DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The Effect of Plant Dispersal on Ecosystem Function

论文研究：植物扩散对生态系统功能的影响

• 批准号: 1601508
• 负责人: Jason Fridley
• 金额: $ 1.64万
• 依托单位: Syracuse University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-05-01 至 2018-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1601508&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Effect; Plant; Dispersal

Plant communities are the main source of energy for the rest of life. Habitat loss and fragmentation -- the conversion of large areas into isolated smaller areas -- threaten the diversity of plant communities and ecosystem functions (essential services provided by plants). Thus, it important that we understand how to maintain plant communities and how they help ecosystems function. This project explores how seed dispersal in fragmented habitats helps sustain plant diversity and promote ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycles and decomposition rates. Investigators will examine whether habitat fragmentation has an unusually large impact on the abundance of plant species that are poor seed dispersers and, if so, how loss of these species may result in loss of ecosystem function. Scientists working on this project will engage with the public through talks, a workshop, and internship opportunities. Results will help inform the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and their mission of conservation. Investigators will study impacts of habitat fragmentation on plant communities and ecosystem functions, using a set of islands in Lake Strom Thurmond, South Carolina. Plant communities, plant chemical and physical attributes, and soil properties will be measured on 20 islands of different levels of spatial isolation (near shore versus far from shore) and historic disturbance. Specifically, investigators will quantify the abundance and diversity of plant species, leaf properties of those species, soil nitrogen availability, and microbial decomposition rates. These data will be used to test the hypothesis that spatial isolation and disturbance affect ecosystem function by altering plant species composition. Statistical models will test 1) whether ecosystem carbon and nutrient fluxes are a function of spatial isolation, disturbance history, and leaf properties; and 2) whether dispersal limitation caused by island spatial isolation can drive functional composition.

植物群落是余生的主要能源。栖息地的丧失和破碎化 - 将大区域转化为孤立的较小地区 - 威胁着植物群落和生态系统功能的多样性（植物提供的基本服务）。因此，重要的是要了解如何维持植物群落以及它们如何帮助生态系统的运作。该项目探讨了种子分散栖息地中的种子如何有助于维持植物多样性并促进生态系统功能，例如营养周期和分解速率。 研究人员将检查栖息地破碎化是否对种子分散剂的植物物种的丰富性有异常的影响，如果是，这些物种的损失可能导致生态系统功能的丧失。 从事该项目的科学家将通过谈判，研讨会和实习机会与公众互动。 结果将有助于告知美国陆军公司的工程师及其保护任务。研究人员将使用南卡罗来纳州斯特罗姆·瑟蒙德湖的一组岛屿研究栖息地破碎对植物群落和生态系统功能的影响。植物群落，植物化学和物理属性以及土壤特性将在20个不同水平的空间隔离岛（靠近岸边而远离海岸）和历史性干扰上进行测量。具体而言，研究人员将量化植物物种的丰度和多样性，这些物种的叶片性质，土壤氮的可用性和微生物分解速率。这些数据将用于检验以下假设：空间隔离和干扰通过改变植物物种组成影响生态系统的功能。统计模型将测试1）生态系统碳和营养通量是否是空间分离，干扰病史和叶片特性的函数； 2）岛屿空间隔离引起的分散限制是否可以驱动功能组成。