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Nutsedge-hog interaction

Interactions between invasive species are becoming increasingly common as introduced species establish around the world. We studied an interaction on St. Catherine's Island, Georgia, involving yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) and wild hogs (Sus scrofa). Wild hog foraging behavior has been found to promote the density of yellow nutsedge, a clonal plant that can rapidly grow in a disturbed environment through underground tubers. Wild hogs disturb the soil and remove native plant cover, allowing yellow nutsedge to regrow in the disturbance. As native plants begin to outcompete the yellow nutsedge, the wild hogs return to the location to forage, beginning the cycle again.

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