Effects of artificial climate warming and competition on growth of Alliaria petiolata and Vincetoxicum rossicum
Loading...
Authors
Sherise Vialva
Date
2024-05-10
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Alliaria petiolata , Vincetoxicum rossicum , Garlic mustard , Dog-strangling vine , Climate change , Competition , Co-existence
Alternative Title
Abstract
Climate change and exotic invasive species are both major threats to global biodiversity. Experimental studies typically treat these as separate phenomena, but their impacts may be
antagonistic. For example, studies investigating the ecology of invasive species usually focus on interactions with invasive species even though habitats often include many competing invaders. In this thesis, I study competition between two invasive species in southern Ontario, Vincetoxicum rossicum and Alliaria petiolata, where they threaten local biodiversity. First, I
investigate the extent of co-existence between V. rossicum and A. petiolata at different spatial scales, using observational records and targeted field surveys. Second, I set up a field
experiment conducted at the Queen’s University Biological Station (QUBS) using artificial warming chambers to test how future climate warming may affect future co-existence. Results
from the field survey show that V. rossicum and A. petiolata frequently co-exist locally in southern Ontario, as close as 0.5 m2. In the QUBS experiment, A. petiolata was a stronger competitor than V. rossicum, having no significant difference in size between individuals growing in the two competition treatments. Conversely, V. rossicum was, on average, 20 %
shorter when grown with A. petiolata than grown with other V. rossicum. Additionally, climate warming appears to benefit A. petiolata more than V. rossicum with A. petiolata height, number of leaves, and leaf area all becoming significantly larger under warming conditions. On the other hand, only V. rossicum height increased under warming conditions while leaf number and leaf area were unaffected. Based on these results, I predict that A. petiolata is more of a threat than V. rossicum and will become more so in the future, and therefore the former should be a higher priority for control when both species are present in an area.
Description
Citation
Publisher
License
Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International