The  Effects of Invasive Plant Species on Soil Microbial Metabolic Activity and Functional Diversity Warner Park, Nashville, Tennessee

Publication Date

2026

Presentation Length

Poster/Gallery presentation

College

College of Sciences & Mathematics

Department

Biology, Department of

Student Level

Undergraduate

Faculty Mentor

Darlene Panvini

Presentation Type

Poster

Summary

Invasive plant species can alter soil microbial communities and influence ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling and carbon utilization. This study investigates how soils associated with invasive plant species affect microbial metabolic activity and functional diversity. Soil samples were collected from beneath invasive plants (honeysuckle, privet, and honeysuckle + privet) and from soil in open woods as a control at Shelby Park in Nashville, TN. Three independent samples were collected per condition using aseptic techniques at a depth of 5 to 10 cm across three separate sampling events conducted in different months. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected at the time of collection. Soil suspensions were diluted and inoculated into Biolog EcoPlates containing 31 carbon substrates used to assess microbial metabolic profiles. Plates were incubated at 25°C and optical density was measured at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. Microbial metabolic activity was quantified using Average Well Color Development (AWCD), and functional diversity was calculated using the Shannon diversity index. A two-way ANOVA evaluated the effects of soil condition and time.

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