Date of Award

1-1-2016

Language

English

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College/School/Department

Department of Biological Sciences

Content Description

1 online resource (ii, 24 pages) : illustrations (some color), color maps

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Gary Kleppel

Committee Members

Gary Lovett, John Davis

Keywords

Japanese knotweed, Invasive plants, Land use

Subject Categories

Biology

Abstract

Japanese knotweed is a highly invasive plant species that is established throughout the United States, including New York State. It is well established in the literature that this plant is spread easily in riparian areas via moving water. In this study, it was hypothesized that the different land use types adjacent to the stream banks would have an additional influence on the spread of the plant. Agricultural and residential land use types were examined as the most likely to demonstrate the land use influence. The area selected for this study was a portion of the Shawangunk Kill, a stream in southern New York State. Locations and sizes of plants, and the observed adjacent land uses, were collected at approximately the same time of year in 2014 and 2015. Establishment rates of Japanese knotweed in areas of residential or agricultural land use were compared to undeveloped areas. Results were evaluated using binary logistic regression to calculate the odds of Japanese knotweed establishment by land use type along the Shawangunk Kill. In 2014 there was a significant relationship observed between residential land use types and Japanese knotweed occurrences. However, in 2015 there was no significant relationship between land use and Japanese knotweed occurrences.

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