Intraspecific Variation in Restoration Species

Intraspecific Variation in Restoration Species

July 10, 2014

Plants occupy space and time differently to avoid competitive interactions by means of variable morphology, phenology, and physiology. Like functional groups, same-species plants avoid competition with one another and diversify their biological strategies by trait variation. The goal of this work is to examine how intraspecific variation contributes to interspecific interactions and plant community functioning in a restoration context.

Download (715.48 KB)

We know little about how intraspecific trait variation influences restoration outcomes. The goal of this work is to examine how intraspecific variation contributes to interspecific interactions and plant community functioning in a restoration context. Can we improve restoration plantings by increasing intraspecific genotypic and phenotypic variation of site-adapted biotypes?

We posit that phenotypic diversity between and within species increases niche occupation and resistance to invasion.

In early February, we started Poa secunda and Festuca idahoensis seeds in the greenhouse with AMF inoculum.

We installed 169 experimental assemblages in the experimental exclosure. We planted 12 total biotypes of Poa secunda, Festuca idahoensis, Gaillardia aristata, and Linum lewisii/perenne at varying levels of diversity (described below). A 2 ft. weed mat surrounds each plot.