How Do Native Plant Density and Diversity Interact to Promote Biotic Resistance?
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
3-29-2022 4:15 PM
End Date
3-29-2022 7:00 PM
Description
Biotic resistance, the ability of resident species to limit invasion, is a critical process determining plant community composition and ecosystem function during colonization of disturbed habitats. Two factors that influence biotic resistance are native seed density and diversity, but it is unknown whether this effect is additive or synergistic. My research addresses the question: how does native wetland plant density and diversity interact to prevent invasion by Phragmites australis, a non-native grass from Eurasia that has taken over emergent wetlands? I will use both greenhouse and field experiments to answer my question. My greenhouse experiment will have two goals: 1) to determine the biotic resistance of different native plant species against P. australis at different densities and 2) to collect data on seedling and adult traits of each native species to develop functional groups to use in future native plant diversity experiments. The field experiment will use a full factorial design examining two levels of density and two levels of functional diversity (determined using the trait data from the first experiment) to measure the relative importance of diversity and density to biotic resistance, as well as any interactions between the two. The outcomes of this research will inform restoration practice by demonstrating how to utilize both plant mix density and diversity for restoring invasion resistant habitats. Knowing the factors that promote biotic resistance against typical levels of invader propagule pressure, practitioners will be able to estimate the amount of seed needed to achieve restoration goals given available resources.
How Do Native Plant Density and Diversity Interact to Promote Biotic Resistance?
Logan, UT
Biotic resistance, the ability of resident species to limit invasion, is a critical process determining plant community composition and ecosystem function during colonization of disturbed habitats. Two factors that influence biotic resistance are native seed density and diversity, but it is unknown whether this effect is additive or synergistic. My research addresses the question: how does native wetland plant density and diversity interact to prevent invasion by Phragmites australis, a non-native grass from Eurasia that has taken over emergent wetlands? I will use both greenhouse and field experiments to answer my question. My greenhouse experiment will have two goals: 1) to determine the biotic resistance of different native plant species against P. australis at different densities and 2) to collect data on seedling and adult traits of each native species to develop functional groups to use in future native plant diversity experiments. The field experiment will use a full factorial design examining two levels of density and two levels of functional diversity (determined using the trait data from the first experiment) to measure the relative importance of diversity and density to biotic resistance, as well as any interactions between the two. The outcomes of this research will inform restoration practice by demonstrating how to utilize both plant mix density and diversity for restoring invasion resistant habitats. Knowing the factors that promote biotic resistance against typical levels of invader propagule pressure, practitioners will be able to estimate the amount of seed needed to achieve restoration goals given available resources.