Dispersal in a changing climate: The effect of climate change on an invasive thistle

Britta Teller, Penn State

February 18, 2010 @ 12:20 pm to 01:10 pm

10 Tyson Building

Climate change is expected to affect many aspects of populations including their interspecific interactions. More specifically, invasive species are often hypothesized to make a larger impact on native communities in the context of future climate change. However, the capacity of invasive species to respond to changing conditions in terms of dispersal and spread has not been assessed. In this experiment we used open top chambers and water addition to change the microsite characteristics of the invasive thistle, Carduus nutans, during its growing period. Primary capitula were then submitted for wind tunnel testing to assess them for differences in dispersal characteristics.

Contact

Kristen Granger
klg297@psu.edu