Garlic mustard populations likely to decline
Tuesday, June 14, 2016 - 16:01
in Biology & Nature
Garlic mustard, an invasive plant affecting forested areas in the Midwestern and Eastern United States, secretes a chemical called sinigrin into soil to deter the growth of other plants and decrease competition. Researchers have found that sinigrin concentrations decrease as garlic mustard populations age, demonstrating evolutionary change due to ecological processes. They predict that garlic mustard will decline and reach a balance with native species that re-colonize invaded areas.