Functional biogeography of insular habitats: do clonality and longevity determine plant persistence?
| Name: | Functional biogeography of insular habitats: do clonality and longevity determine plant persistence? |
|---|---|
| Researchers: |
Ottaviani Gianluigi (researcher) Conti Luisa (member in research team) Mendez Castro Francisco Emmanuel (member in research team) |
| Provider: | Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Pruhonice, Czech Republic |
| Number: | GJ19-14394Y |
| Realization from: | 2019 |
| Realization to: | 2021 |
| Summary: | Functional biogeography is emerging as key in plant science – its power lies in combining broad- with fine-scale studies into a consistent framework. It implies the use of plant traits for detecting determinants of species diversity, distribution, and persistence at various scales. We will use this approach to assess the role of functional traits in insular habitats where plant distribution is hypothesized to be affected by isolation level and patch size. Traits that can effectively capture information on reproduction and persistence are seed traits (frequently studied), and the largely underexplored plant clonality and longevity traits. We expect to find evidence for the prevalence of vegetative reproduction and long-lived plants in more isolated, smaller patches. We will use grasslands on rocky outcrops as a study system. The proposed research will advance the understanding of eco-evolutionary processes driving plant diversity, distribution, and persistence in island habitats, that are high-priority entities in biogeography and conservation planning. |