Sigma Xi Poster Competition
Understanding temporal changes in plant leaf trait of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) using long-term herbarium records
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Sophomore
Major
Biology
Minor
Chemisty
2nd Student Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Sophomore
2nd Student Major
Mathematics
2nd Student Minor
Biology
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Kate He
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Herbarium specimens are the most valuable, verifiable, and sustainable records to study biodiversity changes and the impacts of global climate change on the biota. Temporal herbarium data can provide critical information on how species respond to alterations in habitat conditions by tracking changes in species’ morphological and phenological traits. In this study we aim to use fifty herbarium records of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), an invasive plant, to assess long-term impacts of climate changes on its leaf traits. We measured leaf size and stomatal density using herbarium records of honeysuckle species collected from 1947 to 2017. We separated these measurements into decadal periods in order to discover changes over time. We found that leaf size displayed a clear increasing trend even though the difference in leaf size among five decadal periods was not significant (ANOVA, p=0.28). Leaf stomatal density fluctuated over time in an overall decreasing manner, and we found a significant difference in stomatal density among specimens collected from 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s (ANOVA, p=0.0075). Our results further indicate that rising temperature and elevated CO2 level over time can enhance plant growth reflected in leaf size and reduce leaf stomatal density, which directly related to water use efficiency of plant species. In particular, our results suggest that reduced stomatal density at high temperature and elevated CO2 during the most recent decadal period is the direct response of the honeysuckle species to lower levels of atmospheric humidity and soil moisture. Undoubtedly, our study will provide useful information on the understanding of invasion mechanisms of introduced species and changes in physiological traits under the warming climate.
Spring Scholars Week 2023 Event
Sigma Xi Poster Competition
Understanding temporal changes in plant leaf trait of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) using long-term herbarium records
Herbarium specimens are the most valuable, verifiable, and sustainable records to study biodiversity changes and the impacts of global climate change on the biota. Temporal herbarium data can provide critical information on how species respond to alterations in habitat conditions by tracking changes in species’ morphological and phenological traits. In this study we aim to use fifty herbarium records of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), an invasive plant, to assess long-term impacts of climate changes on its leaf traits. We measured leaf size and stomatal density using herbarium records of honeysuckle species collected from 1947 to 2017. We separated these measurements into decadal periods in order to discover changes over time. We found that leaf size displayed a clear increasing trend even though the difference in leaf size among five decadal periods was not significant (ANOVA, p=0.28). Leaf stomatal density fluctuated over time in an overall decreasing manner, and we found a significant difference in stomatal density among specimens collected from 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s (ANOVA, p=0.0075). Our results further indicate that rising temperature and elevated CO2 level over time can enhance plant growth reflected in leaf size and reduce leaf stomatal density, which directly related to water use efficiency of plant species. In particular, our results suggest that reduced stomatal density at high temperature and elevated CO2 during the most recent decadal period is the direct response of the honeysuckle species to lower levels of atmospheric humidity and soil moisture. Undoubtedly, our study will provide useful information on the understanding of invasion mechanisms of introduced species and changes in physiological traits under the warming climate.