THE EFFECTS OF BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC SOIL CHARACTERISTICS ON POPULATION SIZE VARIATION OF LOBELIA SIPHILICITA
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Kent State University / OhioLINK
2008
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| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1228160953 |
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-kent12281609532021-08-03T05:36:49Z THE EFFECTS OF BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC SOIL CHARACTERISTICS ON POPULATION SIZE VARIATION OF LOBELIA SIPHILICITA Hovatter, Stephanie R. SOIL Plants POPULATION SIZE siphilitica seeds germination seed source Populations of plants can vary dramatically in the number of individuals they contain. Small populations are often at greater risk of extinction, making it important to understand why some populations consist of hundreds of plants while others contain fewer than twenty. Factors that affect germination, seedling establishment, growth, or survival will likely have a significant effect on population size. Because plants are continually in contact with the soil environment, such factors likely include interactions with soil microbes, such as fungi, and aspects of soil chemistry and composition. Lobelia siphilitica, an herbaceous perennial plant native to the eastern United States, exhibits a high degree of variation in population size. I sampled soils from 14 populations across Ohio and West Virginia, ranging in size continuously from 30-330 individuals. I have conducted two detailed studies addressing regional variability in soil properties, microbial community composition, and plant-microbe feedback that may explain plant population size variation. The first deals with spatial patterns of soil microbial community composition, and how this organization is affected the presence or absence of this plant species, soil characteristics, and geographic location (Chapter 2). I found that microbial communities found at different microhabitats within the same location can be structured quite differently, and that this may in fact be contributing to the actual soil effect. The second study examines plant-soil feedback and its potential to explain geographic variation in population size in L. siphilitica (Chapter 3). I found regional-scale variation in negative feedback on seed germination, growth, and survival that is likely mediated by biotic components in the soils. The strength of negative feedback was strongly positively correlated with plant population size, suggesting that the combination of negative effects on these plant success traits likely results in the geographic variation that is seen in population size of this particular species. Overall, my results indicate that regional-scale variation in negative feedback is likely mediated by biotic components in the soils, and that this may have severe consequences for low abundance species. 2008-12-01 English text Kent State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1228160953 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1228160953 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
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NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
SOIL Plants POPULATION SIZE siphilitica seeds germination seed source |
| spellingShingle |
SOIL Plants POPULATION SIZE siphilitica seeds germination seed source Hovatter, Stephanie R. THE EFFECTS OF BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC SOIL CHARACTERISTICS ON POPULATION SIZE VARIATION OF LOBELIA SIPHILICITA |
| author |
Hovatter, Stephanie R. |
| author_facet |
Hovatter, Stephanie R. |
| author_sort |
Hovatter, Stephanie R. |
| title |
THE EFFECTS OF BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC SOIL CHARACTERISTICS ON POPULATION SIZE VARIATION OF LOBELIA SIPHILICITA |
| title_short |
THE EFFECTS OF BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC SOIL CHARACTERISTICS ON POPULATION SIZE VARIATION OF LOBELIA SIPHILICITA |
| title_full |
THE EFFECTS OF BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC SOIL CHARACTERISTICS ON POPULATION SIZE VARIATION OF LOBELIA SIPHILICITA |
| title_fullStr |
THE EFFECTS OF BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC SOIL CHARACTERISTICS ON POPULATION SIZE VARIATION OF LOBELIA SIPHILICITA |
| title_full_unstemmed |
THE EFFECTS OF BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC SOIL CHARACTERISTICS ON POPULATION SIZE VARIATION OF LOBELIA SIPHILICITA |
| title_sort |
effects of biotic and abiotic soil characteristics on population size variation of lobelia siphilicita |
| publisher |
Kent State University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2008 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1228160953 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT hovatterstephanier theeffectsofbioticandabioticsoilcharacteristicsonpopulationsizevariationoflobeliasiphilicita AT hovatterstephanier effectsofbioticandabioticsoilcharacteristicsonpopulationsizevariationoflobeliasiphilicita |
| _version_ |
1719422487039574016 |