Abstract
Two closely related species of bulrush, Scirpus atrovirens (Green bulrush) and Scirpus georgianus (Georgia bulrush), are widely distributed in Illinois. They are difficult to separate in the field, but readily distinguishable under magnification in the lab. These two species have been found in moist meadows, shallow marshes, edges of wet forests, and ditches. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological and ecological distinctness of the species with the aim toward discovering and describing other features to distinguish them reliably. Eighty plants of Scirpus atrovirens and 80 of Scirpus georgianus were examined. Fifty S. atrovirens and 50 S. georgianus were collected in the field at different counties in Illinois. Thirty S. atrovirens and 30 georgianus specimens were measured from Stover-Ebinger Herbarium at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL, University of Illinois in Champaign herbarium, and the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. Parameters measured on both species were spikelet length/width (mm), culm width (mm), rachilla length (mm), scale length/width (mm), plant height (cm), and achene length/width (mm). A t-test performed showed a significant difference between the species in spikelet length and width, rachilla length, scale length and width, culm width, and achene length and width. There was no significant difference in plant height. Scirpus atrovirens was larger in several morphological characteristics than S. georgianus. Analysis of field data showed that within 30 m of S. atrovirens, 61 different plant species were found. Thirty-four different plant species were found within 30 m of S. georgianus. Only five plant species were found within 30 m of both S. atrovirens and S. georgianus: Glyceria striata, Phalaris arundinacea, Agrostis alba, Juncus dudleyi, and Carex lupulina. Soil data was examined for numerous collections sites. Seventy- nine percent of Scirpus atrovirens examined occurred in silty loam, while 88% of Scirpus georgianus examined occurred in silty loam. There were 31 families that were found within 30 m of S. atrovirens, and 16 families that were found within 30 m of S. georgianus. Poaceae had the highest percentage (29%) of plant species found within 30 m of S. georgianus. Cyperaceae had the highest percentage (24%) of plant species found within 30 m of S. atrovirens. Herbaceous perennials had the highest percentage (51%) of each type of plant species found within 30 m of S. atrovirens. Herbaceous perennials had the highest percentage (76%) of each type of plant species found within 30 m of S. georgianus. Native species had the highest percentage (90%) present compared to non native species (10%) of plant species found within 30 m of S. atrovirens. Native species had the highest percentage (85%) present compared to non-native species (15%) found within 30 m of S. georgianus. The Sorensen Index was used to measure the similarity in communities between S. atrovirens and S. georgianus. The Sorensen Index between the aggregate communities around each of the two species was 0.3. The Sorensen Index of 0.3 from this study indicates that the plant community was significantly different between the two species. Scirpus atrovirens and Scirpus georgianus are different from each other morphologically and ecologically.
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Claims 18
Claim · model-written summary
The species differed significantly in spikelet length and width, rachilla length, scale length and width, culm width, and achene length and width.
- Outcome
- spikelet length and width, rachilla length, scale length and width, culm width, and achene length and widthe0
- Direction
- differencee0
ScirpusOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“A t-test performed showed a significant difference between the species in spikelet length and width, rachilla length, scale length and width, culm width, and achene length and width”
t0“Scirpus”
Claim · model-written summary
Plant height did not differ significantly between the species.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“There was no significant difference in plant height”
t0“Scirpus”
Claim · model-written summary
Scirpus atrovirens was larger than S. georgianus in several morphological traits.
- Taxon
- Scirpus atrovirens
Scirpus atrovirense0 - Outcome
- morphological characteristicse0
- Direction
- largere0
- Comparator
- S. georgianuse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Scirpus atrovirens was larger in several morphological characteristics than S. georgianus”
Claim · model-written summary
There were 61 plant species within 30 m of S. atrovirens.
- Taxon
- S. atrovirensScirpus atrovirense0
- Outcome
- different plant speciese0
- Value
- 61e0
- Qualifier
- within 30 me0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“within 30 m of S. atrovirens, 61 different plant species were found”
Claim · model-written summary
There were 34 plant species within 30 m of S. georgianus.
