REU: Dynamics and Evolution of Clonal Plant Populations

本研究的目的是确定控制结构和调节克隆植物群体大小的基本过程。令人惊讶的是，迄今为止，生态学家在植物种群如何调控的问题上几乎没有达成一致。Silander博士开发了一种方法，将野外实验与数学模型相结合，该方法基于对单个克隆表现（即大小、生长速度、繁殖等）和克隆竞争的观察。这些模型将提供具体的无性系种群组成和波动预测，可用于田间试验。该方案已被用于准确预测一年生植物种群的波动和物种组成。拟议的研究将为克隆群体提供相同的结果。该研究的实验阶段将集中在与多年生黑麦草一起在田间饲养的无性系白三叶群体上。这些物种共同构成了世界温带地区农业饲料群落的主要类型之一。因此，这个系统具有相当大的经济重要性。白三叶草无性系之间的竞争和三叶草与黑麦草之间的竞争将被研究。此外，研究还将探讨环境变化（时空）对三叶草种群波动的影响。这项研究将对植物种群的结构和组成提供前所未有的了解。它可以预测遗传多样性、环境变化和草原管理制度变化对种群的影响。因此，该研究具有重要的农业系统应用价值，并为白三叶的生态学和种群生物学提供了基础知识。

The purpose of this study is to determine the fundamental processes that control structure and regulate the size of clonal plant populations. To date there has been surprisingly little agreement among ecologists as to how any plant population is regulated. Dr. Silander has developed an approach that combines field experiments with mathematical models, based on observations of individual clone performance (i.e. size, growth rates, reproduction, etc.) and clone competition. These models will provide specific predictions of clone population composition and fluctuation which can be field tested. This protocol has been used to accurately predict the fluctuations and species composition of annual plant populations. The proposed study will provide the same for clonal populations. The experimental phase of the study will focus on clonal populations of white clover raised in the field with perennial ryegrass. Together these species form one of the dominant types of agricultural forage communities found throughout the temperate zone of the world. This system is thus of considerable economic importance. Competition among white clover clones and between clover and ryegrass will be examined. Furthermore the study will examine the effects of environmental variation (temporal and spatial) on clover population fluctuations. The study will provide an unprecedented understanding of the structure and composition of plant populations. It will allow prediction of the population consequences of variation in genetic diversity, environmental variation and grassland management regimes. Thus the study has significant application for agricultural systems as well as providing basic knowledge of the ecology and population biology of white clover.