In temperate forests, understory herbaceous plants are often affected by the abundance of white tailed deer, both directly through herbivory and indirectly through soil compaction. Soil chemistry, particularly soil pH, also has a large effect on the soil microbial communities that influence plant growth and survival. The objective of this study was to study the interactive effects of deer herbivory and soil chemistry on plant mutualists in forest soil using Jack-in-the-Pulpit plants. Jack-in-the-Pulpit are common understory herbs in temperate forests that deer will eat but are not preferred. In Bole Woods at the Holden Arboretum, 760 Jack-in-the-Pulpit plants were planted into 19 plots (both deer exclosures and un-fenced controls), each containing 4 subplots, 3 where soil chemistry had been altered and a control. Soil samples were collected from each subplot to be used for DNA analysis. Using PCR-terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism, we determined community structure of the fungal and bacterial communities. Our results showed that across communities of general fungal, AM fungi and bacteria, there were taxonomic differences present with soil chemistry alteration. Subplots that were amended with limestone and calcium had similar communities compared to subplots that were amended with triple superphosphate or the control. These differences reflected changes in soil pH that we had seen previously.

Invasive species are a major threat to the biodiversity of an ecosystem. Their ability to establish and thrive in foreign habitats and often outcompete natives have led to changes in ecosystem dynamics in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. However, the influence of riparian invasive plants on adjacent aquatic insect communities is understudied. This is important because riparian zones provide essential leaf litter resources for aquatic communities. To test this question, we studied how aquatic invertebrate communities varied between leaves of invasive Rhamus frangula and Cornus amomum. Leaf litter bags with either leaf type were constructed and deployed into Swine creek allowing aquatic invertebrates to colonize for over three months. No differences in macroinvertebrate community composition between Rhamus frangula and Cornus amomum leaves were observed, however, there were differences in the rate leaf litter decomposition and the numbers of shredders and predators present on the leaf material. The mechanisms behind these differences in decay and invertebrate preference are still not completely understood, however it can be said that with the increased invasion of glossy buckthorn into swine creek’s riparian zone, changes to ecosystem dynamics and potentially the food web may be observed.