This Project Grant from the National Science Foundation Division of Environmental Biology, under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074), provides $1,414,358 to support research examining how plant traits and species interactions influence ecosystem and population stability in the face of climate change. The Regents of the University of Minnesota will conduct theoretical modeling, greenhouse and field experiments, and engage in knowledge sharing activities from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2027.
Specifically, the University will test predictions about how community resistance and resilience determine stability against environmental perturbations. It will determine how stability, resistance and resilience depend on plant traits and species interactions. Using seeds from long-term experiments, it will assess how evolution has altered traits and stability. It will also scale findings to other ecosystems and spatial scales. Outreach activities will engage K-12 students and teachers to communicate science learning. This award supports the program's goal of increasing biological sciences knowledge and understanding of major problems.