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Harvard Forest REU Symposium Abstract 2015
- Title: Understanding the interactive effects of invasive species and climate change on early Acer rubrum development
- Author: Natalie M Gonzalez (Fullerton College)
- Abstract:
Climate change and non-native plant invasions can strongly impact native plants. However, climate change and species invasion may interact in complex ways, which could affect native species responses. Acer rubrum (red maple) is a common tree species in the northeastern United States where A. petiolata is invading and climate regimes are shifting. For this reason, understanding the possible long-term effects of species invasion and climate change on A. rubrum, particularly in early seedlings, is critical for predicting how recruitment may change over time. Our objectives were to examine how the interaction of A. petiolata invasion and warming impacted germination, survival, phenology, and growth responses of A. rubrum seedlings. We planted A. rubrum in 160 six-inch pots under 4 different treatment types (Control, heated, A. petiolata extract, and heated with A. petiolata) and monitored the seedlings for 8 weeks. Findings for this ongoing experiment suggest that none of the treatments significantly influenced the day of onset of germination. Heating resulted in lower total germination and fewer surviving germinants, but was associated with earlier leaf development and higher leaf counts in later growth. Plants on A. petiolata addition treatments demonstrated higher total germination and more surviving seedlings. Our results suggest that A. petiolata invasion has no detrimental effect on the early development of A. rubrum and heating has later growth benefits. Early stage A. rubrum performance thus may not suffer under mild to moderate A. petiolata invasion, and warming may lead to a longer growing season and increased growth.
- Research Category: Invasive Plants, Pests & Pathogens
