DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Examination of range-wide variation in American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) demography and population viability in the context of climate change

准确预测物种对气候变化的反应对于制定下个世纪成功的保护战略是必要的。这项研究将检验西洋参种群增长对年际气候变化的响应变化，并利用这些信息来预测人参种群在未来气候条件下的生存能力。特别是，主要研究人员将研究是否适应当地气候限制了人参应对气候变化的能力。来自人参自然范围内的长期(7-10年)人口数据集将用于检测种群对气候变化的反应模式，并形成预测未来种群生存能力的模型的基础。将使用现场和实验室实验来测试当地对气候的适应情况。如果人参种群适应当地气候，那么下个世纪预计的定向升温可能会对这种重要经济作物范围内的所有种群产生负面影响。西洋参是美国首要的野生药用植物物种，为阿巴拉契亚家庭创造了重要的补充收入。气候变化有可能对这一宝贵的自然资源以及其他类似物种产生负面影响。制定应对气候变化的人口生存模式，最终将成为全球变暖背景下有效养护和管理战略的基础。

Accurate projections of species response to climate change are necessary to develop successful conservation strategies for the next century. This research will examine variation in population growth of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in response among-year climate variation, and use this information to predict the viability of ginseng populations under future climatic conditions. In particular, the principal investigators will examine whether adaptation to local climate limits the ability of ginseng to respond to climate change. A long-term (7 - 10 year), demographic dataset from across ginseng's natural range will be used to detect patterns of population response to climate variation, and form the basis for models that predict future population viability. Field and laboratory experiments will be used to test for local adaptation to climate. If populations of ginseng are adapted to local climate, then the directional temperature increases projected for the next century may negatively affect all populations throughout the range of this economically important plant.American ginseng is the United States' premier wild-harvested medicinal plant species, generating important supplemental income for Appalachian families. Climate change threatens to negatively impact this valuable natural resource as well as other similar species. Developing models of population viability in response to climate change will ultimately serve as the foundation for effective conservation and management strategies in the context of global warming.