Several invasive woody plants grow in forest fragments at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in Seymour, Indiana. The objective of this study was to determine what woody species were growing in two upland forests and to assess the level of dominance that invasive species had in these areas. The variables of depth into the forest and directional aspect were also considered. Thirty-two belt transects were sampled and 54 woody species were found, including six invasive species: Ailanthus altissima (tree-ofheaven), Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry), Elaeagnus umbellata (autumn olive), Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle), Lonicera maackii (amur honeysuckle), and Rosa multiflora (multiflora rose). Importance values were calculated as an indicator of relative species dominance. Detrended Correspondence Analysis and Cluster analysis suggested that the invasive species were grouped on the forest edge transects; aspect was not found to be a determinant in where invasive species grew. Correlation coefficients demonstrated a significant difference between transect depth and the following variables at both forests: woody species density per transect, invasive species dominance, Elaeagnus umbellata density per hectare, and Lonicera japonica dominance. Rosa multiflora was one of the three most dominant understory species in both forests; on the edge transect, it was one of the top two. Soil temperatures were also measured at each transect, but no consistent trends were found within the data. In light of resources available, it is suggested that land managers focus on controlling Rosa multiflora and Ailanthus altissima. / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Terrestrial carbon sequestration is one of several proposed strategies to reduce the rate of carbon dioxide (CO2) accumulation in the atmosphere, but the impact of plant invasion on soil organic carbon (SOC) storage is unclear. The results of past studies are often confounded by differences in vegetation and environmental conditions. Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) is an herbaceous species that invades riparian fringes and wetlands throughout North America, including Beanblossom Bottoms – a wetland complex in south-central Indiana. Because of the prolific growth of P. arundinacea, it was hypothesized that significant alterations in SOC pools and dynamics would occur at invaded sites within the wetland complex. To test this hypothesis, study plots were established in areas colonized either by native herbaceous species or by P. arundinacea. Above and below-ground biomass were collected at the middle and end of the growing season and were analyzed for cellulose, lignin, acid detergent fiber, total phenolics, and organic carbon and nitrogen concentration. Soil samples were analyzed for SOC and nitrogen, bulk density, pH, and texture. The biomass of Scirpus cyperinus – a native wetland species was found to contain significantly (P < 0.05) more lignin (168 g kg-1 versus 98 g kg-1) and phenolics (19 g kg-1 versus 3 g kg-1), and had a higher C to N ratio (28 versus 20) than P. arundinacea biomass, suggesting greater recalcitrance of S. cyperinus tissues compared to P. arundinacea biomass. Results of a laboratory incubation study were consistent with the residue biochemistry data and showed that S. cyperinus biomass degraded at much slower rates than the biomass of P. arundinacea. However, measurements of SOC pools (0-30 cm) showed larger pools under P. arundinacea (25.5 Mg C ha-1) than under stands of S. cyperinus (21.8 Mg C ha-1). Likewise, SOC stocks under stands of mixed native vegetation were significantly (P < 0.05) smaller (18.8 Mg C ha-1) than in areas invaded by P. arundinacea. Biomass of the mixed native vegetation was also considered more recalcitrant than that of P. arundinacea based on residue biochemistry. Therefore, contrary to the study hypothesis, residue quality was not a good predictor of SOC stocks in the wetland soils. Thus, it appears that traditional laboratory assessments of biomass recalcitrance and decomposition do not accurately simulate the various biological interactions occurring in the field.