3rd Year PhD Student

Advisor: Dr. Jodie Holt

Research Interests: I am a third year Ph.D. student interested in habitat restoration and invasive plant management. Giant reed (Arundo donax) is an aggressive rhizomatous, hydrophyte found in the riparian plant community of southern California and across the United States. It displaces native species and wildlife, and promotes the spread of wildfire. If left unmanaged giant reed creates monocultures sterile of native life. My work seeks to find native vegetation able to inhibit giant reed establishment within riparian areas, which have been controlled for giant reed. Controlling invasives, especially giant reed, never achieves complete control with one attempt. Retreatment is necessary and may be in the form of chemical treatment (herbicide), mechanical treatment (hand pulling), or other treatment methods.  If it can be found that certain species inhibit the regrowth and establishment of giant reed land managers can use this information in restoration activities.