My hypothesis that the local density of native cattails is inversely proportional to the local density of invasive phragmites at Grenadier Pond is dependent on the ecological theory of interspecific competition, particularly in the context of invasive species. The ability of phragmites to (i) demonstrate a high degree of genotypic and phenotypic plasticity, (ii) colonize a wide variety of environments, and (iii) opportunistically exploit urban wetlands, lends it a competitive advantage at the expense of more limited native species, including cattails. Thus, my hypothesis supposes that due to this competitive exclusion, phragmites tend to dominate quadrats of the pond at the expense of cattails, with cattails only able to survive where phragmites have not yet colonized.
Potential keywords for research project include:
- Interspecific competition
- Competitive exclusion
- Invasive species