Christina Souther
Wild Rice Community Dynamics in Merrymeeting Bay
Advisor: John Lichter
Wild rice is a staple food source for thousands of migrating waterfowl and anadromous fish migrating to upriver spawning areas. It is thought that wild rice abundance and vigor have been declining in recent decades but there is no data to support this assertion. Since wild rice is an annual plant, seed production and dispersal, as well as seedling establishment and growth are likely to be important factors in determining its success. Ms. Souther's study will examine the dynamics of wild rice distribution and abundance in Merrymeeting Bay over several years. The results collected in the summer of 2001 showed that wild rice can be found widely around Merrymeeting Bay but is never abundant less than 10m from the high water strandline on shore. The results additionally showed significant spatial variablility in wild rice abundance and seed production. This summer, Ms. Souther will analyze soil samples to gain information about the plant's environment and setting up seed traps to quantify seed prodution and dispersal. In addition, she will perform a fertilization experiment that will determine the effects of extra nutrients and provide information about the past effects of raw sewage on the plant's productivity. This data will be combined with the previously collected data to observe any trends.