- Taxon
- S. georgianus
Scirpus georgianuse0 - Outcome
- different plant speciese0
- Value
- Thirty-foure0
- Qualifier
- within 30 me0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Thirty-four different plant species were found within 30 m of S. georgianus”
Claim · model-written summary
Only five named plant species occurred near both bulrush species.
- Taxon
- S. atrovirens and S. georgianusScirpus georgianusScirpus atrovirense0
- Outcome
- plant speciese0
- Value
- fivee0
- Qualifier
- within 30 me0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Only five plant species were found within 30 m of both S. atrovirens and S. georgianus: Glyceria striata, Phalaris arundinacea, Agrostis alba, Juncus dudleyi, and Carex lupulina”
Claim · model-written summary
Seventy-nine percent of examined S. atrovirens occurred in silty loam.
- Taxon
- Scirpus atrovirensScirpus atrovirense0
- Outcome
- occurred in silty loame0
- Value
- Seventy- nine percente0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Seventy- nine percent of Scirpus atrovirens examined occurred in silty loam”
Claim · model-written summary
Eighty-eight percent of examined S. georgianus occurred in silty loam.
- Taxon
- Scirpus georgianusScirpus georgianuse0
- Outcome
- occurred in silty loame0
- Value
- 88%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“88% of Scirpus georgianus examined occurred in silty loam”
Claim · model-written summary
Thirty-one plant families were found near S. atrovirens.
- Taxon
- S. atrovirensScirpus atrovirense0
- Outcome
- familiese0
- Value
- 31e0
- Qualifier
- within 30 me0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“There were 31 families that were found within 30 m of S. atrovirens”
Claim · model-written summary
Sixteen plant families were found near S. georgianus.
- Taxon
- S. georgianusScirpus georgianuse0
- Outcome
- familiese0
- Value
- 16e0
- Qualifier
- within 30 me0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“16 families that were found within 30 m of S. georgianus”
Claim · model-written summary
Poaceae comprised the highest percentage of plant species near S. georgianus, at 29%.
- Taxon
- S. georgianusScirpus georgianuse0
- Outcome
- plant speciese0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 29%e0
- Qualifier
- Poaceaee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Poaceae had the highest percentage (29%) of plant species found within 30 m of S. georgianus”
Claim · model-written summary
Cyperaceae comprised the highest percentage of plant species near S. atrovirens, at 24%.
- Taxon
- S. atrovirensScirpus atrovirense0
- Outcome
- plant speciese0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 24%e0
- Qualifier
- Cyperaceaee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cyperaceae had the highest percentage (24%) of plant species found within 30 m of S. atrovirens”
Claim · model-written summary
Herbaceous perennials comprised 51% of plant species near S. atrovirens.
- Taxon
- S. atrovirensScirpus atrovirense0
- Outcome
- Herbaceous perennialse0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 51%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Herbaceous perennials had the highest percentage (51%) of each type of plant species found within 30 m of S. atrovirens”
Claim · model-written summary
Herbaceous perennials comprised 76% of plant species near S. georgianus.
- Taxon
- S. georgianusScirpus georgianuse0
- Outcome
- Herbaceous perennialse0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 76%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Herbaceous perennials had the highest percentage (76%) of each type of plant species found within 30 m of S. georgianus”
Claim · model-written summary
Native species comprised 90% and nonnative species 10% near S. atrovirens.
- Taxon
- S. atrovirensScirpus atrovirense0
- Outcome
- Native speciese0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 90%e0
- Qualifier
- non native species (10%)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Native species had the highest percentage (90%) present compared to non native species (10%) of plant species found within 30 m of S. atrovirens”
Claim · model-written summary
Native species comprised 85% and nonnative species 15% near S. georgianus.
- Taxon
- S. georgianusScirpus georgianuse0
- Outcome
- Native speciese0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 85%e0
- Qualifier
- non-native species (15%)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Native species had the highest percentage (85%) present compared to non-native species (15%) found within 30 m of S. georgianus”
Claim · model-written summary
The Sorensen similarity index of the two bulrush-associated communities was 0.3.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The Sorensen Index between the aggregate communities around each of the two species was 0.3”
t0“Scirpus”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors interpreted the two plant communities as significantly different.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the plant community was significantly different between the two species”
t0“Scirpus”