Robert Muscarella
A5079291685- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant and animal studies
- Forest ecology and management
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Forest Management and Policy
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Tree-ring climate responses
- Tree Root and Stability Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Data Analysis with R
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems
- Climate change and permafrost
- Polar Research and Ecology
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Oil Palm Production and Sustainability
Uppsala University
2019-2025
Aarhus University
2015-2021
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
2021
American Museum of Natural History
2021
University of California, Merced
2021
City University of New York
2021
City College of New York
2021
John Wiley & Sons (United States)
2017-2018
Ecological Society of America
2017-2018
Wageningen University & Research
2017
Summary Recent studies have demonstrated a need for increased rigour in building and evaluating ecological niche models ( ENM s) based on presence‐only occurrence data. Two major goals are to balance goodness‐of‐fit with model complexity (e.g. by ‘tuning’ settings) evaluate spatially independent These issues especially critical data sets suffering from sampling bias, that require transferring across space or time responses climate change spread of invasive species). Efficient implementation...
Models reveal the high carbon mitigation potential of tropical forest regeneration.
Abstract Quantitative evaluations to optimize complexity have become standard for avoiding overfitting of ecological niche models (ENMs) that estimate species’ potential geographic distributions. ENMeval was the first R package make such (often termed model tuning) widely accessible Maxent algorithm. It also provided multiple methods partitioning occurrence data and reported various performance metrics. Requests by users, recent developments in field, needs software compatibility led a major...
Abstract Scientific research increasingly calls for open‐source software that is flexible, interactive, and expandable, while providing methodological guidance reproducibility. Currently, many analyses in ecology are implemented with “black box” graphical user interfaces (GUIs) lack flexibility or command‐line infrequently used by non‐specialists. To help remedy this situation the context of species distribution modeling, we created Wallace , an open modular application a richly documented...
The notion that relationships between community-weighted mean (CWM) traits (i.e. plot-level trait values weighted by species abundances) and environmental conditions reflect selection towards locally optimal phenotypes is challenged the large amount of interspecific variation typically found within ecological communities. Reconciling these contrasting patterns a key to advancing predictive theories functional community ecology. We combined data on geographical distributions three (wood...
The use of phylogenetic information in community ecology and conservation has grown recent years. Two key issues for phylogenetics studies, however, are (i) low terminal resolution (ii) arbitrarily defined species pools.We used three DNA barcodes (plastid regions rbcL, matK, trnH-psbA) to infer a phylogeny 527 native naturalized trees Puerto Rico, representing the vast majority entire tree flora island (89%). We maximum likelihood (ML) approach with without constraint that enforced monophyly...
Scientists, corporations, mystics, and movie stars have convinced policymakers around the world that a massive campaign to plant trees should be an essential element of global climate policy. Public dialogue has emphasized potential benefits tree planting while downplaying pitfalls limitations are well established by social ecological research. We argue if natural solutions succeed economies decarbonize (Griscom et al. 2017), must recognize avoid expense, risk, damage poorly designed hastily...
Abstract Tropical forests face increasing climate risk 1,2 , yet our ability to predict their response change is limited by poor understanding of resistance water stress. Although xylem embolism thresholds (for example, $$\varPsi $$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>Ψ</mml:mi> </mml:math> 50 ) and hydraulic safety margins HSM are important predictors drought-induced mortality 3–5 little known about how these vary across Earth’s largest tropical forest. Here,...
Models of species ecological niches and geographic distributions now represent a widely used tool in ecology, evolution, biogeography. However, the very common situation with few available occurrence localities presents major challenges for such modeling techniques, particular regarding model complexity evaluation. Here, we summarize state field these issues provide worked example using technique Maxent small mammal endemic to Madagascar (the nesomyine rodent Eliurus majori ). Two relevant...
