Restoration ecology of ecosystems invaded by Triadica sebifera (Chinese tallow tree): theory and practice

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dc.contributor.advisorSiemann, Evanen_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberDunham, Amy E.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberBedient, Philip B.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberRudolf, Volker H. W.en_US
dc.creatorGabler, Christopheren_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-07-24T19:28:14Zen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-07-24T19:28:18Zen_US
dc.date.available2013-07-24T19:28:14Zen_US
dc.date.available2013-07-24T19:28:18Zen_US
dc.date.created2012-12en_US
dc.date.issued2013-07-24en_US
dc.date.submittedDecember 2012en_US
dc.date.updated2013-07-24T19:28:18Zen_US
dc.description.abstractInvasive exotic species threaten biodiversity and ecosystem functions globally, creating need for and encumbering ecological restoration. When restoring exotic plant-dominated ecosystems, reinvasion pressure is the rate of new exotic recruitment following mature exotic removal. It can vary broadly among similarly invaded habitats and is crucial to restoration outcomes and costs, but is difficult to predict and poorly understood. Initial results from the experimental restoration of a wetland dominated by Triadica sebifera led us to develop the ‘outgrow the stress’ hypothesis. It holds: (1) Variation in reinvasion pressure is driven by differences in propagule abundance and spatiotemporal availability of realized recruitment windows, which are defined by abiotic conditions and biotic interactions. (2) Differences in reinvasion pressure become masked by exotic dominance when increases in niche breadth during development enable exotic persistence across sites where recruitment windows range from frequent to episodic. We validated this hypothesis. First, we used greenhouse and field experiments to quantify Triadica’s moisture niche early in development. By two months post-germination, seedling tolerances broadened to include conditions unsuitable for germination. This clearly demonstrated a rapid ontogenetic niche expansion, which could decouple mature Triadica density and average reinvasion pressure. Second, we used a greenhouse mesocosm experiment to quantify how recruitment window duration, competition and fertility impacted population-level Triadica establishment in stressful environments. As ‘outgrow the stress’ predicts, longer windows increased Triadica success and multi-factor interactions were common, with competition and fertility effects varying among environmental contexts. Third, we substantiated predictions of ‘outgrow the stress’ regarding propagule availability and soil moisture by manipulating these in a multi-site field experiment spanning eleven experimental restorations of Triadica-dominated habitats along a moisture gradient. Triadica reinvasion pressure varied broadly among sites but correlated with moisture and fertility. Propagule availability drove reinvasion in favorable environments, but availability of suitable conditions trumped propagules in extreme environments. Competition reduced Triadica performance and sometimes survival. Triadica prevalence reduced native plant prevalence. Six restorations require minimal Triadica management for success. This work advances our understanding and enables better predictions of reinvasion pressure and invasions in general. Accurate predictions enhance restoration efficiency by informing site selection and optimal management strategies.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationGabler, Christopher. "Restoration ecology of ecosystems invaded by Triadica sebifera (Chinese tallow tree): theory and practice." (2013) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/71650">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/71650</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.slug123456789/ETD-2012-12-324en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/71650en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectCommunity ecologyen_US
dc.subjectRestorationen_US
dc.subjectInvasive speciesen_US
dc.subjectTexasen_US
dc.subjectWetlandsen_US
dc.subjectGrasslandsen_US
dc.subjectOntogenetic niche shiftsen_US
dc.subjectRecruitment limitationen_US
dc.subjectPropagule availabilityen_US
dc.subjectNicheen_US
dc.subjectAbiotic conditionsen_US
dc.subjectClimateen_US
dc.subjectCompetitionen_US
dc.subjectInterspecific interactionsen_US
dc.subjectSeed additionen_US
dc.subjectCoastal prairiesen_US
dc.subjectExotic plant managementen_US
dc.subjectOptimal controlen_US
dc.titleRestoration ecology of ecosystems invaded by Triadica sebifera (Chinese tallow tree): theory and practiceen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentEcology and Evolutionary Biologyen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
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