Abstract
While ecologists agree that the shape of the dispersal curve is crucial for understanding e.g. meta-population dynamics, gene flow, species distributions, and invasion of exotic species, this research field is severely hampered by a lack of experiments and validated models. This project aims to measure and empirically model the dispersal curve of a bryophyte species, extending the scope at least two orders of magnitude farther away from the spore source than in previous studies. This will be achieved by a time efficient innovative method where we will establish artificially arranged suitable substrates at different distances from a specified spore source (for one model species) as well as in studies of background deposition levels (for many species). We will then be able to not only measure the dispersal curve but also get estimates on establishment after long-distance dispersal events. A metapopulation model will be constructed for the model species and validated in a real landscape. This project focuses on two major challenges for dispersal research today, namely long-distance dispersal and establishment after long-distance dispersal. The results from this project are likely to impact the view of the role of long-distance dispersal for population dynamics in the landscape. The results will be relevant for all organisms with diaspores of low terminal velocity (e.g. bryophytes, fungi and lichens) for which our knowledge of their dispersal ecology is especially poor.
Sweden