Collaborative Research: Effects of Corridors and Edges on Plant Populations

栖息地丧失和碎片化是物种灭绝的主要原因。建造走廊是一种公认的克服碎片化负面影响的方法。走廊是将同一栖息地的其他孤立部分连接起来的狭长栖息地。这些走廊允许生物在种群之间移动，并为殖民者提供栖息地，在这些区域，种群已在当地灭绝。尽管许多研究为走廊的这些功能提供了强有力的支持，但许多其他研究并没有。因此，一个关键的挑战仍然是预测哪些物种将受到连接影响最大或最小。该项目将开发一个连接对植物影响的预测框架。该框架将被广泛应用，因为它基于简单的生活史特征、授粉模式和种子传播--这些特征几乎是所有维管植物所共有的。将使用6个具有恢复价值的罕见物种在两个空间尺度上测试预测框架：(1)高度受控和重复的地貌，由1公顷有走廊和没有走廊的斑块组成；(2)通过实际林业做法创建的100个林木林(数十公顷)。第二个关键的智力贡献将是将边缘效应纳入连通性研究。这项研究的更广泛的意义有四个方面。首先，它将整合从小学到研究生的研究和教育。该项目与一个有良好记录的组织合作，该组织在研究现场将贫困背景的儿童(3-12年级)介绍到实践中的实地环境课程。该项目在很大程度上依赖本科生实习生进行数据收集，并为其中许多人提供独立的研究项目。研究生也将接受培训。其次，该研究为妇女和少数民族提供专业指导，他们将被大力招募参与该项目。调查人员在这方面有很好的记录。第三，这项研究代表了学术机构、国家科学基金会和美国林业局之间独特的合作伙伴关系。最后，这项研究的结果与保护和管理都有关。通过明确地关注物种丰富、日益稀缺的生态系统(长叶松稀树草原)中美国林务局关注的恢复物种，这项研究的结果很可能立即适用。

Habitat loss and fragmentation are leading causes of species extinction. The construction of corridors, narrow strips of habitat that connect otherwise isolated patches of the same habitat, is a recognized way to overcome the negative effects of fragmentation. These corridors allow for movement of organisms between populations and provide colonists to habitat patches in which populations have become locally extinct. Although many studies provide strong support for these functions of corridors, many others do not. A key challenge remains, then, to predict which species will be most or least affected by connectivity. This project will develop a predictive framework of connectivity effects on plants. The framework will be widely applicable because it is based on simple life history traits, modes of pollination and seed dispersal - characteristics shared by practically all vascular plants. Six uncommon species of restoration interest will be used to test the predictive framework at two spatial scales: (1) highly controlled and replicated landscapes consisting of 1-ha patches with and without corridors, and (2) one hundred forest stands (tens of hectares) created by operational forestry practices. A second key intellectual contribution will be the incorporation of edge effects into the study of connectivity. The broader significance of this study is four-fold. First, it will integrate research and education for elementary to graduate students. The project partners with an organization that has a proven track record of introducing children (grades 3-12) from underprivileged backgrounds to hands-on, field-based, environmental lessons at the study site. The project relies heavily on undergraduate interns for data collection and provides many of them with independent research projects. Graduate students will also be trained. Second, the research provides professional mentorship for women and minorities, who will be vigorously recruited to participate in the project. The investigators have a strong track record in this regard. Third, the study represents a unique partnership among academic institutions, the NSF, and the U.S. Forest Service. Finally, results from the study are relevant both to conservation and to management. By explicitly focusing on species of restoration concern to the U.S. Forest Service in a species-rich, and increasingly scarce ecosystem (longleaf pine savannah), the results of this study are likely to be immediately applicable.