Can we leverage functional traits to predict or control the dynamics of species-rich communities? We just had a new paper come out exploring these ideas. You can read it at Oikos or download a PDF. The paper first surveys the general problem of prediction and control in a community context. It then shows how functional…

How and why do plants use water? We just wrote an opinion piece on this topic, calling for a broader appreciation for the multiple values of water to plants, beyond its utility for instantaneous carbon gain. The piece suggests alternate directions for current theory to move into, and critiques the neoclassical economic assumptions of current…

We just published a study in Ecology Letters exploring how to intentionally shift a community from one state to another, more desired, state. You can read it at the journal or download a PDF. The study lays out a conceptual framework that involves making small nudges that allow jumping between basins of attraction. The work is…

(guest post by lab PhD student + lead author Courtenay Ray) Plants modify microenvironments by altering nearby abiotic conditions, such as ground temperatures, soil moisture, and nutrient availability. Microenvironment modification may lead to changes in species interactions (e.g. competition and facilitation) if the environment becomes more or less stressful for neighboring plants; however, the consequences…