---

Presenter: Michael Sokha Herrick

Faculty Sponsor: Bethany A. Bradley

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Biology

Session: Poster Session 6, 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM, 165, D6

ABSTRACT

Gardening with native plants is widely considered to be the optimal solution for supporting local ecosystems, especially by preventing the spread of invasive species. However, when consumers purchase native plants they typically encounter cultivars, which are plants that have been cultivated and bred for specific traits. Nativars are cultivars of native plants. The ecological value of nativars is unknown, and may not be as sustainable as their wild-type counterparts. In this study we perform a literature review to compare the ability of nativar and wild-type species to support local ecosystems. We include papers which study a direct biotic interaction between native species and their cultivars with other organisms such as bees or butterflies. We use the data collected from these papers to identify not only the viability of nativars with various cultivated traits to support local ecosystems, but also to find gaps in the research being conducted to inform future research directions. We have collected data from 16 studies conducted on over 50 different wild-type/nativar pairings, and have identified trait changes. These include traits like leaf color, size, and flower color. While the topic as a whole is understudied, we have identified several research gaps. For example, the current research is largely concentrated in Europe and the United States, and predominantly studies pollinator visitation. This research will grant us preliminary data on the sustainability of nativars, as well as inform future research directions to fill the gaps. This will give researchers and consumers alike more information on sustainable gardening.