Elucidating the drivers of plant community dynamics on fragmented landscapes

阐明破碎景观上植物群落动态的驱动因素

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-05380
• 负责人: McCune, Jenny
• 金额: $ 2.77万
• 依托单位: University of Lethbridge
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=717609
• 关键词: Elucidating; drivers; plant; community; dynamics

The long-term goal of my research program is to test key hypotheses concerning the drivers of short- and long-term changes in plant communities on anthropogenic landscapes. Over the next 5 years I will test the relative influence of dispersal ability, availability of suitable habitat, landscape context, and interactions between these factors in predicting whether or not a focal plant species of conservation concern is present in a local community. This work builds on my research over the past 5 years quantifying suitable habitat for rare plant species in the fragmented woodlands of southern Ontario using species distribution models (SDMs). My short-term objectives are: (1) To test whether measuring the amount of species-specific suitable habitat on the landscape surrounding a focal site can improve the ability of SDMs to predict species occupancy. Using geospatial analyses, my lab will test whether species-specific delineation of habitat improves our ability to predict the presence or absence of plant species of conservation concern based on habitat amount as a measure of connectivity. It has been shown that the role of habitat connectivity in predicting the presence or absence of bird species is more accurately estimated using species-specific delineation of habitat, but this approach has yet to be tested for plants. 2) To quantify the role of dispersal limitation and establishment limitation in the colonization of suitable habitat by plants. We will design and implement the first project to use SDMs for directing translocation of rare plant species. Planting trials will occur over a range of habitat suitability levels, including some sites currently already occupied by each species. We will also test the relative importance of dispersal ability and establishment by out-planting seeds, seedlings, and mature individuals. This research will provide a rare empirical test of SDM predictions, and help to fill the current gap in rare plant translocation research in Canada. 3) To estimate effective dispersal rates of pollen and seeds between isolated populations of rare plants on a fragmented landscape. We will use genetic analyses to test whether genetic differentiation between rare plant populations corresponds to geographic isolation of populations and/or contiguity of suitable habitat. We will quantify genetic diversity within and between populations of two species with contrasting life histories: the wood poppy and the crooked-stem aster. By examining genetic diversity within and between populations of these species we will determine how the severe fragmentation of southern Ontario forests is influencing genetic patterns. The proposed research will provide insight into fundamental ecological questions, such as whether niche limitation or dispersal limitation predominates in community assembly. The results will also inform future conservation planning and policy for plant species at risk in southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada.

我的研究计划的长期目标是测试有关人类景观植物群落短期和长期变化的驱动因素的关键假设。在接下来的5年里，我将测试的相对影响力的扩散能力，提供合适的栖息地，景观环境，以及这些因素之间的相互作用，在预测是否有一个焦点植物物种的保护关注是目前在当地社区。这项工作建立在我的研究在过去的5年中量化的稀有植物物种在破碎的林地南部安大略使用物种分布模型（SDM）的合适的栖息地。 我的短期目标是： (1)为了测试是否测量特定物种的适宜栖息地周围的景观焦点网站可以提高SDMs预测物种占用的能力。利用地理空间分析，我的实验室将测试物种特异性的栖息地划分是否提高了我们的能力，以预测存在或不存在的植物物种的保护关注的基础上栖息地数量作为连接的措施。它已被证明，在预测鸟类物种的存在或不存在的栖息地连接的作用是更准确地估计使用物种特异性的栖息地划定，但这种方法还有待测试的植物。 2)量化植物在适宜生境定殖中的扩散限制和建群限制作用。我们将设计和实施第一个利用SDM指导稀有植物物种转移的项目。种植试验将在一系列栖息地适宜性水平上进行，包括目前已经被每个物种占据的一些地点。我们还将测试的相对重要性的传播能力和建立外种植种子，幼苗，和成熟的个人。本研究将为SDM预测提供一个罕见的实证检验，并有助于填补加拿大稀有植物易位研究的空白。 3)估计破碎景观中稀有植物隔离种群间花粉和种子的有效传播率。我们将使用遗传分析来测试稀有植物种群之间的遗传分化是否对应于种群的地理隔离和/或合适栖息地的邻近。我们将量化两个物种的种群内和种群间的遗传多样性，这两个物种具有截然不同的生活史：木罂粟和弯茎紫菀。通过研究这些物种的种群内和种群之间的遗传多样性，我们将确定如何严重的片段化南部安大略森林影响遗传模式。 拟议的研究将提供深入了解基本的生态问题，如生态位限制或扩散限制是否占主导地位的社区集会。研究结果还将为安大略南部和加拿大其他地区未来的濒危植物物种保护规划和政策提供信息。