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  4. Weed Ecology Lab
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  6. Plant Dispersal in Heterogeneous Environments

Plant Dispersal in Heterogeneous Environments

We are interested in the pattern and process of dispersal and how dispersal impacts management of invasive weed species. Currently several projects in the lab examine seed transported along roads and in the atmosphere.

Plant Dispersal in Heterogeneous Environments

Plant Dispersal in Heterogeneous Environments

Quantifying Localized Dispersal

Following the trajectory of an invasion from its beginning provides important insight into dispersal and spread.

Quantifying Human-mediated Dispersal Along Roads

Localized dispersal of M. vimineum is several orders of magnitude too small to account for large-scale invasion patterns.

Quantifying Dispersal Distance in the Atmosphere

Conyza canadensis is a broadleaf weed resistant to a common agricultural herbicide and spreading throughout the eastern US. The quantity of seed leaving a source population is measured with towers and radio-controlled airplanes.

Using Maximum-likelihood Techniques to find Dispersal Parameters

Using data from a four-year experiment following new Microstegium invasions, we estimated dispersal and reproductive parameters from the data by using maximum likelihood techniques to parameterize spatial models of Microstegium spread.

Road maintenance moves propagules rapidly
Weekly and daily atmospheric patterns impact dispersal
Movement of Weeds Across a Landscape

We are also interested in applying our data to predictive models about spread.

Outreach

Outreach activities as a result of this project.

People

The investigators involved in this project.

Weed Ecology Lab

  • Weed Ecology Lab Overview
  • Research Topics
    • Research Topics Overview
    • Biodiversity and AgroEcosystem Services
      • Biodiversity and AgroEcosystem Services Overview
      • Landscape-Scale Patterns in Agricultural Biodiversity
      • Pollinators and Floral Resources
      • Floral Resource Provisioning
      • Outreach Activities
      • Researchers
    • Ecologically-based Weed Management
      • Ecologically-based Weed Management Overview
      • Research Sites
      • Research Methods
      • Weed-crop Competition
      • Weed Competition Research
      • Emergence Phenology
      • Cover Crops for Weed Suppression
      • Outreach
      • Ecologically-Based Weed Management People
    • Invasive Species Research
      • Invasive Species Research Overview
      • Patch Dynamics
      • Unexpected Variation in Recruitment Within Habitats
      • Variability Through Time
      • Habitat-Specific Control
      • The Fates of Seeds in the Soil
      • Population Modeling
      • Outreach
      • People
    • Plant Dispersal in Heterogeneous Environments
      • Plant Dispersal in Heterogeneous Environments Overview
      • Quantifying Localized Dispersal
      • Quantifying Human-mediated Dispersal Along Roads
      • Quantifying Dispersal Distance in the Atmosphere
      • Using Maximum-likelihood Techniques to find Dispersal Parameters
      • Road maintenance moves propagules rapidly
      • Weekly and daily atmospheric patterns impact dispersal
      • Movement of Weeds Across a Landscape
      • Outreach
      • People
  • Links
  • Directory
    • Directory Overview
    • People in the Lab
    • Past Personnel
      • Past Personnel Overview
      • Joseph Dauer
      • Nelson DeBarros
      • Daniel Heggenstaller
      • Andrew Hulting
      • Robert Humston
      • Brian Jones
      • Stephen Kinneer
      • Timothy Leslie
      • Steven Mirsky
      • Eric Nord
      • Nora Peskin
      • Emily Rauschert
      • Matthew Ryan
      • Carina Ritter
      • David Sandy
      • Richard G. Smith
  • Contact Us
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