Species Interactions
Species interactions are an integral component of ecology. Faculty in the Department
of Biology
and Wildlife investigate a wide spectrum of questions that contribute to both ecological
theory
and applied biology relevant to resource management. Many of these are investigated
from the perspective of plant phenology and succession, plant-animal interactions
pertaining to
various forms of herbivory, and broader studies of trophic relationships. Examples
of
ongoing research projects include pollination biology of native and invasive species,
vegetation responses to herbivory by irruptive insect species, interactions of insect
and mammal herbivores on successional dynamics, and broader studies of predator-prey
interactions across a range of taxa.
One of the biggest challenges in understanding how populations, communities, and ecosystems
are responding to a rapidly changing environment is understanding how interactions
between
species are changing. We are tackling this challenge by evaluating the impacts of
a rapidly warming environment, the spread of non-native plants and animals, and the
continued fragmentation of habitats on interactions between plants, animals, fungi,
and microbes. Much of this research is part of long-term studies associated with the
Long Term Ecological Research Programs at Bonanza Creek (Boreal forest LTER) and Toolik
Field Station (Arctic tundra LTER).
Faculty doing research in this area:
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