Science Pub: Dr. Yingying Xie

Dr. Xi will discuss her collaborative research with Dr. Sarah Bois of the Linda Loring Nature Foundation investigating native and invasive shrub phenology using a combination of herbarium data, field observations, and time-lapse photography. Biological invasion and climate change are among the top drivers of global biodiversity loss, and the interaction between them can cause greater challenges in biodiversity conservation. Previous studies suggested that native and non-native species may have distinct timing of life cycle events (i.e., phenology) and responses to climate change, which is likely to facilitate species invasion and increase the threats on native biodiversity in the future. Native biodiversity in the coastal plant communities of Nantucket has been showing particular vulnerability under invasive species and threatened by challenges from climate change. By integrating herbarium specimens, community science networks, visual observations, and time-lapse cameras, this project aims to assess phenology and the responses to climate change between native and invasive plant species on Nantucket Island. This project helps assess the resilience and vulnerability of the plant communities to species invasion under climate change on Nantucket Island. Using the knowledge generated from this project, we expect to better inform biodiversity conservation management and climate change mitigation actions.