Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42733219›Full record

ArticleAmerican journal of botany2026

At the edge of change: Native Phragmites persistence and nonnative arrival along the dam-regulated Colorado River.

Emily C Palmquist, Joel B Sankey, Claudia DiMartini, Tayan Benson, Brooke Damon, Helen Fairley, Bradley J Butterfield

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in American journal of botany, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Emily C PalmquistU.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, Flagstaff, 86001, AZ, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1069-2154
Joel B SankeyU.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, Flagstaff, 86001, AZ, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3150-4992
Claudia DiMartiniU.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, Flagstaff, 86001, AZ, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2457-0513
Tayan BensonNorthern Arizona University, Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, Flagstaff, 86001, AZ, USA.
Brooke DamonNorthern Arizona University, School of Earth and Sustainability, Flagstaff, 86001, AZ, USA.
Helen FairleyU.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, Flagstaff, 86001, AZ, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6151-4804
Bradley J ButterfieldDepartment of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, 86001, AZ, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0974-9811

Funding

Bureau of ReclamationGlen Canyon Conservancy (US)Northern Arizona University Research and Mentoring for Postbaccalaureates program
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

premiseThe southwestern United States is at the forefront of nonnative Phragmites australis subsp. australis expansion. Native Phragmites australis subsp. americanus, likely in decline in North America, is ecologically and culturally important and of conservation interest. In the greater Grand Canyon region, the Glen Canyon Dam led to loss of habitat upstream and increases in Phragmites downstream. Recent increases correspond with changes to dam operations and the arrival of nonnative Phragmites. Determining the native status of Phragmites stands along the Colorado River and around Lake Powell can inform complex management choices and restoration planning.

methodsPhragmites subspecies at 83 locations from southern Utah through northern Arizona, United States were genetically tested using real-time PCR. Genetic diversity and structure were assessed using microsatellite loci for 13 native Phragmites stands. Morphological traits of southwestern native Phragmites were compared to those of nonnative Phragmites.

resultsNonnative Phragmites was identified at four of the 83 locations. Native Phragmites in the study area is genetically diverse with little regional genetic structure, but substantial genetic differentiation among sites. Southwestern native Phragmites is morphologically variable, but characteristics can be used together to distinguish it from nonnative Phragmites.

conclusionsThe greater Grand Canyon and Glen Canyon regions support a large, genetically diverse native Phragmites population, which is potentially threatened by nonnative Phragmites and changes to river management. Determining conditions that would lead to nonnative Phragmites invasion of desert wetlands will facilitate discussions about the risks and benefits of Phragmites management in these unique ecosystems.

Indexed as

Genetic VariationPoaceaeArizonaConservation of Natural ResourcesEcosystemMicrosatellite RepeatsRiversSouthwestern United StatesUtahcommon reedGlen Canyon DamLake PowellmorphologyNorth American desertsPoaceaepopulation geneticsreal‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)ripariansimple sequence repeat (SSR)

Identifiers

PMID42733219
PMCPMC13595465

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.