Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation
5-2025
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Department
Interdisciplinary Studies
Degree Program
Interdisciplinary Studies concentration in Sustainability, MS
Committee Chair
Masters, Jeffery
Committee Member
Eason, Perri
Committee Member
Mehring, Andrew
Author's Keywords
Lonicera maackii; nitrogen cycles; urban forest; native diversity; legacy effects
Abstract
In evaluating the potential effects of nitrogen cycles and pH on plant diversity and richness after the removal of Lonicera maackii in a temperate urban forest in Louisville, Kentucky, data was collected including nitrogen, pH, canopy, stem count, and plant surveys. The cutting and treatment with chemicals to remove L. maackii were successful one year after the treatments, but legacy effects ensued about five years thereafter. Native diversity waned as monoculture proliferated in some areas, including second invasions of the invasive. It was expected that nitrogen and pH would explain the success (or lack thereof) of native plant response as well as legacy effects. Results indicate that there are non-significant levels of relevance between plant diversity, nitrogen, and pH, which may be due to deficiencies in seasonal data and biota analysis, indicating that further research is necessary to explore additional factors affecting plant diversity in the parkland.
Recommended Citation
Hammond, Sheryl A. Gipson, "What happens to soil and native plant life after removal of Lonicera maackii in an urban temperate forest?" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4512.
Retrieved from https://ir.library.louisville.edu/etd/4512
