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• 1. [Article] Climate Change Effects on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Prairie Plants Along a Mediterranean Climate Gradient

  Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide numerous services to their plant symbionts. Understanding the effects of climate change on AMF, and the resulting plant responses, is a crucial factor in predicting ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Climate Change Effects on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Prairie Plants Along a Mediterranean Climate Gradient Author: Wilson, Hannah Year: 2013 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide numerous services to their plant symbionts. Understanding the effects of climate change on AMF, and the resulting plant responses, is a crucial factor in predicting ecosystem responses on a global scale. We used a manipulative climate change experiment embedded within a natural climate gradient in Oregon and Washington to examine how the effects of future climate change on AMF-plant symbioses are mediated by soil water availability, soil nutrient availability, and vegetation dynamics. Using structural equation modeling, we found that the direct effect of increasing temperatures was to decrease AMF colonization. Indirect effects of temperature, mediated through other variables, canceled each other out. However, future shifts in these relationships could either exacerbate or mitigate the negative direct effect of temperature. As ecosystems in Mediterranean climates experience more intense droughts and heavier rains, decreases in AMF colonization could have substantial consequences for plant communities and ecosystem function. Title: Climate Change Effects on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Prairie Plants Along a Mediterranean Climate Gradient Author: Wilson, Hannah Year: 2013 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide numerous services to their plant symbionts. Understanding the effects of climate change on AMF, and the resulting plant responses, is a crucial factor in predicting ecosystem responses on a global scale. We used a manipulative climate change experiment embedded within a natural climate gradient in Oregon and Washington to examine how the effects of future climate change on AMF-plant symbioses are mediated by soil water availability, soil nutrient availability, and vegetation dynamics. Using structural equation modeling, we found that the direct effect of increasing temperatures was to decrease AMF colonization. Indirect effects of temperature, mediated through other variables, canceled each other out. However, future shifts in these relationships could either exacerbate or mitigate the negative direct effect of temperature. As ecosystems in Mediterranean climates experience more intense droughts and heavier rains, decreases in AMF colonization could have substantial consequences for plant communities and ecosystem function. Close

• 2. [Article] The Performance of Four Native Perennial Forb Species Along a Climate Gradient in Pacific Northwest Prairies

  To determine how Pacific Northwest prairies are influenced by local site factors versus. regional climate, we studied the reproduction, plant size, and density of sixteen natural populations of four perennial ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Performance of Four Native Perennial Forb Species Along a Climate Gradient in Pacific Northwest Prairies Author: Hendricks, Lauren Year: 2016 To determine how Pacific Northwest prairies are influenced by local site factors versus. regional climate, we studied the reproduction, plant size, and density of sixteen natural populations of four perennial forb species native to Pacific Northwest prairies: Ranunculus austro-oreganus, Sidalcea malviflora spp. virgata, Microseris laciniata, and Eriophyllum lanatum. These populations were distributed along a 700 kilometer latitudinal gradient from southern Oregon to Whidbey Island, Washington. We found significant differences in plant size and reproduction among populations for all species, but correlations among edaphic and climate variables and plant size and reproduction were weak. Instead, density was more strongly correlated with both edaphic and climate variables, suggesting that this is a better indicator of long-term demographic processes. Although a few factors are important across species (e.g., nutrient availability and minimum temperature), response is idiosyncratic at the individual species level in Pacific Northwest prairies. Title: The Performance of Four Native Perennial Forb Species Along a Climate Gradient in Pacific Northwest Prairies Author: Hendricks, Lauren Year: 2016 To determine how Pacific Northwest prairies are influenced by local site factors versus. regional climate, we studied the reproduction, plant size, and density of sixteen natural populations of four perennial forb species native to Pacific Northwest prairies: Ranunculus austro-oreganus, Sidalcea malviflora spp. virgata, Microseris laciniata, and Eriophyllum lanatum. These populations were distributed along a 700 kilometer latitudinal gradient from southern Oregon to Whidbey Island, Washington. We found significant differences in plant size and reproduction among populations for all species, but correlations among edaphic and climate variables and plant size and reproduction were weak. Instead, density was more strongly correlated with both edaphic and climate variables, suggesting that this is a better indicator of long-term demographic processes. Although a few factors are important across species (e.g., nutrient availability and minimum temperature), response is idiosyncratic at the individual species level in Pacific Northwest prairies. Close