EAPSI: Does Leaf Function Evolve in the Invaded Range? A study of East Asian Forest Invaders in Japan and North America

来自东亚的入侵植物物种在北美森林中越来越多，往往对森林功能和生物多样性产生负面影响。东亚和北美植物获取能量方式的差异可以解释东亚物种的入侵性。该项目将研究在其本土（东亚）和入侵范围（北美）的入侵物种中驱动能量捕获的叶片性状的差异。将在日本仙台的青叶山植物园生长的东亚枫树、樱桃和金银花种的幼苗用作焦点个体。将在纽约州锡拉丘兹使用来自北美人群的个体完成一项重复研究。这个项目是与日本仙台东北大学的生态生理学家Kouki Hiko-young博士合作完成的。这项研究的结果将使土地管理者能够更有效地减少入侵物种的负面影响，这是一项每年投入大量资源和劳动力的奋进。原产于东亚的植物入侵者在北美东部（ENA）森林中越来越多。该项目的目标是了解耐荫、入侵木本物种（代表来自枫树、樱桃和金银花物种）在不同光照水平下最大化碳同化的叶水平生理策略。生理学比较将涉及入侵和非入侵物种，以及非本地物种在本地和入侵范围内的种群水平变化。该项目还将量化能够根据光环境的变化（即在间隙形成后从深阴影到高光）调整叶片生理的潜在成本。在物种和种群水平上理解生理策略的成本和收益将拓宽我们对入侵者用来战胜本地物种的机制的理解。该项目是与东北大学的叶功能专家光喜彦光博士共同合作的成果。该项目是由NSF和日本科学振兴会共同资助的东亚·太平洋夏季研究所（East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes）项目下的一个奖项，旨在支持美国研究生的夏季研究。

Invasive plant species from East Asia are becoming increasingly abundant in North American forests, and often have negative impacts on forest function and biodiversity. Differences in how East Asian and North American plants acquire energy may explain the invasiveness of East Asian species. This project will examine differences in leaf traits driving energy capture in invasive species in their native (East Asia) and invasive ranges (North America). Seedlings of East Asian maple, cherry, and honeysuckle species growing in Aobayama Botanical Garden in Sendai, Japan will be used as focal individuals. A replicate study will be completed in Syracuse, NY using individuals sourced from North American populations. This project is a collaboration with Dr. Kouki Hikosaka, an accomplished ecophysiologist at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan. The results of this study will allow land managers to more efficiently minimize negative impacts of invasive species, an endeavor in which large amounts of resources and labor are invested annually.Plant invaders native to East Asia are increasingly abundant in Eastern North American (ENA) forests. The goal of this project is to understand leaf-level physiological strategies used by shade tolerant, invasive woody species (representatives from maple, cherry, and honeysuckle species to maximize carbon assimilation at different light levels. Physiological comparisons will involve invasive and non-invasive species, as well as population-level variation in non-native species across their native and invasive ranges. This project will also quantify potential costs of being able to adjust leaf physiology to changes in light environments (i.e. from deep shade to high light after gap formation). Understanding the costs and benefits of physiological strategies at both the species and population levels will broaden our understanding of the mechanisms invaders use to outcompete native species. This project is a collaborative effort with Dr. Kouki Hikosaka at Tohoku University, a prominent leaf function expert.This award under the East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes program supports summer research by a U.S. graduate student and is jointly funded by NSF and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.