Abstract
Dispersal is a fundamental ecological process. Nevertheless, it is poorly understood, particularly concerning the ecologically most important long-distance dispersal (LDD). The intent of this project, using Sphagnum as model organisms, is to: 1) Develop a wind dispersal model of spores, based on biological characteristics and air movements at different spatial scales in open and wooded conditions. I will verify the model by quantifying the amount of spores available for LDD over a mire, and by sampling spore deposition on isolated islands. The end-result will be a simplified application for estimating spore deposition rates of any species in the landscape. 2) Quantify immigration rates by population genetic methods in a bisexual and a unisexual species on land-uplift islands, ranging in degree of isolation and age. The study will quantify the relative importance of founder events, selfing and vegetative spread in patchy habitats. The project will add novel approaches to quantify regional dispersal and immigration of species with small diaspores. We should reveal the effects of the curve shape on genetic structure. The application will become a tool to predict colonising ability of threatened and fragmented populations, how to optimise the size and distribution of source populations in the landscape, and to estimate the time to acquire a desired species composition after habitat restoration.
Sweden