Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2009KY131B

Impacts of Bush honeysuckle on ephemeral aquatic ecosystems

Institute: Kentucky
Year Established: 2009 Start Date: 2009-03-01 End Date: 2010-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $5,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $10,003

Principal Investigators: Richard Durtsche

Project Summary: Bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) is an invasive shrub that dominates edge habitats throughout much of Kentucky, including the edges of waterways, lakes, ponds, streams, and wetland habitats. This shrub dominates terrestrial habitats through dense cover and allelopathy to prevent growth of native plants. Our preliminary studies have found that 1) these shrubs appear to have higher evapotranspiration rates than native trees, and 2) that frog tadpoles raised in teas of honeysuckle leaves show reduced survival presumably because of either reduced digestive capacity or tea induced hypoxic conditions. Either of these conditions can be detrimental to not only aquatic ecosystems, but also to water supplies for domestic use. The questions addressed in this study are two-fold in assessing the impact of Bush honeysuckle on ephemeral aquatic ecosytems. Our first question is whether or not L. maackii leaves negatively impact digestion efficiency in frog tadpoles. The second question is whether or not L. maackii have higher evapotranspiration rates than other riparian trees or shrubs, thereby providing evidence for the potential reduction of water available in ephemeral water systems.