A5012381756- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Plant and animal studies
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Coastal and Marine Dynamics
- Aeolian processes and effects
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant responses to water stress
- Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment
University of Houston
2015-2024
Ecological Society of America
2016-2020
John Wiley & Sons (United States)
2016-2020
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
2019
IFC Research (United Kingdom)
2018-2019
World Bank Group
2017
Creighton University
2013
Georgia Southern University
2013
Oceanography Society
2013
Carnegie Department of Plant Biology
2005
Human activities have increased N availability dramatically in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Extensive research demonstrates that local plant species diversity generally declines response to nutrient enrichment, yet the mechanisms for this decline remain unclear. Based on an analysis of >900 responses from 34 N-fertilization experiments across nine ecosystems North America, we show both trait-neutral trait-based operate simultaneously influence loss as production increases. Rare...
We know a great deal about the plastic responses of plant phenotypes to abiotic and biotic environment, but very little consequences phenotypic plasticity for communities. In other words, we that traits can vary widely given genotype, importance trait-mediated interactions (TMI) among plants. Here, discuss three major factors affect expression plasticity: variation in presence or identity neighbors, herbivory. consider how these might Plastic environment have important conditionality...
In Carpinteria Salt Marsh, Salicornia virginica (pickleweed) grows at lower marsh elevations than does Arthrocnemum subterminalis (Parish's glasswort). Standing biomass of both species was greatest immediately adjacent to their abrupt border, suggesting that conditions for plant growth were best here. We utilized field experiments, in which rates naturally occurring and transplanted individuals measured four zones, investigate the role edaphic factors competition maintaining this zonation...
Summary We investigated the factors producing zonation patterns of dominant plants in south‐eastern USA salt marshes where Juncus roemerianus dominates high marsh, and Spartina alterniflora middle low marsh. did not occur naturally zone performed poorly when transplanted there, irrespective whether neighbours were present or removed, indicating that its lower limit was set by physical stress. In contrast, although occurred at densities zone, it well if there only upper competition. Parallel...
Global energy use and food production have increased nitrogen inputs to ecosystems worldwide, impacting plant community diversity, composition, function. Previous studies show considerable variation across terrestrial herbaceous in the magnitude of species loss following (N) enrichment. What controls this remains unknown. We present results from 23 N-addition experiments North America, representing a range climatic, soil properties, determine conditions that lead greater diversity decline....
Despite their value, coastal ecosystems are globally threatened by anthropogenic impacts, yet how these impacts driven economic development is not well understood. We compiled a multifaceted dataset to quantify trends and examine the role of growth in China's degradation since 1950s. Although population did change following 1978 reforms, its economy increased orders magnitude. All 15 human examined over time, especially after reforms. Econometric analysis revealed positive relationships...
Significance Accurate prediction of community responses to global change drivers (GCDs) is critical given the effects biodiversity on ecosystem services. There consensus that human activities are driving species extinctions at scale, but debate remains over whether GCDs systematically altering local communities worldwide. Across 105 experiments included 400 experimental manipulations, we found evidence for a lagged response herbaceous plant caused by shifts in identities and relative...
Ecological interactions may vary geographically as a function of diversity, density, or per capita interaction strengths, but we know little about the relative importance these three mechanisms. We examined variation in species richness, abundance, and among leaf-chewing herbivores dominant salt-marsh plant Spartina alterniflora along Atlantic Coast United States. High-latitude S. plants are more palatable to than low-latitude plants. Within this range latitude, diversity density consumers,...
Despite long-standing interest in latitudinal variation ecological patterns and processes, there is to date weak conflicting evidence that herbivore pressure varies with latitude. We used three approaches examine Atlantic Coast salt marshes, focusing on five abundant plant taxa: the grass Spartina alterniflora, congeneric rushes Juncus gerardii J. roemerianus, forb Solidago sempervirens, shrubs Iva frutescens Baccharis halimifolia. Herbivore counts indicated chewing gall-making herbivores...
