Climate Change induced by anthropogenic (influenced by the impact of man on nature) greenhouse gases along with biodiversity loss due to biotic invasions are both important drivers of global change. The flora of California is one place where these two drivers will likely have combined effects on loss of biodiversity and natural ecosystem services. Rangeland weeds that exploit resources that are underutilized by the native plant community will be most critical to manage, especially in the context of reduced water availability.
Ph.D. candidate Meghan Skaer, under the direction of Dr. Kevin Rice, professor of plant sciences at UC Davis, is investigating the dynamics of the competitive balance between invasive species and their resident communities under a predicted climate change. Skaer is doing this by manipulating the amount of rainfall landing on the soil surface. The experimental design "rain collectors" capture about 30% of the precipitation from one replicated treatment, and then that amount is added to another replicated treatment.
This project focuses on three exotic, noxious, late-season weed species which are medusahead, barbed goatgrass, and yellow star thistle. Here you see a close-up of one of the rain collectors during our first season rain (today).
