Year of Award
2015
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Type
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Degree Name
Forestry
Department or School/College
College of Forestry and Conservation
Committee Chair
Cara R. Nelson
Commitee Members
Ragan M. Callaway, Elizabeth Crone, Lila Fishman, Solomon Dobrowski, Dean E. Pearson
Keywords
local adaptation, native plant materials, plants, revegetation
Abstract
The use of locally adapted native plant materials is promoted as a mechanism for improving revegetation and restoration outcomes and increasing the long-term ecological function of a site. Challenges arise in the use local native plant materials, however, when the conditions in which they are used differ from those to which they are adapted, like in heavily disturbed sites undergoing restoration or invaded ecosystems, or when local adaptation is not the only genetic consideration for fitness (polyploidy). In addition, managers need to select among multiple guidelines for how far to move seeds, each of which comes with its own assumptions about the scale of factors that drive genetic differentiation. In my dissertation, I explore key ecological and genetic considerations for improving the use of native plant materials.
Recommended Citation
Gibson, Alexis, "The science behind the selection of native plant materials: local adaptation, response to invasion, cytotypic variation, and seed transfer zones" (2015). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 4588.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/4588
© Copyright 2015 Alexis Gibson