Illinois State University ISU ReD: Research and eData Theses and Dissertations 6-27-2018 Chamaecrista Fasciculata In Tallgrass And Sand Prairies: The Potential For Differential Responses Robert W. Philips Illinois State University,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd Part of the Botany Commons, and the Evolution Commons Recommended Citation Philips, Robert W., "Chamaecrista Fasciculata In Tallgrass And Sand Prairies: The Potential For Differential Responses" (2018). Theses and Dissertations. 918. https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/918 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ISU ReD: Research and eData. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ISU ReD: Research and eData. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. CHAMAECRISTA FASCICULATA IN TALLGRASS AND SAND PRAIRIES: THE POTENTIAL FOR DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSES ROBERT W. PHILIPS 90 Pages Successful establishment of a diversity of native species has become an important goal for restoration site managers to achieve, however as seed sources for a species may occur in habitats with different abiotic and biotic characteristics. Consequently, seeds from different sources may vary in their success in a restoration. Chamaecrista fasciculata, a native prairie species, occurs in two divergent prairie types - tallgrass and sand prairies. Tallgrass prairies have a moist soil with dense vegetation; in contrast, sand prairies have a well-drained sandy soil with sparse vegetation. I propose differential selection acting on populations in these prairie types would affect their seeds success in restorations. Given the denser vegetation of the tallgrass prairies, plants must be capable of competing for light resources, thus I predict the plants from tallgrass seed sources have a better competitor tolerance and would be more successful in a reconstructed tallgrass prairie.