A Mesocosm Experiment on the Impact of Competition with Native Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) and Invasive Cattail (Typha x glauca) on the Growth of Northern Wild Rice (Zizania palustris)

Northern wild rice (Zizania palustris; manoomin/Mnomen in Anishinaabemowin; ZP) is an annual emergent macrophyte of cultural and economic significance to many North American indigenous tribal nations. Its present extent throughout its native Great Lakes region is much reduced. Competition with other wetland plants may significantly reduce ZP growth and survival. Most ZP competitors are perennial plants, whose established rhizomes persist in the sediment, granting a head-start on growth each year. This mesocosm experiment investigated how competition with hybrid cattail (Typha x glauca) and pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) – dominant invasive and native rhizomatous species, respectively – impacted ZP growth.