A5011281283- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant responses to elevated CO2
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration
- Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism
- Horticultural and Viticultural Research
- Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods
- Forest ecology and management
- Research Data Management Practices
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Soil Moisture and Remote Sensing
- Turfgrass Adaptation and Management
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Innovative Teaching Methods
- Botanical Research and Chemistry
- Tree-ring climate responses
Ohio Wesleyan University
2009-2024
The University of Texas at Austin
2000-2009
Pennsylvania State University
2003-2009
Mitchell Institute
2009
Texas A&M University
2009
University of Colorado Boulder
1996
The discovery of unexpected connections among organisms that seemingly have nothing to do with one another is the most exciting aspects ecological science. Aboveground‐Belowground Linkages: Biotic Interactions, Ecosystem Processes, and Global Change , by Richard Bardgett David Wardle, reminds readers interactions soil microbes, plants, herbivores, predators, physical environment represent some fascinating these discoveries much remains be revealed. Indeed, given known influences soils on...
• Minirhizotron techniques were used to examine root lifespan in Vitis labruscana (Concord grape) for roots born four different years that varied rainfall. Experimental vines given irrigation (irrigated or not) and canopy pruning treatments (minimal balanced). Root survival was assessed from 1997 through 2000 analysed using Cox proportional hazards regression. Model covariates included pruning, irrigation, vine yield, soil depth, diameter, time of birth, numbers neighboring roots. Soil...
• Below-ground carbon allocation represents a substantial fraction of net photosynthesis in plants, yet timing below-ground and endogenous exogenous factors controlling it are poorly understood. Minirhizotron techniques were used to examine root populations Vitis labruscana Bailey cv. Concord under two levels dormant-season canopy removal irrigation. Root production, pigmentation, death disappearance depth 110 cm determined over wet dry years (1997–2000). There was continual production...
Abstract Atmospheric CO 2 (C a ) has risen dramatically since preglacial times and is projected to double in the next century. As part of 4‐year study, we examined leaf gas exchange photosynthetic acclimation C 3 4 plants using unique chambers that maintained continuous gradient from 200 550 µmol mol −1 natural grassland. Our goals were characterize linear, nonlinear threshold responses increasing past future levels. Photosynthesis ( A ), stomatal conductance g s water‐use efficiency / N...
The genera investigated were classified according to Pilger and the position of tribes Arundinelleae, Phyllorachieae, Stipea Aristideae in this system classification was critized. chromosome numbers 79 species belonging 45 have been counted. Fifty-seven these recorded for first time, or differing from earlier counts reported. following previously unknown cytologically: -Schnzidtia (n=9); Phyllorachis (n=12); Bewsia (n=10); Miscanthidium Urelytrur Chrysopogon (n=10) Trachypogon (n=10)....
• A wide variety of transparent materials are currently used for minirhizotron tubes. We tested the null hypothesis that composition does not influence root morphology and dynamics. Minirhizotron data were compared glass, acrylic butyrate tubes in apple (Malus domestica) a study with six forest tree species. Root phenology generally similar among Apple production was greatest against glass; these roots became pigmented later lived longer than near or butyrate. Roots faster next to acrylic....
Savanna trees influence water, light, and nutrient availability under their canopies, but the relative importance of these resources to understory plants is not well understood. In a three-year study in Texas savanna, infected with disease oak wilt were used natural experiment isolate effects light soil resources, particularly oak–understory interactions. Herbaceous biomass survival transplanted Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite) seedlings monitored plots healthy symptomatic Quercus fusiformis...
The interaction between nitrogen cycling and carbon sequestration is critical in predicting the consequences of anthropogenic increases atmospheric CO2 (hereafter, Ca). progressive N limitation (PNL) theory predicts that plants soils with rising Ca may be constrained by availability many ecosystems. Here we report on C dynamics during a four-year field experiment which an intact C3/C4 grassland was exposed to gradient from 200 560 μmol/mol. There were strong species effects decomposition...
Abstract Atmospheric CO 2 ( C a ) concentration has increased significantly during the last 20 000 years, and is projected to double this century. Despite importance of belowground processes in global carbon cycle, community‐level single species root responses rising are not well understood. We measured net community biomass over 3 years using ingrowth cores natural –C 4 grassland exposed gradient from preglacial future levels (230–550 μmol mol −1 ). Root windows minirhizotron tubes were...
