Cindy Bongard

Background

About Cindy Bongard

PhD graduate 2013 Exotic invasive plant species such as Vincetoxicum rossicum/nigrum (dog-strangling vine or DSV) have been advancing into diverse ecosystems and displacing both plants and animals at an alarming rate. My research: 1) characterized the fungal communities associating with DSV, and 2) investigated and compared beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that associate with invasive monocultures as well as native plant species that are persisting within invaded patches, and, and 3) investigated and compared interactions between two plant invaders, DSV and garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), an invasive plant that exhibits anti-fungal chemistry capable of disrupting mutualistic associations between native plants and AMF. Past MSc research has included investigation of the minimum area of habitat/landcover required for bird species persistence using remotely sensed satellite images, GIS software, and logistic regression/PCA analyses, as well as temporally distinct bird distribution atlases and digital landcover maps. Specialties: Certified Management Accountant (CMA); MSc in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; PhD Environmental Science