Date of Graduation

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Department

Forest Resource Management

Committee Chair

Jamie Schuler

Committee Co-Chair

Shawn Grushecky

Committee Member

Ember Morrissey

Committee Member

Charlene Kelly

Abstract

Invasive plants alter forest ecosystems by reducing species richness, habitat heterogeneity, and nutrient cycling as they rapidly displace native plants. Invasive plant composition can influence soil health through altering soil microbial associations and communities. By studying the mechanisms in which invasives alter above- and below-ground communities, we can better understand whole-ecosystem impacts and inform management decisions. This study examined the relationships between co-occurring invasion on above and belowground communities of mixed hardwood forests of north central West Virginia. Despite distinctive associations with aboveground characteristics (native diversity, native tree regeneration, and leaf litter density) we detected limited changes to soil microbial community structure (as indexed by phospholipid fatty acids) and function (as indexed by short-term carbon mineralization) in response to invasive plant coverage. Herbaceous invasion of Microstegium vimineum was marginally associated with lower non-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi abundance. Declines in native plant diversity (Shannon H’) were observed primarily with herbaceous invasion but strongly buffered by woody invasive co-occurrence. Furthermore, the management of woody invasion may result in the release of a secondary herbaceous invader and not result in recovery of the native ecosystem. Woody invasion was related to reduced beta-diversity of plant communities but had no impact on microbial communities.

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