REU/ROW: Differential Growth and Herbivore Effects on Freshwater Macrophytes

该项目包括开展研究和学习与水生大型植物(高等植物)生态学有关的研究技术的一系列活动。P.I.将参观蒂图斯博士的实验室，学习饲养各种生活形式的水生植物的技术，并将从乔治湖繁殖植物中获得经验。将在水族馆和野外采样中研究草食动物的影响，并将进行调查工作，以确定未来可以进行实验的湖泊。其他规划工作包括进行现场除草剂使用的试点试验，收集植物出苗的田间数据，以及找到计算克隆林中单个(基因相同的)植物的方法。这些由ROW资助的规划活动将为P.I.开发一项关于大型植物生态的竞争性研究项目做好准备。研究重点将放在生殖结构(如根茎、乌贼)对植物成功的影响或草食动物对水生植物群落结构的影响。这两个领域都是未来提案的有希望的途径。

This project includes a series of activities to conduct research and learn research techniques relevant to the ecology of aquatic macrophytes (higher plants). The P.I. will visit Dr. Titus' laboratory to learn techniques for raising various life forms of aquatic plants and will gain experience from rearing propagules from Lake George. Herbivore effects will be studied in aquaria and through field sampling, and survey work will be done to locate lakes in which future experiments can be done. Other planning work includes conducting pilot trials on spot herbicide use, gathering field data on plant emergence, and finding means to count individual (genetically identical) plants in stands of clones. These ROW supported planning activities will prepare the P.I. for developing a competitive research project on macrophyte ecology. The research thrust will be on effects of reproductive structure (e.g., rhizomes, turions) on plant success or on the effects of herbivores on aquatic plant community structure. Both areas are promising avenues for future proposals.