Date of Award
2006
Publication Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
M.Sc.
Department
Biological Sciences
Keywords
Biology, Ecology.
Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Critical habitat is defined in the Species at Risk Act as any habitat in which a species at risk is capable of maintaining self-sustaining populations. Growth and survival of endangered O. humifusa, the Eastern Prickly pear cactus, was compared in field and glasshouse experiments. Conditions (light, soil organic matter, moisture, pH, and macronutrients) differed significantly among habitats at Point Pelee National Park (PPNP). The survival of transplanted seedlings in four habitats at PPNP (back beach, primary successional savanna, secondary successional savanna and deciduous forest) indicated that only two of these habitats (the savannas) would be suitable for O. humifusa over the longer term. Shading and macronutrient treatments in the greenhouse indicated growth was favoured by partial shade; nutrient enrichment enhanced growth, but in the field nutrient supplementation would accelerate secondary succession, to the detriment of O. humifusa.Dept. of Biological Sciences. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2006 .M64. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-01, page: 0217. Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2006.
Recommended Citation
Moeen, Maimoona Sahar, "Defining critical habitat requirements for a Canadian 'species at risk' Opuntia humifusa." (2006). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1614.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/1614