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

• Main Author: Leathem, Jamie Anne
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2014
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/46846

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 communities can improve our ability to predict invasive species' behaviour. I measured species abundance and three functional traits in 42 roadside plots in the Yukon Territory and compared community traits across elevation, latitude and age of road. Across all species, abundance-weighted community height was negatively correlated with elevation and positively correlated with latitude. Native and exotic species tracked environment differently, however, and exotic species showed correlations between height and road age and between specific leaf area (SLA) and latitude that were not present among native species. A comparison of mean trait values of native and exotic species irrespective of environment revealed specific leaf area (SLA) was greater in exotic species than native species. In addition, I used three null models to test for habitat filtering and competitive exclusion, two important niche-based assembly processes. Ranges of trait values across plots were smaller than expected and trait values more evenly spaced compared to random samples from the regional species pool, suggesting both habitat filtering and competitive exclusion (limiting similarity) shape these disturbance communities. Both processes were found to also affect both presence/absence and abundance of species. Understanding mechanisms of community assembly along roadsides and the characterization of native and exotic community constituents will have important implications for development of conservation management strategies.