DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Species Pools and Plant Traits as Constraints on Species Diversity across Productivity Gradients

Michigan State University, East Lansing MI

Investigators

Abstract

Explaining why species diversity varies among plant communities remains difficult because diversity is affected by many environmental factors that interact at different scales. Although several studies have shown that larger pools of potentially colonizing species increase local diversity, we recently found that this rate of increase depends on the productivity of a particular site. We propose to test if colonization by new species is controlled by site productivity or by the resident species, and if traits of potential colonists can be used to predict successful colonization under varying environmental conditions. These results will contribute to generalizations that can be applied to conservation and restoration of diversity in plant communities, and to understanding what influences invasion of exotic species.