Empirical Evidence of Long-Distance Dispersal inMiscanthus sinensisandMiscanthus×giganteus

• DOI: 10.1614/ipsm-d-10-00067.1
• Publication Date: 2011-04-05T18:27:21Z
• Authors: Lauren D. Quinn; David P. Matlaga; J. Ryan Stewart; Adam S. Davis
• Keywords: Miscanthus sinensis

Abstract Many perennial bioenergy grasses have the potential to escape cultivation and invade natural areas. We quantify dispersal, a key component in invasion, for two candidates: Miscanthus sinensis M. × giganteus . For each species, approximately 1 10 6 caryopses dispersed anemochorously from point source into traps placed annuli near (0.5 5 m; 1.6 16.4 ft) arcs (10 400 m) prevailing wind direction. both most (95% 77% ) were captured within 50 m of source, but small percentage (0.2 3%) at 300 m. Using maximum-likelihood approach, we evaluated degree support our empirical dispersal data competing functions describe seed-dispersal kernels. Fat-tailed (lognormal, Weibull, gamma (Γ)) fit patterns best species overall, because distances significantly affected by speed, curves also separately low, moderate, high events. Wind speeds shifted curve thin-tailed exponential function low fat-tailed lognormal moderate speeds. traveled farther higher (low, 30 150 high, m). Our results demonstrate ability travel long raise important implications invasion fertile varieties cultivation.