Hauling field gear up Gothic Mountain…
Implement Provenance Trial experiment
Transplanted genotypes from each source population into all five common gardens to characterize local adaptation. Monitored entire B. stricta life cycle including seed germination, seedling recruitment, establishment, survival, growth, and fecundity
Quantities: N=18,720 juvenile transplants monitored for 2-9 years, N=4,804 seeds planted in 3 separate years, N=11,850 seeds monitored for 3 yearsDuration: Monitoring for 2-9 years depending on cohortConditions: Natural field conditions with applied treatments
Equipment: Transplant tools, Data collection forms, Measuring equipment
Implement Reciprocal Transplant experiment
Transplanted genotypes from local populations into each garden to characterize local climate and test potential for in situ evolutionary rescue. Exposed individuals to range of simulated climate change scenarios
Quantities: N=11,850 seeds from 124 genotypes, 17 to 30 genotypes per population, transplanted fall 2016 and censused through fall 2022; 122 accessions, 15 to 50 genotypes per population transplanted fall 2016Duration: Fall 2016 to fall 2022 (6 years)Conditions: Simulated climate scenarios including preindustrial, contemporary, and future projected climates
Equipment: Climate manipulation equipment, Transplant materials, Monitoring tools
Snow manipulation treatments
Applied factorial snow removal and addition treatments across gardens. Snow removal involved removing snow early in spring, snow addition involved adding snow to delay melting
Quantities: Applied across all 5 garden sites with multiple treatment levelsDuration: Applied seasonally as part of multi-year experimentConditions: Applied during winter/spring snow season, with treatments reflecting recent historical climates
Equipment: Snow removal tools, Additional snow for application, Protective barriers
Vital rate monitoring and data collection
Monitored eight vital rates including seed germination, seedling recruitment, establishment, survival, growth, and fecundity across all experimental gardens. Data collection focused on quantifying climate impacts on demographic performance
Quantities: Eight vital rates measured across all individuals in both experimentsDuration: Continuous monitoring throughout growing seasons from 2014-2022Conditions: Field conditions with weather monitoring for temperature and precipitation data
Equipment: Data loggers, Measurement tools, Weather monitoring stations