A multi-scale approach to determine patterns and drivers of grassland plant diversity

确定草原植物多样性模式和驱动因素的多尺度方法

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-04306
• 负责人: Fraser, Lauchlan
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: Thompson Rivers University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=614975
• 关键词: multi; scale; approach; determine; patterns

The main goal of my research is to understand the mechanics of community and ecosystem functions in temperate grasslands to provide tools to enable their restoration and conservation. I propose to study stress (through climate change) and disturbance (grazing) and how these factors affect plant species composition and diversity. The major stress in temperate grasslands is drought. Global climate change scenarios suggest that temperature will increase and that precipitation patterns will be altered, with a reduction in rainfall during the hottest months in the summer. The research I propose is unique. At a local scale, on grasslands located in the Thompson Plateau in Southern BC, I plan to alter micro-climatic conditions along a natural environmental productivity gradient by manipulating water supply through rainout shelters. I will test local effects of drought on community and ecosystem processes, such as plant trait functions, plant diversity, nutrient cycling and primary productivity dynamics. At a regional scale, I will test the effects of grazing, a pervasive disturbance in grassland ecosystems. While the effects of grazing are well-documented, there are few comprehensive standardized studies across different grassland types. I will test grazing response of the different grassland types found in the interior of British Columbia, with particular attention to plant diversity, plant species composition, and soil carbon sequestration. At a global scale, I will connect my research with two international networks, HerbDivNet (the Herbaceous Diversity Network) and DroughtNet, to encompass a broad array of grassland types from temperate to tropical with respect to diversity patterns and response to drought.

我研究的主要目标是了解温带草原的群落和生态系统功能的机制，以提供工具，使其恢复和保护。我建议研究压力（通过气候变化）和干扰（放牧）以及这些因素如何影响植物物种组成和多样性。温带草原的主要压力是干旱。全球气候变化情景表明，气温将上升，降水模式将改变，夏季最热月份的降雨量将减少。我提出的研究是独一无二的。在局部范围内，在位于卑诗省南部汤普森高原的草原上，我计划通过控制雨水庇护所的供水，沿着沿着自然环境生产力梯度改变微气候条件。我将测试干旱对社区和生态系统过程的影响，如植物性状功能，植物多样性，养分循环和初级生产力动态。在区域尺度上，我将测试放牧的影响，草原生态系统中的普遍干扰。虽然放牧的影响是有据可查的，但很少有对不同草地类型的全面标准化研究。我将测试放牧反应的不同草地类型发现在不列颠哥伦比亚省的内部，特别关注植物多样性，植物物种组成，和土壤固碳。在全球范围内，我将把我的研究与两个国际网络，HerbDivNet（草本植物多样性网络）和干旱网络，包括从温带到热带的各种草原类型的多样性模式和对干旱的反应。