Alexa’s project examined how different management strategies for invasive shrubs affect the abundance and diversity of native and invasive woody plants. She found that the combination of cutting/herbiciding, along with prescribed burning, led to higher native species diversity than simply cutting/herbiciding alone. 

The independent research, which was inspired by a field exercise in ENVIRON 421 (Restoration Ecology), was completed as part of ENVIRON 372 (General Ecology lab), with field work conducted in Ann Arbor’s Kuebler-Langford park. Alexa presented her poster at the Stewardship Network conference, a major regional conservation conference, on January 23, 2015.