Dissertation Research: Symbiosis and the Spatial Spread of Clonal Plant Populations

[00:73255]共生是指不同物种的生物体之间的亲密伙伴关系，其中一方经常生活在另一方之中。共生是所有物种相互作用中最普遍的一种，但也是最不为人所知的一种。共生关系引起的种群动态变化可能对其他物种的相互作用和群落结构产生级联效应。为了更好地了解共生如何影响种群动态，本研究将重点研究共生微生物Epichloe glyceriae如何改变其寄主草Glyceria striata的克隆生长特性。共生对无性系生长模式、寄主无性系内资源运输以及自然种群中感染与未感染植物的空间格局的影响将被研究。共生在自然系统和人工管理系统中都很重要，因为正共生和负共生在所有群落中都很普遍。了解真菌共生对寄主植物生长形式的影响对自然群落的多样性、农业系统的生产力和保护管理实践具有重要意义。对共生的广泛影响的认识也将为群落结构、物种之间的联系和生物多样性的重要性提供新的视角。

0073255Clay & PanSymbioses are intimate partnerships between organisms of different species, where one partner often lives within the other. Symbiosis is one of the most pervasive of all species interactions, yet one of the least understood. Changes in population dynamics from symbiosis may lead to cascading effects on other species interactions and community structure. In order to better understand how population dynamics are affected by symbiosis, the proposed research will focus on how a symbiotic microbe, Epichloe glyceriae, alters clonal growth characteristics of its host grass, Glyceria striata. The consequences of symbiosis on patterns of clonal growth, resource transport within host clones, and spatial pattern of infected vs uninfected plants in natural populations will be examined.Symbiosis is important in both natural and managed systems, as both positive and negative symbioses are widespread in all communities. Understanding the effects of fungal symbiosis on the grwoth form of host plants has important implications for the diversity of natural communities, productivity of agricultural systems, and management practices for conservation. Awareness of the extensive influences of symbiosis will also provide a new perspective on community structure, links between species, and the importance of biological diversity.