Diversity and resilience of plant communities in isolated ecosystems

孤立生态系统中植物群落的多样性和恢复力

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-04179
• 负责人: Pellerin, Stéphanie
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: Université de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=714683
• 关键词: Diversity; resilience; plant; communities; isolated

In many parts of the world, the destruction and fragmentation of ecosystems have reached such a high proportion that remaining plant communities are constrained within a matrix of humanized habitats. The composition, structure and landscape dynamics of this matrix exert a strong influence on the diversity and dynamics of remaining ecosystems. The long-term objective of my research program is to increase our understanding of the processes that influence the resilience of plant communities constrained within a matrix of humanized habitats. Ultimately, this research will inform strategies for mitigating the direct and indirect impacts of environmental changes on ecosystems. My short-term goals are to 1) evaluate the effect of tree encroachment on wetland composition, diversity and resilience and 2) investigate the relationship between urbanization and biotic homogenization. The projects carried out to achieve these first two objectives will also make it possible to 3) identify which processes and components are responsible for community assembly and beta diversity changes. Bogs isolated in agricultural landscapes as well as urban forests and vacant herbaceous lots will serve as study models. To identify changes in diversity and composition, my team will primarily use a resampling approach (revisiting plots sampled 30-40 years ago) and a space-for-time substitution methodology. Such a historical approach enables robust links between the drivers of change and environmental response to be made, as plants often have a time-lagged response to landscape modifications. My program offers a unique opportunity to improve our knowledge of the ecological processes and mechanisms that govern ecosystem dynamics and composition. This knowledge is essential to eventually be able to foster ecosystem resilience in face of growing human-induced pressures and to improve programs for the conservation and sustainable management of ecosystems, especially those specific to wetlands and urban ecosystems. Thanks to my program, many HQP will have the opportunity to develop highly valuable skills in statistics, plant biology and conservation. MSc students will all acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue doctoral studies in community ecology if they wish or equip them for advanced biology-related employment. PhD students will come to possess advanced knowledge on the processes responsible for community assembly and will be well positioned for a research career.

在世界许多地方，生态系统的破坏和破碎化程度如此之高，以至于剩余的植物群落被限制在人性化的栖息地矩阵内。该矩阵的组成、结构和景观动态对剩余生态系统的多样性和动态产生强烈影响。 我的研究计划的长期目标是增加我们对影响人性化栖息地矩阵内植物群落恢复能力的过程的理解。最终，这项研究将为减轻环境变化对生态系统的直接和间接影响的战略提供信息。 我的短期目标是 1) 评估树木侵占对湿地组成、多样性和恢复力的影响，2) 调查城市化和生物同质化之间的关系。为实现前两个目标而开展的项目还将使 3) 确定哪些流程和组件负责社区组装和 beta 多样性变化。 农业景观中孤立的沼泽以及城市森林和空置草本地将作为研究模型。为了识别多样性和构成的变化，我的团队将主要使用重采样方法（重新访问 30-40 年前采样的图）和空间换时间替代方法。这种历史方法可以在变化的驱动因素和环境响应之间建立强有力的联系，因为植物对景观变化的反应通常是滞后的。 我的项目提供了一个独特的机会来提高我们对生态过程和控制生态系统动态和组成的机制的了解。这些知识对于最终能够增强生态系统抵御日益增长的人为压力的能力以及改进生态系统保护和可持续管理计划至关重要，特别是针对湿地和城市生态系统的计划。 感谢我的项目，许多总部项目将有机会培养统计、植物生物学和保护方面非常有价值的技能。如果理学硕士学生希望或装备他们从事高级生物学相关的工作，他们都将获得攻读社区生态学博士学位所需的技能和知识。博士生将掌握负责社区组装过程的高级知识，并将为研究生涯做好准备。