The Relationship between Soil Properties and Variation in the Morphology and Phenology of non-native mustard plant <i>Thlaspi arvense</i> in Subalpine Meadows
Abstract
The ability of soil to retain moisture can significantly impact the severity of droughts on plants. Deep, loamy soils retain moisture from snow melt into the dry season more efficiently than shallow, sandy soils that lose water to runoff and percolation. Soil depth and texture are thus significant in determining how plants respond to climatic challenges. Similarly, soil composition can impact the number of leaves, branching behaviour, and stem height of plants.Overall, there are many factors impacting the growth of plants and how they respond to challenges. Thlaspi arvense, an invasive mustard, has demonstrated success in diverse microhabitats in the subalpine meadows of Gunnison County. To determine what qualities of a microhabitat favour the growth of T. arvense, edaphic properties including moisture, pH, conductivity, organic content, and soil type were investigated. Distance from the road (as a proxy for disturbance) and elevation were also considered. These environmental characteristics were paired with morphological and phenological observations to understand how they might influence the behaviour of T. arvense. We recognize that genetic variation in our populations could influence conclusions made regarding the impact of environmental conditions on T. arvense. To understand these potential genetic effects, a common garden experiment was performed. Flowering time varied within genetically different populations sourced from opposite ends of the elevational gradient and grown in the same environment.
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