Supervisor: PD Dr. Harald Albrecht

In the pre-alpine regions of Germany, Austria and Switzerland marsh ragwort (Senecio aquaticus) is a native Asteraceae, with main distribution in moist to wet meadows. Over the last years it significantly increased and frequently became dominant in such habitats. The development causes problems, because all parts of the plant contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are poisonous to livestock. Organic farmers are particularly affected by this trend, since they are not allowed to use herbicides or mineral fertilizer.

To gain a more profound understanding of the species’ traits and to generate efficient and sustainable management strategies three subprojects are implemented:

scientific investigation of the species’ traits in the greenhouse,

field experiments to control marsh ragwort on organic and conventionally managed grasslands, and

regionalisation of areas at risk and predictions at a landscape level.

This thesis is part of the project “Effektives Management von Wasser-Kreuzkraut (Senecio aquaticus) im bayerischen Grünland”, which is financed by the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry (StMELF). It is a cooperation with the Bavarian Regional Office for Agriculture (LfL).