Date of Award
5-31-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Biology, MS
First Advisor
Travis Marsico
Committee Members
J Abbott; Scott Mangan
Call Number
LD 251 .A566t 2023 S56
Abstract
Plant phenology – the timing of cyclical phases during development – is sensitive to environmental and climatic factors. This thesis focuses on two main factors driving plant reproductive phenology, inundation from flooding and temperature. In Chapter 2, I examine phenological shifts of six taxa along the elevation gradient of a Lower Mississippi River island in response to flood regime. Analyses showed that five out of six taxa responded to flooding, such that their mature fruiting onset, peak, and/or cessation events were shifted in association with elevation, but only two taxa had all three phenological events shifted. Additionally, the total reproductive period and fecundity increased with elevation for three out of six taxa and one taxon did not show any phenological shifts or differences in fecundity. In Chapter 3, I investigate phenological shifts at a larger, latitudinal gradient using the five species from Chapter 2. I categorically scored the phenology of herbarium specimens based on the presence and intensity of flower buds, immature fruits, and mature fruits. Similarly, analyses showed that the phenology of three out of five species was significantly shifted along latitude.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Sims, Caitlyn Marie, "Field Observations and an Herbarium Study to Understand Plant Reproductive Phenology in Areas Surrounding the Mississippi River" (2023). Student Theses and Dissertations. 178.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/178
