Research Starter Grant: Linking invasive plant species with their effects on ecosystem processes

研究启动资助：将入侵植物物种与其对生态系统过程的影响联系起来

• 批准号: 1034855
• 负责人: Pamela Geddes
• 金额: $ 4.98万
• 依托单位: Northeastern Illinois University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-07-01 至 2012-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1034855&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Research; Starter; Grant; Linking; invasive

Invasive species are a serious concern for natural systems, mostly because they usually result in a decline of biodiversity. However, we know relatively little about how these invasive species affect other aspects of ecosystems. In particular, we lack knowledge about how plant invasive species may affect ecosystem services performed by the ecosystems they invade. Several plant species possess invasive strains that are more aggressive than their native counterparts. Yet relationships between native and invasive strains and their effects on ecosystem processes have not been thoroughly explored. This project addresses the effects of an aggressive invader, giant reed (Phragmites australis), on nutrient cycling, an important ecosystem process. The success in Phragmites spread has been attributed to changes in the patterns of land use, nutrient enrichment, and altered hydrological regimes. More recently, it has been speculated that its invasiveness could also be attributed to an invasive and more aggressive European strain. Although several studies on the effect of Phragmites australis on nutrient cycling have been conducted, they have mostly concentrated on brackish marshes and/or have not distinguished between native and exotic plant strains. Thus, the main goal of this study is to investigate the relationship between plant invasion and nutrient dynamics (with emphasis on the nitrogen cycle) by exploring if nutrient cycling differs among native plant communities and invasive and native strains of Phragmites australis in freshwater wetlands. The potential for the proposed project to complement and broaden the participation of underrepresented minorities in science as well as to improve the quality of research and research training at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) is substantial. NEIU is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving institution (HSI) serving the Chicago metropolitan area, where ~27% of its students are Hispanic and many are first-generation college attendees. Through this project, NEIU will partner with researchers from the Chicago Botanic Gardens and Northwestern University, catalyzing a productive collaboration and broadening research impacts even further. In addition, the proposed project not only enhances research capabilities but will also positively affect curricular development and student preparation at several educational levels. The materials and instrumentation from the proposed project will be incorporated into: 1) the undergraduate biology curriculum to enhance the academic experience of students at NEIU and to better prepare them for graduate school, and 2) into the science curriculum at a neighboring high school of the Chicago Public Schools system (Northside College Prep High School).

入侵物种是自然系统的一个严重问题，主要是因为它们通常会导致生物多样性的下降。然而，我们对这些入侵物种如何影响生态系统的其他方面知之甚少。特别是，我们缺乏关于植物入侵物种如何影响它们入侵的生态系统所提供的生态系统服务的知识。几种植物物种拥有比它们的本地对应物更具侵略性的入侵菌株。然而，本地和入侵菌株之间的关系及其对生态系统过程的影响还没有得到彻底的探讨。本项目探讨了一种侵略性入侵者-巨芦苇（Phragmites australis）对营养循环的影响，营养循环是一个重要的生态系统过程。芦苇传播的成功归因于土地利用模式的变化、养分富集和水文状况的改变。最近，有人推测，它的侵袭性也可能归因于一种更具侵略性和侵略性的欧洲菌株。虽然芦苇对养分循环的影响已经进行了几项研究，他们大多集中在半咸水沼泽和/或没有区分本地和外来植物株。因此，本研究的主要目标是探讨植物入侵和营养动态（重点是氮循环）之间的关系，通过探索，如果营养循环不同的本地植物群落和入侵和本地株芦苇在淡水湿地。拟议项目的潜力，以补充和扩大在科学代表性不足的少数民族的参与，以及提高在东北伊利诺伊大学（NEIU）的研究和研究培训的质量是巨大的。NEIU是联邦指定的西班牙裔服务机构（HSI），服务于芝加哥大都市区，其中约27%的学生是西班牙裔，许多是第一代大学生。通过这个项目，NEIU将与来自芝加哥植物园和西北大学的研究人员合作，促进富有成效的合作，并进一步扩大研究影响。此外，拟议的项目不仅提高了研究能力，而且还将对各级教育的课程开发和学生准备产生积极影响。从拟议的项目的材料和仪器将被纳入：1）本科生物课程，以提高学生在NEIU的学术经验，并更好地为他们准备研究生院，2）到科学课程在附近的高中的芝加哥公立学校系统（诺斯赛德大学预科高中）。