DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The Application of Resource Competition Theory to Invasive Species and Biological Control

摘要研究：资源竞争理论在入侵物种和生物控制中的应用本研究将应用资源竞争理论严格评估入侵植物物种取代广泛存在的优势植物物种的潜在机制。它将专门测试这样一种假设，即入侵者之所以成功，是因为它可以通过入侵者耗尽共享限制资源的能力(蒂尔曼的R*理论)来击败本土植物。它还将检验一个实用的假设，即生物防治剂只有在防止入侵者耗尽关键限制资源的情况下才有效(格罗弗的基石食草性理论)。这些理论将用入侵的紫松茸、它的主要本土竞争对手阔叶香茅和生防剂Galerucella calmarisis(一种食叶甲虫)进行检验。这项工作将涉及一种严格的双重实验方法，结合使用仔细控制的中观系统和现场操作。先前的资金使得能够建立中胚层和野外实验，这两个实验现已分别完成了第三个和第一个完整的野外季节。这项奖励将允许维持治疗，并收集额外两个野外赛季的反应数据，以实现竞争排除，这是最终检验这些理论的关键反应。

AbstractDISSERTATION RESEARCH: The Application of Resource Competition Theory to Invasive Species and Biological ControlCarsonDEB-0308788This research will apply resource competition theory to rigorously evaluate the underlying mechanism that has allowed an invasive plant species to displace a widespread, dominant plant species. It will specifically test the hypothesis that an invader is successful because it can outcompete a native plant, via the invader's ability to deplete the level of the shared limiting resource (Tilman's R* theory). It will also test the practical hypothesis that a biological control agent will only be effective if it prevents the invader from depleting the key limiting resource (Grover's keystone herbivory theory). These theories will be examined using the invasive purple loosestrife, its primary native competitor, broad-leaved cattail, and the biocontrol agent Galerucella calmariensis, a leaf-feeding beetle. The work will involve a rigorous, dual experimental approach that combines the use of carefully controlled mesocosms and in situ field manipulations. Prior funding has allowed the establishment of both the mesocosm and field experiments, which have now completed their third and first full field season, respectively. This award will allow the treatments to be maintained and the collection of response data for two additional field seasons, to achieve competitive exclusion, which is the critical response to definitively test these theories.