Effects of water stress on dispersal, population growth and spread of Carduus nutans

Ecologists attempt to understand the distribution and abundance of species by weighing the effects of the species' competitors, mutualisms, natural enemies and environmental conditions in a given location._ However, existence in a patch does not necessarily provide a causal link to rates of population growth and spread at larger scales -especially in heterogeneous environments._ The overall population's rates of growth and spread will also be determined by maternal response to local conditions, such as water availability, and ability to disperse offspring to habitats that are likely suitable for further growth and reproduction._ This presentation will detail experiments designed to answer whether the proportion of Carduus nutans (Asteraceae) offspring that disperse or are locally retained varies with water-stress in the maternal environment and if explicit and simulated rates of population growth and spread will vary accordingly.