Community assembly along sub-Arctic roadsides : the role of plant functional traits in native and exotic species ...

• Main Author: Leathem, Jamie Anne
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2014
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0167470; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0167470

Much is known about plant-environment associations, but we are far from able to predict community species composition under a given set of environmental conditions. Recent research using functional traits suggests niche-based processes are vital in structuring communities, though the generality of results across different ecosystems is unknown. I investigated community trait distribution along environmental gradients in sub-Arctic roadsides-- communities which represent novel ecosystems in which to apply trait-based analysis, and which allow for the comparison of ecological strategies and trait distribution of native and exotic species. While these environments have features specific to northern latitudes, they also broadly represent global roadside environments and their important role in the establishment and spread of exotic species. Invasive exotic species present a pervasive threat to global diversity, and understanding mechanisms of assembly, coexistence and strategies of native and exotic roadside ...