Seed Predation and Plant Competition: Interactive Constraints on the Population Dynamics of a Threatened Fugitive Thistle

生物相互作用在决定丰度中的作用， 稀有植物的分布和持久性，以及它们对 环境压力，知之甚少。本研究将分析 竞争和种子捕食对种群的影响 一个联邦政府列出的受威胁物种，蓟pitcheri的动态。 拟议的研究将使用实地实验，以减少影响， 生物因素和相互作用沿着气候梯度， 密歇根湖周围的沙丘系统这项研究的结果将 提供关于植物种群动态的关键基线信息， 濒危物种。此外，这项工作的结果将 协助制定有用的养护和管理议定书 保护珍稀濒危植物

The role of biological interactions in determining the abundance, distribution and persistence of rare plants, and their vulnerability to environmental stress, is poorly known. This study will analyze the consequences of competition and seed predation on the population dynamics of a federally-listed threatened species, Cirsium pitcheri.The proposed research will use field experiments to reduce the impact of biological factors and interactions along a climatic gradient in the dune systems around Lake Michigan. The results of this study will provide critical baseline information on plant population dynamics of a threatened species. In addition, results from this work will contribute to developing useful conservation and management protocols for rare and endangered plant species.