A presentation by Dr. Anne Alerding, Assistant Professor of Biology, Virginia Military Institute.

1. Garlic Mustard:
different roles of juveniles and adults?
Dr. Anne Alerding
Assistant Professor of Biology
Virginia Military Institute
alerdingab@vmi.edu

2. A diverse forest shows vertical
stratification and high species diversity

4. Northeastern forest invasion by garlic
mustard decreases plant diversity
Plant
Diversity
# of Garlic mustard plants
Stinson et al., 2007 Northeastern Naturalist 14:73–88.

5. Invasion decreases vertical stratification
(monolayer of garlic mustard)

6. Garlic mustard kills fungi that help
native plants grow
ectomycorrhizae endomycorrhizae
http://www.ctacf.org/index.cfm/2007/3/1/Mycorrhizae-and-the-American-Chestnut-An-Underground-Tale-of-Mystery

7. Cyanopropenyl
glycoside
Flavonoid glycoside

8. adults
juveniles

9. Project 1:
Do juveniles and adults produce the
same amounts & types of chemicals?

10. Year 1: Juvenile Year 2: Adult
(vegetative rosette) (reproductive)
http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/singlerecord.asp?id=330#

11. Field Juveniles

12. Field Adults

13. Juveniles contain more chemicals!
Juvenile
3x108
Adult
Concentration 2x108
of Peak 1
(A218/g DW) 1x108
0
Shoots Roots

14. Project 2:
With altered habitat and litter inputs,
are animals affected by invasion?

15. We studied animals
that break down
litter (detritus):
Detritivores

16. Springtail – an important detritivore
in forest litter

17. Springtails are more abundant in
invaded sites
Springtail
abundance Invaded
Uninvaded

18. Springtail abundance is higher
in less acidic soil
Springtail
abundance
Soil pH

19. Soil pH is less acidic when juveniles
increase in abundance
Soil pH
Juvenile Abundance
(% of Total Plants)

21. http://plants.usda.gov

22. What can YOU do to help?

24. Eat Garlic Mustard ‘til you burst!
http://www.shakerlakes.org/stewardship/uploaded_images/MustardCover-1-709530.gif