Summary Phenotypic variation plays an important role in successful plant invasions. The spread of invasive species over large geographic ranges may be facilitated if plants can match their phenotype to local abiotic conditions. Spartina alterniflora , native the United States, was introduced into China 1979 and has 19ᵒ latitude along eastern coast China. We studied patterns vegetative growth sexual reproduction S . at 22 sites 11 locations a latitudinal gradient ˜2000 km from Tanggu...
The "connectedness" of clonal plants has been shown to promote survival and growth in a variety single-species, single-factor studies, but experiments comparing the relative advantages clonality across multiple habitats species are rare, raising concern that generalizations about benefits might be biased by particular or habitat studied. We studied importance integration southeastern USA salt marsh plants, using all six common community, following success intact severed fragments invading...
We investigated the effect of a native parasitic plant, Cuscuta salina, on structure and dynamics plant community in California salt marsh. was common middle marsh zones. The abundance positively correlated with Limonium californicum at two sampling scales (0.25— ≈\approx40—m 2 quadrats). Sampling scale individual plants indicated that dominant marsh, Salicornia virginica, preferred by as host over Arthrocnemum subterminale, californicum, Frankenia salina. This result confirmed host—choice...
A pressing problem for ecologists is determining whether our understanding of communities, often developed from work at fine scales, can explain processes across broader scales. Here, we explore models positive interactions in southern New England be applied to geographic Salt marsh plants may interact positively by ameliorating harsh physical conditions such as salinity stress. Because porewater salinities are higher low- vs. high-latitude marshes, tested the hypothesis that increasingly...
An assumption of most optimal diet theory is that different resources are substitutable, is, they identical in all relevant aspects and so can be ranked value using a single currency, such as energy. However, this probably not valid many cases. The sea hare Dolabella auricularia (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia: Anaspidea) grew far better upon an ad libitum mixture four species algae than any the algal alone, suggesting were complementary resources. When offered three pairs 4:1 1:9 ratios,...
Few studies have evaluated the relative importance of multiple plant traits to herbivore diet choice, especially with an experimental approach. Moreover, although circumstantial evidence points toughness and silica content as important determinents few experimentally demonstrated that these factors actually deter feeding by herbivores. We examined preferences a generalist salt-marsh crab, Armases cinereum, for all common angiosperms in its habitat. took approach evaluating toughness,...
Most studies of feeding preferences herbivores have focussed on the role plant secondary metabolites; very few experimentally tested importance toughness or calcification as deterrents, although low preference has repeatedly been shown to correlate with these factors. Feeding unusual generalist herbivore Dolabella auricularia, an opisthobranch gastropod which, like many other that group, sequesters metabolites from some algae, were consistent our expectation they might not feed algae and...
A number of experiments have addressed how increases in nitrogen availability increase the productivity and decrease diversity plant communities. We lack, however, a rigorous mechanistic understanding changes abundance particular species combine to produce community diversity. Single cannot provide insight into this issue because each occurs only once per experiment, experiment is conducted one location; thus, it impossible from single determine whether responses are consistent across...
Summarizing complex temporal dynamics in communities is difficult to achieve a way that yields an intuitive picture of change. Rank clocks and rank abundance statistics provide graphical analytical framework for displaying quantifying community dynamics. We used clocks, which the order each species plotted over time clockwise direction, display changes abundances richness. mean shift proportional persistence quantify structure long‐term data sets from fertilized control plots late...
Oil spills represent a major environmental threat to coastal wetlands, which provide variety of critical ecosystem services humanity. The U.S. Gulf Mexico is hub oil and gas exploration activities that historically have impacted intertidal habitats such as salt marsh. Following the BP Deepwater Horizon spill, we sampled terrestrial arthropod community marine invertebrates found in stands Spartina alterniflora, most abundant plant marshes. Sampling occurred 2010 was washing ashore year later...