Genetic Variation and Herbivory in Aspen: Consequences for Ecosystem Processes

白杨的遗传变异和食草性：生态系统过程的后果

基本信息

批准号：
0344019
负责人：
Richard Lindroth
金额：
$ 80万
依托单位：
University of Wisconsin-Madison
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Continuing Grant
财政年份：
2004
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2004-07-01 至 2010-06-30
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0344019&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Genetic Variation Herbivory Aspen Consequences

项目摘要

Scientists have long known that genetic variation exists within plant populations, but the importance of this source of biological diversity for basic ecosystem processes (e.g., carbon and nitrogen cycling) is poorly understood. Another poorly recognized aspect of ecosystem science is how forest herbivores, such as insect pests, influence nutrient cycles. As insect herbivores feed, they induce chemical changes in plants and alter inputs of organic matter to the soil. These impacts in turn are likely to influence basic ecological properties that influence forest health, and the capacity of forests to take up carbon from the atmosphere. This proposal integrates two major themes - the ecosystem consequences of both genetic variation and herbivory - through the shared common denominator of plant chemistry. The purpose of this research is to investigate the independent and interactive effects of within-species genetic variation and herbivory on basic ecosystem processes (decomposition and nutrient cycling). We will use trembling aspen as a model system because of its expansive geographic range and ecological importance, and because aspen expresses striking genetic variation in plant chemistry and is subject to dramatic defoliation events. Our methods will span the range from short-term chamber experiments with soil, microorganisms, and purified chemical extracts, to long-term multi-year experiments that investigate nutrient cycling in natural aspen stands. This research will provide fundamental new insights into the importance of biodiversity to forest ecosystem function, and thereby inform policies of state and federal agencies involved in management of forest lands. Moreover, this work will contribute to the scientific and technical training of undergraduate and postdoctoral students.

长期以来，科学家已经知道，植物种群中存在遗传变异，但是这种生物多样性来源对基本生态系统过程（例如碳和氮循环）的重要性知之甚少。生态系统科学的另一个知名度是森林食草动物（例如害虫）如何影响营养周期。随着昆虫的食草动物的进食，它们会诱导植物的化学变化，并将有机物的输入改变对土壤。这些影响反过来可能会影响影响森林健康的基本生态特性，以及森林从大气中占据碳的能力。该提案通过植物化学的共同分母整合了两个主要主题 - 遗传变异和草食性的生态系统后果。这项研究的目的是研究物种内部遗传变异和食草动物对基本生态系统过程（分解和营养循环）的独立和交互作用。由于其广阔的地理范围和生态重要性，我们将使用颤抖的Aspen作为模型系统，并且因为Aspen表达了植物化学中的惊人遗传变异，并且会受到戏剧性的脱叶事件。我们的方法将跨越从土壤，微生物和纯化的化学提取物的短期腔室实验到长期多年实验，这些实验研究天然Aspen架上的营养循环。这项研究将为生物多样性对森林生态系统功能的重要性提供基本的新见解，从而为参与森林土地管理的州和联邦机构的政策提供了信息。此外，这项工作将有助于本科生和博士后学生的科学和技术培训。