A5057175856- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Seedling growth and survival studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant and animal studies
- Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Turfgrass Adaptation and Management
- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Tree Root and Stability Studies
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Ecosystem dynamics and resilience
- Integrated Water Resources Management
- Pasture and Agricultural Systems
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Soil and Land Suitability Analysis
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
- Bioenergy crop production and management
- Gut microbiota and health
- Lichen and fungal ecology
New Mexico State University
2024-2025
University of Arizona
2025
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research
2021-2024
University of Wyoming
2004-2024
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
2022-2023
Colorado State University
2016-2021
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
2019
Wyoming Department of Education
2004
Abstract Plant traits can be used to predict ecosystem responses environmental change using a response–effect trait framework. To do this, appropriate must identified that explain species' influence on function (“effect traits”) and the response of those species (“response traits”). Response are often measured along gradients in plant resources, such as water availability; however, precipitation explains very little variation most globally. Given strong relationship between functions, net...
Abstract Ecologists have worked to ascribe function the variation found in plant populations, communities and ecosystems across environments for at least past century. The vast body of research functional ecology has drastically improved understanding how individuals respond their environment, are assembled function. However, with limited exceptions, few studies quantified differences during earliest stages life cycle, fewer tested this early variability shapes ecosystems. Drawing from...
Abstract Forbs (“wildflowers”) are important contributors to grassland biodiversity but vulnerable environmental changes. In a factorial experiment at 94 sites on 6 continents, we test the global generality of several broad predictions: (1) Forb cover and richness decline under nutrient enrichment, particularly nitrogen enrichment. (2) increase herbivory by large mammals. (3) less affected enrichment in more arid climates, because water limitation reduces impacts competition with grasses....
Ecological thresholds comprise relatively fast changes in ecological conditions, with respect to time or external drivers, and are an attractive concept both scientific policy arenas. However, there is considerable debate concerning the existence, underlying mechanisms, generalizability of across a range subdisciplines. Here, we usethe general scale as unifying framework which systematically navigate variability within threshold research. We review literature show how observational adopted...
Abstract The Decade on Ecosystem Restoration aims to provide the means and incentives for upscaling restoration efforts worldwide. Although ecosystem is a broad, interdisciplinary concept, effective ecological requires sound knowledge successfully restore biodiversity services in degraded landscapes. We emphasize critical role of data sharing inform synthesis most robust science possible. Such helping ecologists better understand how context affects outcomes, increase predictive capacity...
A foundational goal of trait‐based ecology, including restoration, is to link specific traits community assembly, biodiversity, and ecosystem function. Despite a growing awareness the importance belowground for ecological processes, synthesis how root can inform restoration terrestrial plant communities lacking. We reviewed summarized existing literature focused on in relation performance measures (i.e. survival, establishment, productivity) contexts drought competition (including invasion)....
ABSTRACT Aim Beta diversity quantifies the similarity of ecological assemblages. Its increase, known as biotic homogenisation, can be a consequence biological invasions. However, species occurrence (presence/absence) and abundance‐based analyses produce contradictory assessments magnitude direction changes in beta diversity. Previous work indicates these contradictions should less frequent nature than theory, but growing number empirical studies report discrepancies between occurrence‐...
Trait‐based approaches may improve plant performance in the restoration of drought‐prone landscapes. However, because plants use diverse strategies to cope with drought, traits that underpin differ by drought context. In addition, alter via phenotypic plasticity but whether these adjustments during remains unknown. We completed a greenhouse experiment using five grass and three forb species to: (1) assess how individual multivariate bivariate trait relationships respond moderate severe...
Abstract Intra‐annual (i.e. seasonal) temporal niche partitioning is essential to the maintenance of biodiversity in many plant communities. However, understanding how climate and global change drivers such as eutrophication influence seasonal assemblages remains limited. We used early‐season late‐season compositional data collected from 10 grassland sites around world explore relationships between variability intra‐annual species segregation β ‐diversity) assess nutrient enrichment alters...
Water‐holding soil amendments such as super‐absorbent polymer (SAP) may improve native species establishment in restoration but also interact with precipitation or invasive Bromus tectorum L. (cheatgrass downy brome) to influence revegetation outcomes. We implemented an experiment at two sites Colorado, U.S.A., which we investigated the interactions of drought (66% reduction ambient rainfall), B. seed addition (BRTE, 465 seeds/m 2 ), and SAP amendment (25 g/m ) on initial plant 3‐year...
Trait‐based restoration strategies are gaining significant attention in the scientific community. A recent article Restoration Ecology by Merchant et al. outlined four reasons why traits underused practice. In their response to paper, Gornish highlighted examples of how practitioners do, fact, use and made recommendations for researchers better engage with leverage existing knowledge. Here, we clarify a preeminent challenge either perspective: that continue lack empirical data needed develop...
<title>Abstract</title> Forbs (“wildflowers”) are important contributors to grassland biodiversity and services, but they vulnerable environmental changes that affect their coexistence with grasses. In a factorial experiment at 94 sites on 6 continents, we tested the global generality of several broad predictions arising from previous studies: (1) Forb cover richness decline under nutrient enrichment, particularly nitrogen which benefits grasses expense forbs. (2) increase herbivory by large...
Despite decades of research documenting the consequences naturalized and invasive plant species on ecosystem functions, our understanding functional underpinnings these changes remains rudimentary. This is partially due to ineffective scaling trait differences between native whole communities. Working with data from over 75,000 plots 5,500 across United States, we show that in composition communities associated increasing abundance mirror traits plants. We find greater are more resource...
Abstract Understanding the combined effects of drought and invasive species on plant community development soil moisture could provide valuable insight into mechanisms hindering successful native establishment in dryland restoration projects. We implemented a re‐vegetation experiment at two sites Colorado, USA (one each Western Great Plains Cold Desert ecoregions) to investigate (66% reduction ambient growing season rainfall), non‐native Bromus tectorum seed addition (465 seeds/m 2 ),...
Numerous functional traits have been identified as key contributors to plant performance under drought. However, many of these traits, specifically root are rarely considered in the development native cultivars. In this study, we assessed whether cultivars perennial grass Elymus trachycaulus (Slender wheatgrass) developed for drought differ (a) resistance (i.e. a plant's ability maintain aboveground biomass productivity water deficit), (b) and belowground (c) trait responses from other...
Restoring native plants in rangelands threatened by downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) presents a serious challenge to land managers. Higher, more consistent soil moisture, as well slightly compacted soils, may reduce the competitive abilities of brome. We manipulated these factors with three treatments: superabsorbent polymer (SAP), soil-binding agent, and roller compaction at two restoration sites, Wagon Road Ridge (WRR) Sagebrush (SGE), northwestern Colorado. SAPs absorb water when soils...
Abstract Aquatic vegetation greatly impacts lake functions. Forest ecosystems surrounding lakes are effective protection zone of and their associated flora fauna. The presence aquatic plants depends on many factors, including the chemical composition acidity water, shape catchment, angle slope along shorelines management lands. Natural throughout Eastern Europe threatened by anthropogenic activities. systems bogs particularly sensitive to disturbances. aim study was determine influence land...
Emerging professionals are crucial in advancing ecological restoration by connecting newcomers with established leaders and blending new ideas traditional practices. This paper highlights the vital role emerging scientists play ecology Society for Ecological Restoration (SER). A survey conducted during SER2023 conference workshop, organized Students Professionals committee, showed that contribute significantly to every stage of scientific work, from planning publication. However,...