Temperature as an Indicator for the Successful Establishment of Native and Invasive Species

The purpose of this experiment is to determine if cooler temperatures, as seen under shrub canopies, could be used as an indicator for the overall germination of both Native and Invasive plant species in arid ecosystems. We hypothesize that temperatures will directly impact both Native and Invasive plant species germination, thus acting as an indicator of overall plant establishment and success in arid/semi-arid ecosystems. Our predictions included: 1) Higher temperatures will result in a lower germination rate of Native plant species. 2) Invasive plant species will have a higher germination rate under all temperature conditions in comparison to California Native plant species.