Mechanisms controlling the distribution of two invasive Bromus species

In order to predict future range shifts for invasive species it is important to explore their ability to acclimate to the new environment and understand physiological and reproductive constraints controlling their distribution. My dissertation studied mechanisms by which temperature may affect the d...

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Main Author: Olga Bykova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2014-03-01
Series:Frontiers of Biogeography
Subjects:
Online Access:http://escholarship.org/uc/item/6qm9z7r2
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author Olga Bykova
author_facet Olga Bykova
author_sort Olga Bykova
collection DOAJ
description In order to predict future range shifts for invasive species it is important to explore their ability to acclimate to the new environment and understand physiological and reproductive constraints controlling their distribution. My dissertation studied mechanisms by which temperature may affect the distribution of two aggressive plant invaders in North America, <em>Bromus tectorum</em> and <em>Bromus rubens</em>. I first evaluated winter freezing tolerance of <em>Bromus</em> species and demonstrated that the mechanism explaining their distinct northern range limits is different acquisition time of freezing tolerance. While <em>B. rubens</em> has a slower rate of freezing acclimation that leads to intolerance of sudden, late-autumn drops in temperature below -12°C, <em>B. tectorum</em> rapidly hardens and so is not impacted by the sudden onset of severe late-autumn cold. In addition, the analysis of male reproductive development and seed production showed that neither species produces seed at or above 36°C, due to complete pollen sterility, which might trigger climate-mediated range contractions at <em>B. tectorum</em> and <em>B. rubens</em> southern margins. Finally, a detailed gas-exchange analysis combined with biochemical modelling demonstrated that both species acclimate to a broad range of temperatures and photosynthetic response to temperature does not explain their current range separation.<br />
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spelling doaj-art-0de53a2a10ba4bcab73b1ed2ebe54db42025-08-20T02:20:34ZengPensoft PublishersFrontiers of Biogeography1948-65962014-03-0161ark:13030/qt6qm9z7r2Mechanisms controlling the distribution of two invasive Bromus speciesOlga Bykova0University of TorontoIn order to predict future range shifts for invasive species it is important to explore their ability to acclimate to the new environment and understand physiological and reproductive constraints controlling their distribution. My dissertation studied mechanisms by which temperature may affect the distribution of two aggressive plant invaders in North America, <em>Bromus tectorum</em> and <em>Bromus rubens</em>. I first evaluated winter freezing tolerance of <em>Bromus</em> species and demonstrated that the mechanism explaining their distinct northern range limits is different acquisition time of freezing tolerance. While <em>B. rubens</em> has a slower rate of freezing acclimation that leads to intolerance of sudden, late-autumn drops in temperature below -12°C, <em>B. tectorum</em> rapidly hardens and so is not impacted by the sudden onset of severe late-autumn cold. In addition, the analysis of male reproductive development and seed production showed that neither species produces seed at or above 36°C, due to complete pollen sterility, which might trigger climate-mediated range contractions at <em>B. tectorum</em> and <em>B. rubens</em> southern margins. Finally, a detailed gas-exchange analysis combined with biochemical modelling demonstrated that both species acclimate to a broad range of temperatures and photosynthetic response to temperature does not explain their current range separation.<br />http://escholarship.org/uc/item/6qm9z7r2freezing tolerance, grasses, invasive species, photosynthesis, reproduction, temperature
spellingShingle Olga Bykova
Mechanisms controlling the distribution of two invasive Bromus species
Frontiers of Biogeography
freezing tolerance, grasses, invasive species, photosynthesis, reproduction, temperature
title Mechanisms controlling the distribution of two invasive Bromus species
title_full Mechanisms controlling the distribution of two invasive Bromus species
title_fullStr Mechanisms controlling the distribution of two invasive Bromus species
title_full_unstemmed Mechanisms controlling the distribution of two invasive Bromus species
title_short Mechanisms controlling the distribution of two invasive Bromus species
title_sort mechanisms controlling the distribution of two invasive bromus species
topic freezing tolerance, grasses, invasive species, photosynthesis, reproduction, temperature
url http://escholarship.org/uc/item/6qm9z7r2
work_keys_str_mv AT olgabykova mechanismscontrollingthedistributionoftwoinvasivebromusspecies