Landscape-scale alterations that accompany urbanization may negatively affect the population structure of wildlife species such as freshwater turtles. Changes to nesting sites and higher mortality rates due vehicular collisions increased predator populations particularly immature turtles mature female We hypothesized proportions adult in a will correlate with landscape urbanization. As collaborative effort Ecological Research Education Network (EREN), we sampled turtle 11 states across...
Global increases in atmospheric CO2 and temperature may interact complex ways to influence plant physiology growth, particularly for species that grow cool, early spring conditions temperate forests. Plant also vary their responses environmental changes; fast-growing invasives be more responsive rising than natives increase production of allelopathic compounds under these conditions, altering species' competitive interactions.We examined growth physiological Alliaria petiolata, an...
In Rocky Mountain (USA) subalpine forests, seedlings of Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce) colonize logs more frequently than its codominant associate Abies lasiocarpa (subalpine fir). We hypothesized that spruce germinates readily on fir, perhaps because small seeds are likely to lodge in log crevices larger fir seeds. Our objectives were test this hypothesis and compare both species' germination among several substrates assess influences natural seedling distributions. Spruce sown...
We only have a limited understanding of the nutrient uptake physiology individual roots as they age. Despite this shortcoming, importance processes to our plant nutrition and cycling cannot be underestimated. In study, we used 15N depletion method that allowed for measurement nitrate-N rates on intact, individual, fine known expected N would decline rapidly aged, regardless environmental conditions species used. compared age dependent patterns young grape cuttings with those mature vines...
Ecologists at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) are well positioned to form collaborative networks and make transformative contributions the study teaching of ecology. The spatial temporal complexity ecological phenomena rewards a research approach. A network PUI ecologists can incorporate closely supervised data collection into courses, thereby generating across gradients answer crucial questions. These offer unprecedented insight fine- large-scale processes for publications,...
Many plants emit isoprene, a hydrocarbon that has important influences on atmospheric chemistry. Pathogens may affect isoprene fluxes, both through damage to plant tissue and by changing the abundance of isoprene-emitting species. Live oaks (Quercus fusiformis (Small) Sarg. Q. virginiana Mill) are major emitters in southern United States, oak populations Texas being dramatically reduced wilt, widespread fungal vascular disease. We investigated effects wilt emissions from live leaves (Q....
The first summit of projects funded by the National Science Foundation’s Research Coordination Networks for Undergraduate Biology Education (RCN-UBE) program was held January 14–16, 2016, in Washington, DC. Sixty-five scientists and science educators from 38 41 Incubator Full RCN-UBE awards discussed value contributions RCNs to national biology education reform effort. illustrated progress this innovative UBE track, awarded 2009. Participants shared experiences regarding network development...
Abstract Biodiversity is a complex, yet essential, concept for undergraduate students in ecology and other natural sciences to grasp. As beginner scientists, must learn recognize, describe, interpret patterns of biodiversity across various spatial scales understand their relationships with ecological processes human influences. It also increasingly important programs related disciplines provide experiences working large datasets develop students’ data science skills ability consider how that...
Spring wheat grown the year following breaking of stands crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L.) or bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss) in a semi-arid region Canadian prairies yielded 17 per cent less than on summerfallow 2-year wheat-summerfallow rotation. After three successive cycles rotation sod breaking, yields were about equal to those obtained from check plots. The grasses did not improve soil aggregation any more quickly that which occurred wheat-fallow regime under an adopted...
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, Zimmerman 1780) are known to disperse seeds through endozoochory, but the fates of these largely unknown. In both field and greenhouse studies, we examined importance fecal pellet decay seed germination success compared natural plant communities in microsites with without pellets determine effects endozoochory on short-term species composition. Pellets were collected Delaware County, Ohio. After cold stratification, either crumbled or planted intact...
Tall late-maturing varieties produced the highest dry matter yields of 25 oat cut in medium-dough stage at Lacombe, Alberta, from 1959 to 1961. High tillering was associated with small stems and high fiber content but not indicative yield. With exception fiber, chemical constituents were agronomic characteristics. Nitrate (KNO 3 ) increased under drought conditions, being twice as 1960 1959. Since suitable for both seed forage production it concluded that breeding unwarranted.
Abstract The invasive plant Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) has spread throughout forest understory and edge communities in much of North America, but its persistence, density, impacts have varied across sites time. Surveying the literature since 2008, we evaluated both previously proposed new mechanisms for garlic mustard's invasion success note how they interact vary ecological contexts. We analyzed where mustard been studied found a lack multisite longitudinal studies, as well regions...