Microbes and plants have a long history of working together. Many microbial species form relationships with plants in which both the microbe and plant receive benefits from each other (i.e. a symbiotic relationship). A group of microbes known as fungal endophytes live inside the tissue of Phragmites and possibly allow it to thrive in a variety of conditions and tolerate environmental stresses that harm native plants. These microbes could be giving Phragmites a competitive advantage over native plants and promoting its establishment in the Great Lakes. Join us for the third Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative emerging research webinar featuring Kurt Kowalski and Wes Bickford from the U.S. Geological Survey. They will discuss their work on microbial symbiosis and its possible implications for Phragmites management.