Collaborative Research: Landscape Genetic Connectivity of a Foundation Tree Species: Implications for Dependent Communities Facing Climate Change and Exotic Species Invasion

合作研究：基础树种的景观遗传连通性：对面临气候变化和外来物种入侵的依赖社区的影响

• 批准号: 1340852
• 负责人: Gerard Allan
• 金额: $ 215.38万
• 依托单位: Northern Arizona University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-07-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1340852&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Landscape; Genetic; Connectivity

An important topic of research today is how temperature affects the diversity of life on earth. At the same time as the climate is rapidly changing though, there is also rapid expansion of highly invasive, exotic species that additionally threaten biodiversity by displacing native species. The combined effects present an enormous challenge to land managers, as they may threaten established ecosystems and undermine the services they provide to humans. One way to meet this challenge is to study the effects on what are called foundation species. This study focuses on Fremont cottonwood, a foundation tree species that creates unique habitats along streams in the southwestern United States. These habitats support a high diversity of microbes, insects and animals, but are threatened by climate change along with a major invasive tree species, tamarisk, that displaces the native cottonwood and drastically alters the habitat and the beneficial ecosystem services it provides. The project uses genomic techniques, plus experiments that involve planting the same tree species in a range of areas, and computer modeling to determine gene flow among the cottonwoods along streams, to figure out how the cottonwood interacts with tamarisk, and to determine how tamarisk invasion changes all of the plants in these habitats and the services they provide. As environmental conditions change, foundation species must either adapt or go extinct. The loss of streamside habitats that are based on Fremont cottonwood is important because they are hotspots of biodiversity and provide services to local human populations in the region. This project may transform how we think of foundation species and how they respond to major disturbances, along with the other plants, animals and insects they harbor. This is useful for conservation planning. The project will provide lesson plans and teaching materials for elementary and high school teachers and opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. It will also expand outreach to the public on how to approach the impacts of climate change and invasive species. The field experiments will be installed in collaboration with the Southwest Experimental Garden Array, which is focused on using genetics to address climate change impacts. The results will also be made available on a public outreach website.

今天的一个重要研究课题是温度如何影响地球上生命的多样性。与此同时，随着气候的迅速变化，高度入侵的外来物种也在迅速扩张，这些物种通过取代本地物种而进一步威胁生物多样性。这些综合影响给土地管理者带来了巨大挑战，因为它们可能威胁到现有的生态系统，破坏它们为人类提供的服务。 应对这一挑战的一种方法是研究对所谓的基础物种的影响。这项研究的重点是弗里蒙特棉白杨，一个基础树种，创造独特的栖息地沿着流在美国西南部。这些栖息地支持微生物，昆虫和动物的高度多样性，但受到气候变化的威胁，沿着的是一种主要的入侵树种，tamarak，它取代了原生的棉白杨，并大大改变了栖息地及其提供的有益生态系统服务。该项目使用基因组技术，加上涉及在一系列地区种植相同树种的实验，以及计算机建模来确定沿着溪流的三角叶杨之间的基因流动，以弄清楚三角叶棉白杨如何与美洲落叶松相互作用，并确定美洲落叶松入侵如何改变这些栖息地中的所有植物及其提供的服务。 随着环境条件的变化，基础物种要么适应，要么灭绝。基于弗里蒙特棉白杨的河边栖息地的丧失很重要，因为它们是生物多样性的热点，并为该地区的当地人口提供服务。这个项目可能会改变我们对基础物种的看法，以及它们对重大干扰的反应，沿着的还有它们所栖息的其他植物、动物和昆虫。这对保护规划很有帮助。 该项目将为小学和中学教师提供课程计划和教材，并为本科生和研究生提供机会。 它还将就如何应对气候变化和入侵物种的影响扩大对公众的宣传。现场实验将与西南实验花园阵列合作进行，该阵列的重点是利用遗传学来应对气候变化的影响。调查结果还将在一个公共外联网站上公布。