Curtis C. Daehler
Professor of Botany
Examples of current research
Patterns, prediction, and trends among invasive plants
Predicting invasive plant ranges
Population ecology and evolution of invaders
New GIS-based technologies, together with improved availability of
climatic and other environmental data have allowed the development of
complex models for predicting species ranges. Of interest to invasion
biology is the possibility of applying these models to predict invasive
species ranges, if species were to be introduced to a new region. We
are currently testing whether European weed ranges along steep
elevation gradients in Hawaii can be predicted from the weeds' native
ranges in Europe. This project involves field work on Hawaii Island
(Mauna Kea) and Maui (Haleakala).
Some ecologists have long held that it is impossible to predict which
species will become invasive in a new region. Yet over the past
decade, much progress has been made towards predicting the most
serious invasive species in some regions of the world. A first step in
developing a predictive theory or model for biological invasions is to
quantify and analyze patterns of invasions.
- Relative roles of phenotypic plasticity and genetic differentiation in plants
that have invaded across steep environmental gradients on Hawaii's high
volcanoes
Hypochaeris radicata
A European invader
G. Carr
Pacific islands - an
ideal setting for invasive
species research
Ecological control of invasive plants - manipulation of
plant resources and fire
Ecological control focuses on understanding interactions between pest
plants and their environment, with the goal of identifying simple
environmental management regimes that will reduce or eliminate
populations of invasive pest plants. Sometimes, only small changes in
environmental conditions may slow reproduction by an invasive plant or
reduce its vigor and/or competitive ability. The challenge is to identify
which environmental parameters most affect the invader. I and my
students take an experimental approach, manipulating environmental
parameters, both in the field and in the greenhouse, to identify conditions
under which native plants or non-pest plants can coexist with or
outcompete invasive plants. While ecological control has been long
practiced for reducing weeds in agricultural settings, the possibility of
using ecological control in natural areas has been much less studied.
Continuing interests
Effects of different species of mycorrhizae on plant
community structure and invasion
Hybridization between native and introduced plants
and its consequences
