Management of Aegopodium podagraria (Goutweed) Using Native Plants at the Intervale�s Silver Maple-Ostrich Fern Floodplain Forest
Smith, Emma
Smith, Emma
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Abstract
Aegopodium podagraria (Goutweed) is an invasive terrestrial plant that poses a significant threat to many ecosystems in North America, and the currently accepted control methods are costly, ecologically disruptive, and often not very effective. We conducted this study in a Silver Maple- Ostrich Fern floodplain forest ecosystem located at Burlington�s Intervale Center along the Winooski River and evaluated the use of native herbaceous plant polycultures as a possible biological control strategy for Goutweed. The treatment plants were chosen for a variety of factors including competitive nature, allelopathic chemicals, and their varied ecological niches. We hypothesized that this treatment would increase biodiversity and encourage coexistence in areas with severe populations of Goutweed. We evenly and randomly assigned thirty plots to one of three treatments: control, cut, and cut + planted, and monitored the plots over six weeks in the summer 2025. Preliminary results demonstrate support of our initial hypothesis. We will continue to monitor the plots over the following growing seasons, and the results of this study will help to inform an adaptive management plan that can be used to further control Goutweed in this ecosystem.
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Date
1/1/2026
Student Status
Senior (Graduating in 2026)
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Oral Presentation
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Environmental Studies
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Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
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Life Science 1