United States Fish and Wildlife Service lands in North Dakota and South Dakota.
• To identify factors affecting plant diversity in these wetlands.

Main Methods:

• Conducted species-level data collection at 200 randomly chosen wetland sites.
• Included temporary and seasonal wetlands on native prairie remnants and reseeded grasslands.
• Analyzed data to determine species frequency, relative cover, and community composition.

Main Results:

• Most surveyed species were infrequent with low relative cover.
• Four introduced invasive species were the most frequently observed.
• Invasive species' relative cover significantly influenced plant community composition patterns.
• Wetlands in native and reseeded grasslands showed distinct compositions based on invasive species presence.

Conclusions:

• Invasive species are prevalent and pose a significant threat to prairie pothole biodiversity.
• Invasive species dominate even protected native prairie remnants.
• Restoration efforts on agricultural lands face challenges due to persistent invasive species dominance.
• Invasive species are increasingly prominent in native prairie pothole areas.