Enhancing Our Understanding of the Ecophysiology of Washington’s Native Flora – Anabelle Manrique (Fall 2023)

The field of plant ecophysiology–dedicated to understanding how environmental factors shape plant functioning–holds significant implications for the persistence of plant species within specific
environments. Understanding plant ecophysiological responses to changing environmental conditions provides critical insights into a species’ potential to successfully establish and survive in restoration sites (Valliere et al. 2022). However, there exists a notable gap in ecophysiological data regarding native plant species in Washington, potentially stemming from methodological limitations or a greater emphasis on plants cultivated for agricultural purposes. This guide lays the groundwork for future research and data collection using five physiological measures on six native plant species grown at the SER-UW Nursery in order to improve our collective understanding of native plant physiological functioning and how species will respond and thrive in restoration sites.