Species interactions are critical for shaping the structure and function of biodiversity. Coevolution and coadaptation among interactors create diversity, and interactions provide critical links between diversity and ecosystem functions. Human activities dramatically alter biodiversity, leading to the un-tangling and re-tangling of “Darwin's tangled bank.” Reassembled communities and altered interactions affect population, community, and ecosystem-level processes.
Our research examines how anthropogenic change alters intra- and interspecific diversity and interactions of functionally important mutualistic and antagonistic relationships. We uncover how anthropogenic change alters diversity and interactions, the outcomes of altered interactions, and how to mitigate the impacts of altered interactions. We integrate across multiple scales and take varied approahes to link inference, realism, and generality. We employ manipulative field experiments, biogeographical observations and collections, and lab experiments, molecular tools, quantitative approaches including meta-analysis.
Our research examines how anthropogenic change alters intra- and interspecific diversity and interactions of functionally important mutualistic and antagonistic relationships. We uncover how anthropogenic change alters diversity and interactions, the outcomes of altered interactions, and how to mitigate the impacts of altered interactions. We integrate across multiple scales and take varied approahes to link inference, realism, and generality. We employ manipulative field experiments, biogeographical observations and collections, and lab experiments, molecular tools, quantitative approaches including meta-analysis.
Latitudinal diversity gradients and high niche opportunties
Latitudinal diversity gradients (LDG) are common in nature, and we examine if gradients in diversity and interactions lead to "high niche opportunities," making poleward communities susceptible to range-expanding species. We explore this question in oak gall wasp-parasitoid communities along a latitudinal gradient in oak savanna ecosystems on the west coast of North America. In Jones et al. (2022, J. Anim. Ecol.), we revealed that oak gall wasp diversity decreased towards the poles, creating weak local interactions (on trees) that may contribute to poleward oaks being susceptible to a range-expanding gall wasp. Prior et al. (2023 Diversity & Distributions) found that enemy parasite richness decreased towards the poles, with more connected interaction networks composed of generalists. Even though networks were composed of more generalists, interactions between hosts were more asymmetric, resulting in weak apparent competition. These results imply that ineffective host switching by generalist parasites may create open niches for range-expanding hosts.
Discovering altered cryptic diversity and interactions, and mechanisms of ecological release
As species expand their ranges they lose co-evolved or co-adapted intra- and interspecific interactions. In our the oak gall wasp host-parasite system, we use molecular approaches to uncover cryptic diversity and interactions to provide high-resolution host-parasite interaction networks We are sequencing samples of hosts and parasites collected over a large latitudinal gradient and creating networks to uncover how interactions change along this gradient and in the context of a poleward range-expanding host. Using diagnostic molecular approaches, we are examining if putative generalists failing to swich to novel hosts is a potential mechanism of enemy release.
We are also exploring altered interactions with host plant populations contribute to ecological release. Oak populations have lower intraspecific diversity towards the poles, and we are examining if this reduced variation contributes to reduced patchniess and more susceptible trees at the poles. We are also exploring how changes in intraspecific host plant variation scales up to affect interactions with parasites through tritrophic interactions.
Inter to intraspecific functional variation in diffuse mutualisms
Global change impacts on forest understories
Traits and community assembly
Invasive species management
Speicalized mutualisms
Latitudinal diversity gradients (LDG) are common in nature, and we examine if gradients in diversity and interactions lead to "high niche opportunities," making poleward communities susceptible to range-expanding species. We explore this question in oak gall wasp-parasitoid communities along a latitudinal gradient in oak savanna ecosystems on the west coast of North America. In Jones et al. (2022, J. Anim. Ecol.), we revealed that oak gall wasp diversity decreased towards the poles, creating weak local interactions (on trees) that may contribute to poleward oaks being susceptible to a range-expanding gall wasp. Prior et al. (2023 Diversity & Distributions) found that enemy parasite richness decreased towards the poles, with more connected interaction networks composed of generalists. Even though networks were composed of more generalists, interactions between hosts were more asymmetric, resulting in weak apparent competition. These results imply that ineffective host switching by generalist parasites may create open niches for range-expanding hosts.
Discovering altered cryptic diversity and interactions, and mechanisms of ecological release
As species expand their ranges they lose co-evolved or co-adapted intra- and interspecific interactions. In our the oak gall wasp host-parasite system, we use molecular approaches to uncover cryptic diversity and interactions to provide high-resolution host-parasite interaction networks We are sequencing samples of hosts and parasites collected over a large latitudinal gradient and creating networks to uncover how interactions change along this gradient and in the context of a poleward range-expanding host. Using diagnostic molecular approaches, we are examining if putative generalists failing to swich to novel hosts is a potential mechanism of enemy release.
We are also exploring altered interactions with host plant populations contribute to ecological release. Oak populations have lower intraspecific diversity towards the poles, and we are examining if this reduced variation contributes to reduced patchniess and more susceptible trees at the poles. We are also exploring how changes in intraspecific host plant variation scales up to affect interactions with parasites through tritrophic interactions.
Inter to intraspecific functional variation in diffuse mutualisms
Global change impacts on forest understories
Traits and community assembly
Invasive species management
Speicalized mutualisms