A5084303693- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Plant and animal studies
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Forest ecology and management
- Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Plant pathogens and resistance mechanisms
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Studies
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Tree Root and Stability Studies
- Plant responses to elevated CO2
- Mollusks and Parasites Studies
- Ecosystem dynamics and resilience
Arkansas State University
2020-2024
Arkansas Biosciences Institute
2024
Washington University in St. Louis
2014-2020
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
2004-2020
Tyson Foods (United States)
2020
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
2010-2014
Smithsonian Institution
2005-2010
Indiana University Bloomington
2004-2010
University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh
1999-2002
Ecosystem productivity commonly increases asymptotically with plant species diversity, and determining the mechanisms responsible for this well-known pattern is essential to predict potential changes in ecosystem ongoing loss. Previous studies attributed asymptotic diversity-productivity competition differential resource use (e.g., niche complementarity). Using an analytical model a series of experiments, we demonstrate theoretically empirically that host-specific soil microbes can be major...
We present strong evidence that pathogens play a critical role in structuring plant communities and maintaining diversity. Pathogens mediate species coexistence through trade-offs between competitive ability resistance to pathogen specialization. Experimental tests of individual plant–pathogen interactions, feedback host-specific changes soil communities, field patterns experimentation consistently identify as important coexistence. These direct are supported by observations the generating...
Maintaining tree diversity Negative interaction among plant species is known as conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD). This ecological pattern thought to maintain higher in the tropics. LaManna et al. tested this hypothesis by comparing how changes with intensity of local biotic interactions tropical and temperate latitudes (see Perspective Comita). Stronger specialized seem prevent erosion biodiversity forests, not only limiting populations common species, but also strongly...
Lianas are a key component of tropical forests; however, most surveys too small to accurately quantify liana community composition, diversity, abundance, and spatial distribution - critical components for measuring the contribution lianas forest processes. In 2007, we tagged, mapped, measured diameter, identified all ≥1 cm rooted in 50-ha plot on Barro Colorado Island, Panama (BCI). We calculated density, basal area, species richness both independently stems (genets plus clones). compared...
In tropical forests, rarer species show increased sensitivity to species-specific soil pathogens and more negative effects of conspecific density on seedling survival (NDD). These patterns suggest a connection between ecology immunity, perhaps because small population size disproportionately reduces genetic diversity hyperdiverse loci such as immunity genes. an experiment examining roots from six in one tree community, we found that smaller populations have reduced amino acid pathogen...
A growing body of evidence obtained largely from temperate grassland studies suggests that feedbacks occurring between plants and their associated soil biota are important to plant community assemblage. However, few have examined the importance organisms in driving plant–soil forested systems. In a tropical forest central Panama, we whether interactions tree seedlings arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) lead feedback. Specifically, do modify own AMF communities manner either favors or...
Summary 1. Lianas are a conspicuous element of many tropical forests, accounting for up to 40% woody stem density and 20% species richness in seasonal forests. However, lianas have seldom been surveyed at sufficiently large spatial scales allow an assessment the importance habitat variables structuring liana communities. 2. We compare association patterns 82 equivalent sample tree on 50 ha Forest Dynamics Project plot Barro Colorado Island, Panama, with topographic (high low plateau, slope,...
Lianas (woody vines) reduce growth and survival of host trees in both temperate tropical forests; however, the relative strength liana‐tree competition comparison to tree‐tree remains unexplored. When controlling for biomass, lianas may have greater competitive effects than because unique morphology allows them reach forest canopy at relatively small stem diameters deploy a substantial crown above their host. We tested hypothesis that negative effect on do similar biomass with liana‐ tree...
Microbes are thought to maintain diversity in plant communities by specializing on particular species, but it is not known whether microbes that specialize within species (i.e., genotypes) affect or dynamics communities. Here we show soil can at the within-population level a wild and such specialization could promote seed dispersal In shadehouse experiment Panama, found seedlings of native tree Virola surinamensis (Myristicaceae), had reduced performance microbial community their maternal...
Summary Tropical forest productivity is sustained by the cycling of nutrients through decomposing organic matter. Arbuscular mycorrhizal ( AM ) fungi play a key role in nutrition tropical trees, yet there has been little experimental investigation into nutrient via material forests. We evaluated responses long‐term leaf litter addition and removal experiment Panama. described fungal communities using 454‐pyrosequencing, quantified proportion root length colonised microscopy, estimated...
Plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs) have been shown to strongly affect plant performance under controlled conditions, and PSFs are thought far reaching consequences for population dynamics the structuring of communities. However, thus relationship between PSF species abundance in field is not consistent. Here, we synthesize experiments from tropical forests semiarid grasslands, test a positive estimated bioassays. We meta-analyzed results 22 found an overall correlation (0.12 ≤ r¯ 0.32) across...
Abstract Empirical studies show that plant-soil feedbacks (PSF) can generate negative density dependent (NDD) recruitment capable of maintaining plant community diversity at landscape scales. However, the observation common plants often exhibit relatively weaker NDD than rare local scales is difficult to reconcile with maintenance overall diversity. We develop a spatially explicit simulation model tracks dynamics microbial mutualists, pathogens, and their hosts. find net PSF effects vary as...
Fecal pellets collected from 10 small-mammal species captured in a Panamanian cloud forest were examined for presence of spores arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Fifty-two percent the 94 fecal samples contained ≥1 6 fungi species, including Sclerocystis coremioides, Glomus fasciculatum, G. rubiforme, geosporum, and 2 unidentified species. fasciculatum was most frequently encountered occurring 87% that diets 7 occupying terrestrial arboreal habitats. Peromyscus mexicanus Oryzomys devius consumed...
Abstract Recent studies showing bias in the measurement of density dependence have potential to sow confusion field ecology. We provide clarity by elucidating key conceptual and statistical errors with null‐model approaches used recent dependence. Importantly, we show that neither a relabeling null model nor more biologically appropriate reproduces differences density‐dependent recruitment between tropical temperate forests, indicating latitudinal gradient negative is not an artifact bias....
There is now strong evidence suggesting that interactions between plants and their species-specific antagonistic microbes can maintain native plant community diversity. In contrast, the decay in diversity communities invaded by nonnative species might be caused weakening negative feedback strengths, perhaps because of increased relative importance mutualists such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Although vast majority studies examining plant-soil feedbacks have been conducted a single...
In the lowlands of central Panama, Neotropical pioneer tree Trema micrantha (sensu lato) exists as two cryptic species: "landslide" is restricted to landslides and road embankments, while "gap" occurs mostly in treefall gaps. this study, we explored relative contributions biotic interactions physical factors habitat segregation T. micrantha. Field surveys showed that soils from were significantly richer available phosphorus harbored distinct arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities...