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Impacts Of Nutrient Enrichment On Native And Non-Native Plants In Serpentine Soil, Amber R. Williams, Mary Devlin, N. Rajakaruna
Impacts Of Nutrient Enrichment On Native And Non-Native Plants In Serpentine Soil, Amber R. Williams, Mary Devlin, N. Rajakaruna
STAR Program Research Presentations
Serpentine soil, derived from serpentinite, California’s state rock, is characterized by its harsh nature - due to its low levels of essential nutrients and exceptionally high levels of toxic heavy metals.In California, serpentine soils are characterized by high levels of plant endemism and rarity. Plants occurring in serpentine soil exhibit extreme tolerance of harsh soil conditions, and are typically out-competed in ‘normal’ soils due to the cost associated with physiological specialization. Atmospheric nutrient deposition is contributing to a greater invasion of non-native grass species on serpentine soils, outcompeting the native species and threatening them with local extinction. Our greenhouse study …