University of Windsor Scholarship at UWindsor Electronic Theses and Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, and Major Papers 2005 Patch- and regional-level population biology, with particular reference to Gleditsia triacanthos (Fabaceae): Landscape and plant ecology across the geographic range. Helen T. Murphy University of Windsor Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd Recommended Citation Murphy, Helen T., "Patch- and regional-level population biology, with particular reference to Gleditsia triacanthos (Fabaceae): Landscape and plant ecology across the geographic range." (2005). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3016. https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/3016 This online database contains the full-text of PhD dissertations and Masters’ theses of University of Windsor students from 1954 forward. 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Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. PATCH- AND REGIONAL-LEVEL POPULATION BIOLOGY, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO GLEDITSIA TRIACANTHOS (FABACEAE): LANDSCAPE AND PLANT ECOLOGY ACROSS THE GEOGRAPHIC RANGE. by Helen T. Murphy A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research through the Department of Biological Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Windsor Windsor, Ontario, Canada 2005 © 2005 Helen T. Murphy Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 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Further reproduction prohibited without permission. /0 9 1 r , ABSTRACT Ecological analyses at large spatial scales have emerged over the past decade in response to increasing awareness of the importance of landscape- and regional-scale processes in structuring fragmented terrestrial communities. Even relatively large-scale ecological studies, however, are usually not large enough to observe the variation in conditions that a species experiences across its entire geographic range. The geographic ranges of tree species often encompass great latitudinal and altitudinal scope, and all the associated climatic and geological variability which subsequently affects a suite of ecological, physical and physiological factors. In this thesis I examine the applicability of classic theories and current frameworks for understanding regional-scale population dynamics of plants across their geographic range. I have reviewed several literature bases from the general ‘tree’ perspective, including metapopulation- and landscape ecology, patch-matrix models, connectivity and species ranges. I analyze population performance parameters at 22 populations of the dioecious tree Gleditsia triacanthos in relation to position in the range, population size and density, and measures of the surrounding landscape structure at various spatial scales. I examine the distribution of abundance across the geographic range ofG. triacanthos with particular attention to the predictions of the central-peripheral model. I used GIS datasets of landcover to extract measures of the spatial structure of landscapes across the range, and determine whether variation in abundance can be explained by landscape spatial structure, and whether this is consistent across the range. Finally, I used GARP (Genetic Algorithm for Rule-Set Production) to develop habitat suitability models based on known occurrences in particular regional conditions, as well as conditions across the geographic range as a whole, and interpret the models in terms of niche breadth and overlap between central and peripheral populations. Many factors influence the distribution of abundance and population performance across the range in Honey Locust, and effects of these factors appear to differ regionally and latitudinally. Abundance and performance of G. triacanthos populations were not simply related to position in the range as predicted by the central-peripheral model. Populations iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. at the western periphery of the species’ range have a broad niche, show active recruitment and high density and abundance, but high levels of developmental instability and low survivorship. Populations in the southern part of the range have a narrower niche breadth and show low recruitment, density, abundance and developmental instability, but high survivorship. Geographically central and northern parts of the range contain populations with a mix of demographic structures and a range of population performance values. Trees in the southern part of the range appear to have virtually no niche overlap with trees in the central part of the range. The niche space occupied by western trees overlaps to some degree with that of the central trees and to a lesser extent, with that of southern trees. The results suggest abiotic conditions may be more limiting in the western region of the range, while competition likely plays a more significant role in limiting population performance, distribution and niche breadth in southern populations. The successional stage of the site probably influences population performance and abundance of trees in central and northern parts of the range and a lack of available suitable habitat may limit further extension of the range to the north. In general, I suggest a grid-based functional mosaic approach, utilizing relevant scale- and regional-specific gradients of abiotic, biotic, and historical and human impact-based parameters of importance to the particular species, is required to portray the fate of plant populations. iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many,