Morphological and Physiological Traits Account for Similar Nitrate Uptake by Crested Wheatgrass and Cheatgrass

摘要: Millions of hectares throughout the Intermountain West are either dominated or threatened by invasive annual grass Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass). This invasion is largely linked to disturbance and few regions appear immune. Disturbance liberates resources in a community cheatgrass appears exceptionally able capitalize on these resources. One species, however, consistently competitive with cheatgrass. Agropyron cristatum (crested wheatgrass), an improved plant material developed from several populations central Asia, drought resistant, grazing tolerant, excludes stands established within Great Basin. While previous studies document high resource uptake ability crested wheatgrass, it remains unknown if this species due morphological physiological adaptation. We examined N tissue morphology four grasses common West, including wheatgrass. also included two native grasses, Pseudoroegneria spicata (bluebunch wheatgrass) Elymus elymoides (bottlebrush squirreltail). observed similar rates wheatgrass their was greater than perennial species. A multivariate analysis suggests that, three here, morphologically most cheatgrass, but that only accounts for 57 percent variation capacity among Consequently, traits such as induction efflux likely play role achieve ____________________________________ In Monaco, T.A. et al. comps. 2011. Proceedings – Threats Shrubland Ecosystem Integrity; 2010 May 18-20; Logan, UT. Natural Resources Environmental Issues, Volume XVII. S.J. Jessie E. Quinney Research Library, Logan Utah, USA.