IRCEB: Plant Genetic Structure as a Controlling Factor in Community and Ecosystem Functioning: Studies using Natural and Synthetic Hybrids of a Dominant Riparian Tree

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This study will quantify how genetic variation in a stream-side tree, cottonwoods, affects a diverse community of organisms, which in turn affect ecosystem-level processes such as nutrient cycling. Predictions tested will include: 1). Genetic variation in the tree population has a positive effect on biodiversity, productivity and stability of the dependent community. 2) The impact of genetic variation on keystone species has great potential to affect communities. 3) Important species interactions and community traits have a genetic component that can be mapped onto the plant genome. To study these predictions, a team of scientists whose disciplines range from molecular genetics to ecosystem processing will observationally and experimentally study stands of trees of known genetic composition in plantations and perform a biogeographic analyses of river systems from Arizona to Alberta.Scientists have a very poor understanding of the genetic links that tie species together to form communities, which affect biodiversity and ecosystems. Cottonwoods are well suited to these studies because they exhibit great genetic variation, and are dominant trees in a habitat that supports high biodiversity, but is rapidly vanishing due to loss of stream-side habitat. These studies address major issues in ecological genetics, community ecology and conservation biology.