Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Department

School of Environment

First Advisor

Jill Anderson

Abstract

Baseline surveys are important tools in establishing the present flora located within an area for future monitoring. In addition, knowledge of invasive species presence is essential to help maintain native ecosystem biodiversity. This study aimed to establish a baseline inventory of plant species found along a portion of the Three Rivers Greenway in Columbia, South Carolina, and to create a comprehensive list of native and invasive plant species within this area. In addition, a geographic information system (GIS) was employed to show the spread of a particular known invasive plant species, Hedera helix within the area. Specimens were collected in the study area from July 2013 to April 2015 with a focus on the fruiting or flowering status of each species gathered. This field study yielded a total of 178 specimens, with 53 of the specimens being duplicate species. Of the 125 identified species, 99 were dicots, 23 were monocots, and 3 were gymnosperms. The three largest dicot and monocot families found in the study area were that of Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Rosaceae with 38%, 20%, and 18% and Poaceae, Commelinaceae, and Cyperaceae with 31%, 18%, and 18%, respectively. Of the species collected, 73% were native and 27% were non-native. Maps of the spread of H. helix showed a large portion of the southern area of interest (AOI) and 54% of the total AOI as inundated with this invasive species. Specimens were archived with identification labels at the University of South Carolina Herbarium in Columbia, South Carolina.

Rights

© 2015, Rebecca L. Givens

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