| Abstract Detail
The Botany of Invasions Quarles, Brandie [1], Donohue, Kathleen [2]. Investigating Dispersal and Potential Colonization Success in an Annual Plant. Studying the factors that contribute to species’ spread is key to understanding species invasions, species’ ranges, and predicting responses to climate change and habitat fragmentation. Spatial dispersal is one such factor. In order for spatial dispersal to be successful, individuals have to survive and reproduce in the post-dispersal environment. Both the quantity and genetic/phenotypic composition of “dispersed” individuals contribute to post-dispersal population success. I placed “dispersal trays” at 3 distances away from source populations composed of seeds from 231 natural ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana in the field and brought them into the greenhouse after the first dispersal season to get dispersed seeds to grow. I counted the number of individuals that grew from the different distances and measured reproductive traits that might be associated with dispersal and fitness-related traits. In addition, since there is a high likelihood that individuals will encounter new abiotic or biotic conditions post-dispersal, it is important to understand how spatial dispersal itself may contribute to post-dispersal success. Dispersal can influence the distribution of genetic variation within and between populations, as well as population size, both of which contribute to the potential for adaptation to novel conditions. In order to investigate the effects of dispersal on population persistence, I compared population size dynamics, the distribution of genetic variation within and between sub-populations, and rates of local adaptation between sub-populations of A. thaliana open to (Uncaged) or closed to (Caged) spatial dispersal in the field.
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1 - Duke University, Biology Department, Room 137, Biological Sciences Building, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, United States
2 - Duke University, Dept Of Biology, Box 90338, Durham, NC, 27708, United States
Keywords:
Seed Dispersal
Population Demography
Species Spread Rates
Biased Dispersal
Environmental Tracking.
Presentation Type: Symposium Presentation
Session: SY2, The Botany of Invasions
Location: /
Date: Monday, July 19th, 2021
Time: 1:00 PM(EDT)
Number: SY2007
Abstract ID:129
Candidate for Awards:Ecological Section Best Graduate Student Paper |
