Theme 3: Soil microbial communities
Out of sight does not mean out of mind! The unseen soil microbial communities are sensitive to human activities and disturbances, and at the same time, they play important roles in affecting the health of their host plants. In my research, I studied how anthropogenic nitrogen and sulfur deposition have affected the root-associated fungi, including pathogens and mutualists, in a temperate forest (see publication). On the other hand, I also performed controlled experiments in the greenhouse to investigate how "apparent competition" among closely related host species can affect species range limits in oak species through soil microbes. |
Seed collection in Arkansas, for the greenhouse soil inoculum experiment
|
Theme 5: Canopy ecology
My study interest in canopy research grew stronger during my graduate studies. Seeing that most biodiversity clusters on the treetop instead of in the understory, I started to learn and frequently practice professional tree climbing techniques, in order to bring my research “to a new height”. While I spent the first four years of my Ph.D. studies mostly doing ground-level ecology, I realized that my love for canopy diversity is growing stronger, and would like to develop professional skillsets for my post-doctoral research in canopy ecology. Recently, I successfully obtained a research grant from the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Maxwell-Hanrahan Foundation to study a localized oak species, Quercus humboldtii, in the cloud forests of western Andes, Colombia. Using modern tree climbing techniques, I collected leaf samples at different canopy heights to investigate how morphological characters and herbivory rates change across canopy heights in this important woody species in the western cordillera, Quercus humboldtii (Andean Oak). Currently I'm analyzing the data and will share the results soon! |
Climbing a gigantic oak tree at Parque Nacional Farallones in the western cordillera in Colombia
|