I am a community and evolutionary ecologist whose research explores how organisms are both ecologically and evolutionarily influenced by the complex communities that surround them. To this end, I study plants, which participate in myriad interactions with antagonistic and mutualistic species that are both seen and unseen. Such cross-kingdom interactions can greatly influence plant performance by impacting critical processes such as nutrient acquisition and defense. Moreover, the distribution and abundance of species and the evolution of phenotypic traits can only be understood in the context of multi-species interactions; particularly those involving microbes. Though studies focusing on pairwise interactions have provided a solid foundation for present ecological and evolutionary theory, only by studying multi-species interactions can we move ecology to a more predictive discipline. My research fills this gap by integrating chemical, molecular, and field approaches to address fundamental and applied questions on cross-kingdom plant, animal, and microbe interactions in both natural and agricultural systems. Current and future research focuses on:
Evolutionary ecology of plant-pollinator-microbe interactions - The plant microbiome can influence host phenotype in diverse, yet unappreciated ways. With respect to flowering angiosperms, many hosts employ multiple signaling modalities, including color and scent, to attract mutualist pollinators to aid reproduction. However, floral tissues, as well as resources such as pollen and nectar, are frequently colonized by a diverse array of microbes that can alter many of these same signals, with effects often being species-specific. Recent evidence suggests that these microbial impacts on attractive phenotypic traits can influence pollinator foraging decisions, with significant consequences for plant fitness. As pollinators are important biotic agents of selection on floral characters, and in turn plant mating systems, microbial-induced shifts in host phenotype may tempo both the strength and direction of selection imposed by pollinators. This however remains to be investigated. Drawing on tools from chemical ecology and sexual selection theory, I'm working to address this gap through exploration of the ecological and evolutionary consequences of microbial effects on host phenotype for plant-pollinator mutualisms and selection on floral displays.
Plant microbiome: linking structure to assembly processes and function in agroecosystems - In agricultural systems, healthy plant microbiomes have the potential to alleviate stress associated with disease as well as increase agricultural production. However, while advances in molecular techniques have rapidly advanced our ability to characterize microbiome diversity, the processes that drive the assembly of microbes into a community and how they, and ultimately function, are affected by agricultural management remain unclear for most crops. My research addresses this gap by studying a uniquely tractable system: microbes that colonize the flowers of crops. These simplified communities can mediate pollination services through alteration of floral attractive traits; however, their role in agricultural production systems has remained relatively unstudied. My work addresses the following objectives: (1) evaluate the impact of alternative crop management practices (e.g., organic vs. conventional) and other landscape characteristics on floral microbiome assembly of crops; (2) evaluate inter- and intra-specific differences among microbial taxa in susceptibility to agrochemicals and identify molecular mechanisms governing floral microbiome assembly; and (3) experimentally test direct and indirect pathways through which management practices affect ecosystem services and crop production, mediated through potential shifts in microbiome structure and function.
Evolutionary ecology of plant-pollinator-microbe interactions - The plant microbiome can influence host phenotype in diverse, yet unappreciated ways. With respect to flowering angiosperms, many hosts employ multiple signaling modalities, including color and scent, to attract mutualist pollinators to aid reproduction. However, floral tissues, as well as resources such as pollen and nectar, are frequently colonized by a diverse array of microbes that can alter many of these same signals, with effects often being species-specific. Recent evidence suggests that these microbial impacts on attractive phenotypic traits can influence pollinator foraging decisions, with significant consequences for plant fitness. As pollinators are important biotic agents of selection on floral characters, and in turn plant mating systems, microbial-induced shifts in host phenotype may tempo both the strength and direction of selection imposed by pollinators. This however remains to be investigated. Drawing on tools from chemical ecology and sexual selection theory, I'm working to address this gap through exploration of the ecological and evolutionary consequences of microbial effects on host phenotype for plant-pollinator mutualisms and selection on floral displays.
Plant microbiome: linking structure to assembly processes and function in agroecosystems - In agricultural systems, healthy plant microbiomes have the potential to alleviate stress associated with disease as well as increase agricultural production. However, while advances in molecular techniques have rapidly advanced our ability to characterize microbiome diversity, the processes that drive the assembly of microbes into a community and how they, and ultimately function, are affected by agricultural management remain unclear for most crops. My research addresses this gap by studying a uniquely tractable system: microbes that colonize the flowers of crops. These simplified communities can mediate pollination services through alteration of floral attractive traits; however, their role in agricultural production systems has remained relatively unstudied. My work addresses the following objectives: (1) evaluate the impact of alternative crop management practices (e.g., organic vs. conventional) and other landscape characteristics on floral microbiome assembly of crops; (2) evaluate inter- and intra-specific differences among microbial taxa in susceptibility to agrochemicals and identify molecular mechanisms governing floral microbiome assembly; and (3) experimentally test direct and indirect pathways through which management practices affect ecosystem services and crop production, mediated through potential shifts in microbiome structure and function.
