A5047788030- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant and animal studies
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Cryospheric studies and observations
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Climate change and permafrost
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Forest ecology and management
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Complex Network Analysis Techniques
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Arctic and Russian Policy Studies
- Social Capital and Networks
Duke University
2015-2020
North Carolina State University
2020
Colorado State University
2010-2011
Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 267–283 Abstract Predicting changes in community composition and ecosystem function a rapidly changing world is major research challenge ecology. Traits‐based approaches have elicited much recent interest, yet individual studies are not advancing more general, predictive Significant progress will be facilitated by adopting coherent theoretical framework comprised of three elements: an underlying trait distribution, performance filter defining the fitness traits...
Abstract Aim Intraspecific trait variation (ITV) within natural plant communities can be large, influencing local ecological processes and dynamics. Here, we shed light on how ITV in vegetative floral traits responds to large‐scale abiotic biotic gradients (i.e., climate species richness). Specifically, tested whether associations of with temperature, precipitation richness were consistent any four hypotheses relating stress tolerance competition. Furthermore, estimated the degree...
We conducted measurements of methane (CH 4 ) emission and ecosystem respiration on >200 points across the Arctic coastal tundra near Barrow, Alaska, United States, in July 2007 August 2008. This site contains broad diversity microtopography, including polygonal tundra, thaw lakes, drained lake basins. In 2007, we surveyed CH emissions this landscape, found that soil water content was strongest control rate, such rates rose exponentially with content. However, there considerable residual...
Recent studies have increasingly turned to graph theory model more realistic contact structures that characterize disease spread. Because of the computational demands these methods, many researchers sought use measures network structure modify analytically tractable differential equation models. Several focused on degree distribution as basis for their modifications. We show although is sufficient predict behaviour very sparse or dense human networks, intermediate density networks we must...
The importance of intraspecific trait variability for community dynamics and ecosystem functioning has been underappreciated. There are theoretical reasons predicting that species differ in will also their effects on functioning, particularly variable environments. We discuss whether with greater likely to exhibit temporal stability population dynamics, under which conditions this might lead functioning. Resolving requires us consider several questions. First, high levels variation one...
Summary Trait‐based approaches offer a way to predict changes in community structure along environmental gradients using measurable properties of individuals. Promoted as being generalizable across systems, trait‐based benefit from information about the drivers trait variation, how they interact and change with scale. However, for most diverse, natural communities, it is largely unknown whether relationships between leaf‐level traits interacting (e.g. fire, water availability) are influenced...
It is widely assumed that higher levels of intraspecific variability in one or more traits should allow species to persist under a wider range environmental conditions. However, few studies have examined whether exhibit high are found conditions, and increases the ability adapt prevailing ecological gradients. We used four plant functional traits, specific leaf area (SLA), dry matter content (LDMC), carbon nitrogen ratio (C:N) maximum height 49 across strong gradient answer three questions:...
The causes of species rarity are critical concern because the high extinction risk associated with rarity. Studies examining individual rare have limited generality, whereas trait-based approaches offer a means to identify functional that can be applied communities disparate pools. Differences in traits between and common may indicative therefore useful crafting conservation strategies. However, there is conspicuous lack studies comparing co-occurring species. We measured 18 important for 19...
The effects of herbivory can shape plant communities and evolution. However, the many forms costs wide variation in pressure, including across latitudinal gradients, make predicting on different species difficult. Functional trait approaches may aid contextualizing standardizing assessment impacts. Here we assessed response 26 old-field to simulated defoliation a greenhouse setting by measuring whole leaf level traits control treated individuals. Simulated had no significant any measured....
Understanding impacts of altered disturbance regimes on community structure and function is a key goal for ecology. Functional traits link species composition to ecosystem functioning. Changes in the distribution functional at scales response can be driven not only by shifts composition, but also intraspecific trait values. relative importance these two processes has important implications predicting responses regimes.
Rare species reintroductions are an increasingly common conservation strategy, but often result in poor survival of reintroduced individuals. Reintroduction sites chosen primarily based on historical occupancy and/or abiotic properties the site, with much less consideration given to larger biotic community. However, ecological niche theory suggests that ability coexist other is determined part by degree functional similarity between species. The which affects plants poorly understood, has...
Understanding and predicting the response of plant communities to environmental changes disturbances such as fire requires an understanding functional traits present in system, including within across species variability, their dynamics over time. These data are difficult obtain few studies provide comprehensive information for more than a or species, rarely cover single growing season, usually only summary statistics trait values. As part larger study seeking understand different prescribed...