LTREB, Collaborative Research: The Next Decade in Continuing Long-term Demographic Research on Florida Scrub Plants

该项目继续对佛罗里达灌木丛中的植物种群生物学进行长期研究，这是一个濒临灭绝的栖息地，支持着许多世界上其他地方找不到的物种。过去的研究包括20年来关于47,000种植物的位置、大小、生长和生存的数据，以及对植物、种子和灌木栖息地的大量实验。本研究的目标是扩大数据收集，包括在更大的景观上收集更多物种的数据，并回答基本生态学和应用保护方面的问题。具体主题包括各种火灾管理策略对灭绝风险的影响，种群如何应对植被结构和天气的变化，以及在生态恢复中引入种群如何提供对基础生物学的见解。许多环境问题只能从长期数据和数据共享的角度来解决，这两者都是本研究的结果。例如，关于植物种群对天气的直接和间接影响的反应的长期数据对于评估气候变化对这些濒危生态系统的影响是有用的。这项研究还将为从高中到研究生院的学生（包括代表性不足的群体的成员）提供接触各种科学方法和研究的机会。此外，这项研究有直接的实际应用，将通过与各种保护专业人士的持续互动得到鼓励。

This project continues a long-term study of the population biology of plants in Florida scrub, an endangered habitat supporting many species found nowhere else in the world. The past research includes 20 years of data on the locations, sizes, growth, and survival of 47,000 plants, coupled with numerous experiments on plants, seeds, and the scrub habitat. The goals of this research are to expand data collection, including data on many more species collected over larger landscapes, and to answer questions in basic ecology and applied conservation. Specific topics include the effects of various fire management strategies on risks of extinction, how populations respond to variation in the vegetation structure and weather, and how introduced populations in ecological restorations can provide insight into basic biology. Many environmental issues can only be addressed with the perspective of long-term data and with data-sharing, both outcomes of this research. For example, long-term data on plant population responses to the direct and indirect effects of weather can be useful in assessing the effects of climate change on these endangered ecosystems. This research will also provide access to students (including members of under-represented groups) from, high school to graduate school, to diverse scientific methods and studies. Moreover, this research has immediate practical applications that will be encouraged through continuing interactions with a diversity of conservation professionals.