Ecological restoration is vital to the conservation of biodiversity and provision of ecosystem services in a changing world. Biodiversity is often a goal of restoration, and species to be planted for restoration are often selected based on diversity objectives. But species are not independent; they are related to one another...
Many species have lost their natural habitat due to anthropogenic land use change. Ecologists are increasingly looking at habitat in cities to bolster efforts to conserve biodiversity. Green roofs are examples of urban habitats that are becoming more common globally. Green roofs can provide resources to support life in an...
Wind pollination has evolved from animal pollination at least 65 times in flowering plants, but the reverse transition is rare. Wind pollination is usually accompanied by the loss of traits that attract pollinators, and re-evolving them may be difficult. This dissertation examines this rare transition using Artocarpus (ca. 70 spp.,...
The symbiotic relationships between ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcM) and host plants are vital for the survival and diversification of each group. Here we introduce the Suillus / Pinaceae model system to address evolutionary relationships between EcM fungi and host plants. Genus Suillus has higher host specificity than other groups of EcM...
Ecological restoration is a land management tool for biological conservation in areas where ecosystems are subject to a suite of natural and anthropogenic disturbances. This approach is particularly critical in urban areas where disturbances are often frequent and substantial. Restoration projects aim to re-establish an entire ecosystem, including the native...
Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are a group of cosmopolitan symbiotic soil fungi that colonize the fine roots of tree species and play an essential role in plant nutrition and ecosystem function. In worldwide afforestation projects, the establishment of introduced trees in novel habitats has been shown to require ECM fungal associations....