Project Grant 2331278

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $499,631 Project Grant under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) to the University of Connecticut (UConn) to conduct research on the behavior and ecological impacts of invasive plant species across the Americas. The 4-year project will investigate how "superinvader" woody plant species can dominate diverse forest environments through experimental studies comparing the growth, survival, and pest interactions of native and invasive tree saplings across light gradients in temperate, tropical, and subtropical forests. The research will test the hypothesis that the ability of invasive plants to rapidly grow in sunlight yet also tolerate shade stems from their lower energetic costs due to fewer pests. By linking plant responses to environmental stresses and pest pressures, the project aims to enhance scientific understanding of plant invasion mechanisms and species coexistence to support more effective forest and land management. The project will also provide research training opportunities for US doctoral students, postdoctoral scholars, and undergraduates, as well as foster international collaboration and knowledge transfer across the Americas.