DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Experimental Investigations of the Role of Mycorrhizal Fungi in Woody Plant Encroachment in Califorina Grasslands

摘要分散研究：菌根真菌在加州草地木本植物入侵中作用的实验研究南方DEB-0309152A越来越多的研究表明，菌根真菌可能在决定植物分布方面发挥重要作用，森林-草原交错带是研究这一问题的模式系统。本研究探讨菌根真菌在木本植物入侵加州草原中的作用。它研究了森林草原交错带的菌根组合是如何变化的，以及这些真菌促进木本植物入侵的机制。P.I.将使用操控田间和温室实验以及分子技术相结合的方法来评估菌根真菌在木本植物入侵中的重要性。分子技术和田间操作实验的使用将为从实验上确定菌根真菌的重要性提供一个独特的机会。这项研究将对我们目前了解影响植物分布的因素和森林-草原交错带动态的文献有重要的贡献。木本植物入侵是一种普遍存在的现象，在草地管理中引起了极大的关注。通过研究影响木本植物建立的一个潜在的关键因素，对菌根真菌的研究将对有效的管理策略做出重要贡献。

AbstractDISSERTATION RESEARCH: Experimental Investigations of the Role of Mycorrhizal Fungi in Woody Plant Encroachment in California GrasslandsSousaDEB-0309152A growing number of studies suggest that mycorrhizal fungi may play an important role in determining plant distributions, and the forest-grassland ecotone is a model system to investigate this question. This research investigates the role of mycorrhizal fungi in woody plant encroachment into California grasslands. It examines how mycorrhizal assemblages change across the forest-grassland ecotone and the mechanism by which these fungi facilitate woody plant encroachment. The P.I. will use a combination of manipulative field and greenhouse experiments as well as molecular techniques to assess the importance of mycorrhizal fungi in woody plant encroachment. The use of molecular techniques along with field-based manipulative experiments will provide a unique opportunity to experimentally determine the importance of mycorrhizal fungi. This research will make a significant contribution towards our current understanding of the factors affecting plant distributions and the growing literature of forest-grassland ecotone dynamics. Woody plant encroachment is a widespread phenomenon that has considerable concerns for rangeland management. By examining a potentially key factor affecting woody plant establishment, this research on mycorrhizal fungi will make an important contribution to effective management strategies.