Invasive Species and Water Loss: Automating the Study of Phragmites in Utah Wetlands

Authors

Alexander Atkinson, Brigham Young University - ProvoFollow
Dr. Rachel Wood, Brigham Young University - ProvoFollow

Files

Keywords

Bioinformatics, data analysis, invasive species, wetlands, evapotranspiration

Abstract

Phragmites australis is an invasive reed threatening Utah wetlands by not only outcompeting native flora and disrupting ecological system but also potentially increasing evapotranspiration (ET), the combined process of evaporation and plant transpiration. Increased ET may accelerate water loss in the already shrinking Great Salt Lake (GSL), exacerbating ecological and economic consequences.

To address this, we are developing an automated R-based data analysis pipeline to analyze Utah Geological Survey (UGS) data at the GSL Phragmites site, and to validate evapotranspiration measurements with satellite estimates from OpenET. By making the data and analyses easily accessible, we can better understand and mitigate the negative effects of this invasive plant, and also examine whether Phragmites actually increases ET, by how much, and identify the mechanisms driving this increase.

BYU ScholarsArchive Citation

Atkinson, Alexander and Wood, Dr. Rachel, "Invasive Species and Water Loss: Automating the Study of Phragmites in Utah Wetlands" (2025). Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025. 33.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/library_studentposters_2025/33

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

Language

English

College

Life Sciences

Department

Plant and Wildlife Sciences

University Standing at Time of Publication

Senior

Copyright Use Information

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