Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/C510124/1
Impacts of hemiparasitic plants: regulation of community structure and function.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor MC Press, University of Sheffield, Animal and Plant Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor J Leake, University of Sheffield, School of Biosciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor G Phoenix, University of Sheffield, School of Biosciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Sheffield, Animal and Plant Sciences
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Natural Resource Management
- Global Change
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Conservation Ecology
- Community Ecology
- Soil science
- Abstract:
- Approximately 1% of flowering plant species are parasitic, obtaining some or all of their nutrients and water from their host plants, through haustoria that penetrate either their roots or shoots The largest and most important group of these parasites are root hemiparasites in one plant family (the Orobanchaceae) that are widely distributed and occur at high densities in some (often nutrient poor) communities. While it is well know that the parasites have a negative impact on the growth of their host plant (largely from pot studies), much less is known about impacts of parasitic plants on the structure and function of plant communities. A characteristic feature of these parasites is the accumulation of high concentrations of nutrients (including nitrogen, the lack of which often limits plant growth) in both their leaves and litter. This project examines the consequence of the addition of nutrient rich litter from hemiparasites for the structure of a model grassland community (in the Peak District National Park) and asks the following specific questions. what is the quantitative impact of hemiparasitic plants on nutrient availability; how does hemiparasitic litter affect plant growth and species diversity; do plant species differ in their capacity to capture nutrients from hemiparasite litter; does hemiparasite litter stimulate soil microbial activity; and are the impacts of hemiparasite litter on nutrient cycling, plant productivity and microbial activity greatest under low nutrient conditions? The key questions will be addressed in two way. First, by using a series of field plots in the Peak District National Park and second, by using model microcosms (artificially constructed plant communities). This proposal targets major gaps in our ecological understanding of the impacts of parasitic angiosperms in communities where they are abundant Our findings will also be of interest to nature conservation bodies concerned with the preservation of species rich grasslands and the restoration of these systems from agriculturally improved pasture and those concerned with the conservation of hemiparasitic plant communities threatened by nutrient enrichment from agricultural fertilizer and atmospheric N deposition.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/C510124/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £226,038
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £135,075 | £1,949 | £26,879 | £62,135 |
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