Elucidating the drivers of plant community dynamics on fragmented landscapes

阐明破碎景观上植物群落动态的驱动因素

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-05380
• 负责人: MCCUNE, JENNY
• 金额: $ 2.77万
• 依托单位: University of Lethbridge
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=740537
• 关键词: Elucidating; drivers; plant; community; dynamics

The long-term goal of my research program is to test key hypotheses concerning the drivers of short- and long-term changes in plant communities on anthropogenic landscapes. Over the next 5 years I will test the relative influence of dispersal ability, availability of suitable habitat, landscape context, and interactions between these factors in predicting whether or not a focal plant species of conservation concern is present in a local community. This work builds on my research over the past 5 years quantifying suitable habitat for rare plant species in the fragmented woodlands of southern Ontario using species distribution models (SDMs). My short-term objectives are: (1) To test whether measuring the amount of species-specific suitable habitat on the landscape surrounding a focal site can improve the ability of SDMs to predict species occupancy. Using geospatial analyses, my lab will test whether species-specific delineation of habitat improves our ability to predict the presence or absence of plant species of conservation concern based on habitat amount as a measure of connectivity. It has been shown that the role of habitat connectivity in predicting the presence or absence of bird species is more accurately estimated using species-specific delineation of habitat, but this approach has yet to be tested for plants. 2) To quantify the role of dispersal limitation and establishment limitation in the colonization of suitable habitat by plants. We will design and implement the first project to use SDMs for directing translocation of rare plant species. Planting trials will occur over a range of habitat suitability levels, including some sites currently already occupied by each species. We will also test the relative importance of dispersal ability and establishment by out-planting seeds, seedlings, and mature individuals. This research will provide a rare empirical test of SDM predictions, and help to fill the current gap in rare plant translocation research in Canada. 3) To estimate effective dispersal rates of pollen and seeds between isolated populations of rare plants on a fragmented landscape. We will use genetic analyses to test whether genetic differentiation between rare plant populations corresponds to geographic isolation of populations and/or contiguity of suitable habitat. We will quantify genetic diversity within and between populations of two species with contrasting life histories: the wood poppy and the crooked-stem aster. By examining genetic diversity within and between populations of these species we will determine how the severe fragmentation of southern Ontario forests is influencing genetic patterns. The proposed research will provide insight into fundamental ecological questions, such as whether niche limitation or dispersal limitation predominates in community assembly. The results will also inform future conservation planning and policy for plant species at risk in southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada.

我的研究计划的长期目标是测试有关人为景观中植物群落短期和长期变化的驱动因素的关键假设。在接下来的5年中，我将测试分散能力，合适栖息地的可用性，景观环境的可用性以及这些因素之间的相互作用，以预测当地社区中是否存在着保存关注的焦点植物物种。这项工作以我在过去5年的研究为基础，该研究使用物种分布模型（SDMS）量化了安大略省南部南部林地中稀有植物物种的合适栖息地。我的短期目标是：（1）测试围绕焦点位点围绕景观的物种特异性栖息地的数量是否可以提高SDMS预测物种占用的能力。使用地理空间分析，我的实验室将测试栖息地的特定物种特定的划定是否可以提高我们根据栖息地量来预测存在或不存在保护植物物种的能力，以衡量连通性。已经表明，使用栖息地的物种特定的描述，可以更准确地估算栖息地连通性在预测存在或不存在的作用，但是这种方法尚未对植物进行测试。 2）量化分散限制和建立限制在植物合适栖息地定植中的作用。我们将设计和实施第一个使用SDM来指导稀有植物物种易位的项目。种植试验将在一系列的栖息地适合水平上进行，包括目前已经被每个物种占据的某些地点。我们还将通过超越种子，幼苗和成熟个体来测试分散能力和建立的相对重要性。这项研究将为SDM预测提供罕见的经验测试，并有助于填补加拿大稀有植物易位研究的当前空白。 3）估计在碎片景观上，稀有植物孤立种群之间花粉和种子的有效分散率。我们将使用遗传分析来测试稀有植物种群之间的遗传分化是否对应于种群的地理分离和/或合适栖息地的连续性。我们将量化两个物种的种群内和之间的遗传多样性，这些物种具有对比鲜明的生活史：木罂粟和弯曲的茎。通过检查这些物种种群内部和之间的遗传多样性，我们将确定安大略省南部森林的严重碎片化如何影响遗传模式。 拟议的研究将为基本生态问题提供洞察力，例如在社区议会中占主导地位的利基限制还是分散限制。结果还将为安大略省南部和加拿大其他地方处于危险中的植物物种的未来保护计划和政策提供信息。