Relationship of Bromus tectorum to the Plant Community and Soil Nutrient Cycling at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
Albano H. 2010. Relationship of Bromus tectorum to the Plant Community and Soil Nutrient Cycling at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Idaho State University
Brief Description: Study of plant communities and soil nitrogen cycling with increased abundance of B. tectorum in kipukas at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve to determine relationships between taxa and soil nutrients in natural plant communities. Full Description: Invasive plants can change the species richness of plant communities and nutrient cycling. The sagebrush steppe has faced invasion by Bromus tectorum. Previous studies have shown conflicting results regarding changes in plant communities with invasive plant species and experimental studies have shown that B. tectorum can increase nitrogen mineralization in the soil. We studied plant communities and soil nitrogen cycling with increased abundance of B. tectorum in kipukas at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve to determine relationships between taxa and soil nutrients in natural plant communities. Diversity, evenness, and native species richness decreased with increased B. tectorum, whereas the presence of other non-native species increased. Bromus tectorum increased with decreased total soil nitrogen. Soil δ15N increased with increasing B. tectorum indicating a higher rate of nitrogen mineralization. These results suggest the invasion of B. tectorum on kipukas has decreased diversity and has altered the soil nitrogen cycle.
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Albano, Heidi
- Date of Issue
- 2010-05
- Publisher
- Idaho State University
- Units
- CRMO , UCBN
- Keywords
- Bromus tectorum, Invasive Plants, Nitrogen Mineralization, Soil nutrients, thesis, Vegetation