Sedgwick Reserve

19 Nov, 01 AM - 30 Nov, 09 AM

Purpose of Research The goal of this project is to determine if annual plant species occurring on serpentine hummocks are differentially adapted to their local site conditions. This work extends well-established theory on how gene flow influences species range boundaries to the smaller spatial scale of habitat use in a heterogeneous environment. In a landscape where selection pressures vary spatially, asymmetric gene flow from areas of high population density to areas of low density may constrain adaptation in low density areas by introducing maladapted genotypes. At Sedgwick Reserve, this is potentially relevant to annual plant species that occur in a patchy environment, primarily on serpentine hummocks but also grading into a matrix dominated by European grasses. Furthermore, because these species display a wide variety of pollination syndromes and seed dispersal mechanisms, they likely differ in the extent of gene flow between high and low density areas. A reciprocal transplant experiment will be used to determine if there is a relationship between gene flow and the degree of local adaptation across species. Project Description On 10 hummocks, I will establish a pair of 80x60 cm plots (at the hummock center and at the edge between hummock and grassland). Plots will be marked with removable flagging at the corners and will be cleared of all existing seedlings. Seeds collected during the previous growing season will be sewn into plots with 20 cm spacing between individuals. Germinants will be monitored throughout the 2009-2010 growing season. Seeds of all germinants will be collected as they mature. Plots will be disassembled in August 2010 and allowed to naturally recolonize.

Visit #19856 @Sedgwick Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 20849 | Research

Local adaptation of serpentine annual plants

graduate_student - University of California, Santa Barbara

Reservation Members(s)

David Viola Nov 19 - 30, 2009 (12 days)
David Viola Nov 19 - 30, 2009 (12 days)
David Viola Nov 19 - 30, 2009 (12 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Day Use Only 3 Nov 19 - 30, 2009