Assessment of wind and mammal mediated seed dispersal of sericea (Lespedeza cuneata)

Presented to the 10th Annual Symposium on Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects (GRASP) held at the Heskett Center, Wichita State University, April 25, 2014.Research completed at Department of Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, College of EngineeringThe invasive legume Lespedeza cuneata threatens native grasslands due to its strong competitive ability and high seed production. Seed size and shape suggest that wind and attachment to animals is not important for dispersal, yet populations can spread surprising distances within a few years. Using a series of experiments we tested the effectiveness of wind and mammal fur as mediators of seed dispersal. Our results show that wind disperses seeds farther than expected and that seeds readily attach to mammal fur suggesting that both contribute to the movement of L. cuneata across grasslands.Graduate School, Academic Affairs, University Librarie