Mechanisms of Species Coexistence, Restoration and Invasive Species Suppression (Edwards Plateau, TX). Focal invasive: KR Bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum)

Small-scale, experimental investigations in grassland ecosystems often demonstrate that diversity (how many species) and species identity (who is there) are important determinants of invasion resistance and ecosystem productivity.  In this project I aim to apply these principles to guide rangeland restoration, a practice on the rise in the Western United States in response to the impact of long-term overgrazing and interest in reestablishment of native biodiversity.  I am testing the hypothesis that native species with resource use that overlaps focal invasive species will be more effective in restoration efforts where there is a dual goal of re-establishment of native diversity and invasive species control.  Through this work we aim to characterize the traits of select native species to identify those whose resource use truly overlaps with our focal invasive species.  This information will be combined with observational data on species coexistence in grasslands to test single and multiple species combinations in their effectiveness in curbing invasive species.  This work is being conducted in the Edwards Plateau of the Texas Hill Country.  The focal invasive species for this study is KR Bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum), a non-indigenous, invasive, C4 grass introduced throughout much of Texas for rangeland improvement.