Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
Bromus tectorum, cheatgrass, invasive
College
Life Sciences
Department
Plant and Wildlife Sciences
Abstract
Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass, or downy brome) is an exotic annual weed (recently?) introduced to the United States (ca. 1890) . Since its introduction, B. tectorum has been extremely effective at invading the Intermountain West, displacing native vegetation and causing extensive loss of shrub and rangeland habitats. Because B. tectorum is almost entirely self-pollinating, successful individuals within a given region can be distinguished by genetic analysis. We are using microsatellite markers for genotyping ecologically diverse populations of B. tectorum. Our goal is to better understand the correlation between B tectorum genotypes and the ecological habitats in which they are found, as well as to discover why this species is such a successful invasive. By genotyping various Old World populations (e.g. Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, etc), we seek to locate the origins of the most successful U.S. variants, and thus gain insight into what helps keep B. tectorum in check in these indigenous regions.
Recommended Citation
Merrill, Keith R. and Coleman, Dr. Craig E.
(2013)
"Bromus tectorum: Cheating its Way to the Top,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 1566.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1566