RUI: Collaborative Research: Reasons for Rarity? Exploring Acclimatory and Adaptive Constraints to Commonness

在自然界中，并非所有物种都是平等的。也就是说，虽然有些物种很常见，但其他物种却很罕见。科学家们并不完全理解为什么物种的丰度会存在这样的差异，特别是稀有物种是如何持续存在的。由于自然界是动态的，为了生存，物种必须成功地应对它们所经历的环境变化。可能的方法包括适应和适应。适应涉及到世代之间种群的基因变化。这种适应能力受到种群内变异的影响，而这种变异对于数量很少的稀有物种来说可能是有限的。适应包括个体在其一生中适应不同环境的能力。面对快速的环境变化，适应可能尤其重要，因为适应需要时间。这项研究将研究常见和稀有植物物种如何适应和适应环境变化，以了解它们如何持续存在。这项研究的结果将有助于指导稀有物种的保护，并将促进植物园和几所本科大学的研究人员之间的合作。这项研究将支持学生的体验式学习，以及对来自自然科学和社区大学中代表性不足群体的学生的指导和包容。最后，该项目还将通过科学咖啡厅和植物园外展机会吸引公众参与。为什么有些物种罕见而另一些物种常见的问题是持久的，并且对生态理论、稀有物种保护和生物多样性模式的理解具有重要意义。这项研究将采用多方面的方法来解决为什么有些物种很罕见，而另一些物种很常见。首先，为了评估与物种共性相关的潜在适应和适应性限制，将利用受控环境进行实验室实验，以及实地调查，以比较一组罕见的地方性和常见的同属植物物种内部和之间的遗传多样性和生态生理可塑性。其次，为了构建实证研究框架并了解与植物稀有度相关的性状，将对现有的主要文献进行全面综合。第三，为了预测稀有物种的表现和持久性，将利用基于经验推导的性状和可塑性的数据来开发基于机制性状的模型。本研究支持的合作研究工作将为物种稀有度提供更深入的概念理解，并为保护工作提供指导。

In the natural world all species are not represented equally. That is, while some species are common, others are rare. Scientists do not fully understand why such differences in the abundance of species exist and in particular how rare species can continue to persist. As the natural world is dynamic, in order to persist, species must successfully respond to the environmental changes they experience. Possible ways to do this include adaptation and acclimation. Adaptation involves a genetic change in a population over generations. This ability to adapt is influenced by the variation found within a population and this variation may be limited for rare species, which often are found in small numbers. Acclimation involves the ability of an individual within its life-time to adjustment to different conditions. Acclimation may be especially important in the face of rapid environmental change because adaptation takes time. This study will examine how common and rare plant species adapt and acclimate to environmental change to understand how each can persist. The results of this study will help guide the conservation of rare species and will foster collaborations among researchers at botanical gardens and several undergraduate focused universities. This research will support student experiential learning, as well as the mentoring and inclusion of students from underrepresented groups in the natural sciences and community colleges. Finally, this project will also engage the public through science cafés and outreach opportunities at botanical gardens.The question of why some species are rare while others are common is enduring and has important implications for ecological theory, the conservation of rare species, and the understanding of biodiversity patterns. This study will use a multi-faceted approach to address why some species are rare while others are common. First, to assess the potential acclimatory and adaptive constraints associated with the commonness of species, laboratory experiments using controlled-environments, as well as field surveys, will be conducted to compare the genetic diversity and ecophysiological plasticity found within and across a suite of rare endemic and common congeneric plant species. Second, to frame empirical investigations and understand the traits associated with plant rarity, a comprehensive synthesis of the existing primary literature will be conducted. And third, to predict the performance and persistence of rare species, empirically derived trait and plasticity based data will be used to develop mechanistic trait-based models. The collaborative research efforts supported by this study will provide a deeper conceptual understanding of species rarity and guidance for conservation efforts.