Collaborative Research: Landscape Genetic Connectivity of a Foundation Tree Species: Implications for Dependent Communities Facing Climate Change and Exotic Species Invasion

合作研究：基础树种的景观遗传连通性：对面临气候变化和外来物种入侵的依赖社区的影响

• 批准号: 1340852
• 负责人: Gerard Allan
• 金额: $ 215.38万
• 依托单位: Northern Arizona University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-07-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1340852&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Landscape; Genetic; Connectivity

An important topic of research today is how temperature affects the diversity of life on earth. At the same time as the climate is rapidly changing though, there is also rapid expansion of highly invasive, exotic species that additionally threaten biodiversity by displacing native species. The combined effects present an enormous challenge to land managers, as they may threaten established ecosystems and undermine the services they provide to humans. One way to meet this challenge is to study the effects on what are called foundation species. This study focuses on Fremont cottonwood, a foundation tree species that creates unique habitats along streams in the southwestern United States. These habitats support a high diversity of microbes, insects and animals, but are threatened by climate change along with a major invasive tree species, tamarisk, that displaces the native cottonwood and drastically alters the habitat and the beneficial ecosystem services it provides. The project uses genomic techniques, plus experiments that involve planting the same tree species in a range of areas, and computer modeling to determine gene flow among the cottonwoods along streams, to figure out how the cottonwood interacts with tamarisk, and to determine how tamarisk invasion changes all of the plants in these habitats and the services they provide. As environmental conditions change, foundation species must either adapt or go extinct. The loss of streamside habitats that are based on Fremont cottonwood is important because they are hotspots of biodiversity and provide services to local human populations in the region. This project may transform how we think of foundation species and how they respond to major disturbances, along with the other plants, animals and insects they harbor. This is useful for conservation planning. The project will provide lesson plans and teaching materials for elementary and high school teachers and opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. It will also expand outreach to the public on how to approach the impacts of climate change and invasive species. The field experiments will be installed in collaboration with the Southwest Experimental Garden Array, which is focused on using genetics to address climate change impacts. The results will also be made available on a public outreach website.

当今研究的一个重要主题是温度如何影响地球上的生命多样性。在气候正在迅速变化的同时，高度侵入性的外来物种也迅速扩张，这些物种还通过取代本地物种而又威胁着生物多样性。综合效果对土地管理者提出了巨大的挑战，因为他们可能威胁到建立的生态系统并破坏他们为人类提供的服务。 应对这一挑战的一种方法是研究对所谓的基础物种的影响。这项研究的重点是弗里蒙特·科顿伍德（Fremont Cottonwood），这是一种基础树种，在美国西南部的溪流中创造了独特的栖息地。这些栖息地支持了高度多样性的微生物，昆虫和动物，但受到气候变化的威胁，以及主要的侵入性树种，tamarisk，它使本地棉花木材替代，并极大地改变了其提供的栖息地和有益的生态系统服务。该项目使用基因组技术，以及涉及在一系列区域种植相同树种的实验，以及计算机建模来确定杨木沿溪流之间的基因流，以找出杨木如何与tamarisk相互作用，并确定Tamarisk入侵如何在这些栖息地和提供的服务中改变所有植物。 随着环境条件的变化，基础物种必须适应或灭绝。基于弗里蒙特·科顿伍德（Fremont Cottorwood）的河边栖息地的丧失非常重要，因为它们是生物多样性的热点，并为该地区的当地人口提供服务。该项目可能会改变我们对基金会物种的看法以及它们如何应对重大干扰，以及他们藏有的其他植物，动物和昆虫。这对于保护计划很有用。 该项目将为小学和高中教师提供课程计划和教材，并为本科生和研究生提供机会。 它还将向公众扩大有关如何应对气候变化和入侵物种的影响的信息。现场实验将与西南实验花园阵列合作安装，该阵列的重点是使用遗传学来解决气候变化的影响。结果还将在公共外展网站上提供。