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珍稀植物的丰度、分布和持久性以及它们对环境胁迫的脆弱性方面的作用鲜为人知。这项研究将分析竞争和种子掠夺对联邦列入濒危物种的蓟种群动态的影响。这项拟议的研究将利用野外实验来减少密歇根湖周围沙丘系统中生物因素和相互作用的影响。这项研究的结果将为受威胁物种的植物种群动态提供关键的基线信息。此外，这项工作的结果将有助于为稀有和濒危植物物种制定有用的保护和管理协议。

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.