QUANTITATIVE SELECTION OF A SPECIES LIST FOR REVEGETATION OF REED CANARYGRASS 
COMMUNITIES.

Jessica A. Bolwahn, Craig A. Annen, and Robin W. Tyser.
River Studies Center and Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin-La 
Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601.

Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) is an aggressive cool-season grass 
that invades wet meadows, sedge meadows, and wet prairies.  Though various 
management strategies have been proposed to control this species, habitat 
restoration may ultimately require reintroduction of appropriate native species. 
The objective of this study was to develop a list of native species such 
purposes. We surveyed 11 sites along the upper Mississippi River and several of 
its tributaries, 10 of which were dominated by reed canarygrass and a reference 
site that was dominated by native species. We recorded the presence of all 
herbaceous species within a 1-hectare plot at each site and calculated  
coefficients of conservatism and indices of floristic quality.  Of the 88 
species recorded in the reed canarygrass sites, 54 were native (mean number of 
native species per site = 17).  Based on their presence in > 30% of the sites, 
we complied a planting list of 21 native species (8 graminoids and 13 forbs) for 
use in areas after reduction of reed canarygrass has been achieved.

Key words: Reed canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea, Mississippi River, 
revegetation, species list