Native and exotic Phragmites australis in Rhode Island: Distribution and differential resistance to insect herbivores

In this research, I studied an introduced strain of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. Ex. Steudel that is displacing native P. australis in the United States and altering ecological processes of native environments. The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of native and exotic P. australis in Rhode Island and determine if there is a difference in resistance to native and exotic insect herbivores among the various P. australis haplotypes. I also studied possible factors that may cause these differences. I conducted experiments using field surveys and field and laboratory insect feeding experiments. All exotic insects tested fed on both native and exotic P. australis ; the native insect I tested in the laboratory fed on native and exotic haplotypes, but only completed development on the exotic haplotype. The implications for haplotype specific biological control of exotic P. australis are discussed.