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Summer Research Project 2017

• Title: Invasion Dynamics at Harvard Farm
• Group Project Leader: Martha Hoopes
• Mentors: Martha Hoopes
• Collaborators: Martha Hoopes
• Project Description:

  Questions: How does grazing intensity alter invasion dynamics in New England grassland systems with a focus on plant community structure and function, biodiversity, and the spread of invasive species?
  
  This project will address how grazing intensity drives the relationship between invasions dynamics and native diversity in the New England landscape. Agricultural land is a vital but vanishing part of the New England landscape. The Harvard Farm, a pasture adjacent to the Forest, presents a unique opportunity to work at the interface between conservation biology, invasion ecology, sustainable agriculture, and basic research in ecology. The grasslands at Harvard Farm have been managed since 2013 with a range of grazing practices by local dairy farmers, with intensive grazing, rotational grazing, and hay-making as the three intensities.
  
  This project relies on intensive plant community census work at Harvard Farm and may involve experimental work to explore differences in propagule pressure and the different effects of altered propagule pressure and establishment under different grazing regimes. Central data will be plant community composition in the context of invasive species distribution and spread. The expectation is that
  Student 1 will look at soil seedbank effects; and
  Student 2 will explore the spread of invaders, potentially with a focus on species such as thistles and sorrels, which experience little grazing pressure.
  
  The student researchers will spend the majority of the time in the field, with an emphasis on analysis work by the last two weeks. The student researchers will ideally be comfortable working independently in a pasture setting with dairy cows occasionally present, and be willing to learn plant identification skills. Martha Hoopes, based in the Northampton area, will be at HF weekly throughout the field season.
  
  Student Expectations:
  The student researchers will be involved in the design of the study and statistical analysis, so familiarity with quantitative analysis software like R and ArcGIS will be desirable, as will skills in plant identification and field research methods.
  Must have a valid driver's license to drive Harvard Forest vehicles

• Readings:

  Moles, A. T. et al. 2012. Invasions: the trail behind, the path ahead, and a test of a disturbing idea. J. of Ecology 100, 116-127.
  
  Foster, D. et al. (2010) Wildlands and Woodlands: A Vision for the New England Land- scape. http://www.wildlandsandwoodlands.org.

• Research Category: Invasive Plants, Pests & Pathogens, Conservation and Management, Biodiversity Studies