Abstract. Advances in forest carbon mapping have the potential to greatly reduce uncertainties global budget and facilitate effective emissions mitigation strategies such as REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation Forest Degradation). Though broad-scale is based primarily on remote sensing data, accuracy of resulting stock estimates depends critically quality field measurements calibration procedures. The mismatch spatial scales between inventory plots larger pixels current planned...
Abstract Topography affects abiotic conditions which can influence the structure, function and dynamics of ecological communities. An increasing number studies have demonstrated biological consequences fine‐scale topographic heterogeneity but we a limited understanding how these effects depend on climate context. We merged high‐resolution (1 m 2 ) data topography canopy height derived from airborne lidar with ground‐based 15 forest plots in Puerto Rico distributed along precipitation...
Abstract Aim Palms are an iconic, diverse and often abundant component of tropical ecosystems that provide many ecosystem services. Being monocots, tree palms evolutionarily, morphologically physiologically distinct from other trees, these differences have important consequences for services (e.g., carbon sequestration storage) in terms responses to climate change. We quantified global patterns palm relative abundance help improve understanding forests reduce uncertainty about under Location...
Predicting the fate of tropical forests under a changing climate requires understanding species responses to climatic variability and extremes. Seedlings may be particularly vulnerable stress given low stored resources undeveloped roots; they also portend potential effects change on future forest composition. Here we use data for ca. 50,000 seedlings representing 25 woody assess (i) interannual variation in rainfall solar radiation between 2007 2016 seedling survival over 9 years subtropical...
Identifying the processes that maintain highly diverse plant communities remains a central goal in ecology. Species variation growth and survival rates across ontogeny, represented by tree size classes life history stage-specific niche partitioning, are potentially important mechanisms for promoting forest diversity. However, role of ontogeny mediating competitive dynamics functional diversity is not well understood, particular high-diversity systems such as tropical forests. The interaction...
Host–parasite coevolution can maintain high levels of genetic diversity in traits involved species interactions. In many systems, host exploited by parasites are constrained use other functions, leading to complex selective pressures across space and time. Here, we study genome-wide variation the staple crop Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench its association with parasitic weed Striga hermonthica (Delile) Benth., a major constraint food security Africa. We hypothesize that geographic selection...
Abstract Projected increases in cyclonic storm intensity under a warming climate will have profound effects on forests, potentially changing these ecosystems from carbon sinks to sources. Forecasting impacts requires consideration of risk factors associated with meteorology, landscape structure, and forest attributes. Here we evaluate damage severity caused by Hurricanes María Irma across Puerto Rican forests. Using field remote sensing data, total aboveground biomass (AGB) lost the storms...
Significance Tropical forests disappear rapidly through deforestation but also have the potential to regrow naturally a process called secondary succession. To advance successional theory, it is essential understand how these and their assembly vary across broad spatial scales. We do so by synthesizing continental-scale patterns in succession using functional trait approach. show that start pathway of varies with climatic water availability. In dry forests, driven drought tolerance traits...
Understanding the capacity of forests to adapt climate change is pivotal importance for conservation science, yet this still widely unknown. This knowledge gap particularly acute in high-biodiversity tropical forests. Here, we examined how Americas have shifted community trait composition recent decades as a response changes climate. Based on historical trait-climate relationships, found that, overall, studied functional traits show shifts less than 8% what would be expected given observed...
Summary Successional gradients are ubiquitous in nature, yet few studies have systematically examined the evolutionary origins of taxa that specialize at different successional stages. Here we quantify habitat specialization Neotropical forest trees and evaluate its lability along a precipitation gradient. Theoretically, should be more evolutionarily conserved wet forests than dry due to extreme microenvironmental differentiation between early late‐successional stages forest. We applied...
Abstract Question Understanding how the relative importance of different community assembly processes changes during secondary succession diverse systems remains elusive. Functional and phylogenetic approaches that place species along continuous axes niche differentiation evolutionary relatedness, however, are deepening our understanding mechanisms drive successional dynamics. We ask whether shifts in functional composition post‐agricultural tropical forests provide evidence for partitioning...