Search
Block title
Soils Plants and Invasion
Plants live in tight associations with microbes who colonize their roots and leaves and surrounding soil. Some microbes are harmful and cause disease while others are beneficial and aid in plant nutrient uptake, decomposition of organic materials, protection against pathogens, tolerance against drought and other stressors. Plants can influence microbial communities and vice versa with consequences for the growth of individual plants, the composition of plant communities, and entire ecosystems. In our work, we focus on three main aspects of plant-microbe interactions; 1) how they may aid or hinder plant invasions, 2) how their function changes across environmental gradients, and 3) how they may both cause and prevent disease in plants.
On MPG Ranch, three highly invasive weeds of contrasting lie history strategies (cheatgrass, knapweed and leafy spurge) co-occur with remnants of native plant vegetation. Using both observational and experimental approaches, we seek to understand how these weeds alter microbial communities and how this influence invasive success, ecosystem properties and restoration. We also collaborate with researchers from across the world to learn if plant-microbe interactions differ between native and invasive ranges and how this correlates with evolutionary shifts in plant genomes and biogeographical distribution of plant associated microbes.
Outcomes of plant-soil microbe interactions depend on the particular plant and fungal species and surrounding environmental conditions. To explore this context-dependency, we use high-throughput sequencing and stable and radioactive isotopes in surveys and experiments to determine if the proportion of fungal guilds (mutualistic mycorrhizal fungi and potential pathogens) change with water and nutrient availability and how these changes relate to plant growth. Because most research occurs in single locations, the generality of findings across locations that differ in environmental conditions is often unknown. To address this, MPG Ranch is part of two global research collaborations, Nutrient Network (https://nutnet.org) and DroughtNet (www.drought-net.org). In these experiments, all researchers apply nutrients, remove herbivores, expose plants to drought, and record responses in both plant and microbial communities using the same protocols, which allow for direct comparisons across sites.
The invasive fungal pathogen, Cronartium ribicola, causes the disease commonly known as blister rust in all nine white pine species native to the United States. As one of the only labs in the world to grow C. ribicola in culture, we perform tests of pathogen metabolism when exposed to compounds produced by other fungi found in white pine needles. Greenhouse experiments inoculating trees with these fungi, as well as beneficial ectomycorrhizal fungi, explore how we can improve tree growth and disease resistance. We also use isotopes and controlled field experiments to determine how blue-stain fungi carried by bark beetles can influence wood decomposition in forest ecosystems. As warming climates increase the frequency of bark beetle outbreaks worldwide, this research will help to better estimate future forest carbon storage and release.
Showing Results For:
- Field Note
- Common merganser
- Common raven
- Dark-eyed junco
- Downy woodpecker
- European starling
- Golden eagle
- Gray jay
- Great blue heron
- Great horned owl
- Hairy woodpecker
- American robin
- Horned lark
- House sparrow
- KilldeerÂ
- Long-eared owl
- MallardÂ
- Mountain bluebird
- Mountain chickadee
- Mourning dove
- Northern flicker
- Northern harrier
- Bald eagle
- Northern saw-whet owl
- Northern shrike
- Pygmy nuthatch
- Red-breasted nuthatch
- Red-tailed hawk
- Rock Pigeon
- Rough-legged hawk
- Ruffed grouse
- Say's phoebe
- Sharp-shinned hawk
- Belted kingfisher
- Spotted towhee
- Tree swallow
- Western meadowlark
- White-breasted nuthatch
- Wild turkey
- Wood duck
- creeping buttercup
- littleleaf buttercup
- woodland buttercup
- Knapweed
- Black-billed magpie
- Oregon Sunshine
- Eric Rasmussen
- Soils, Plants and Invasion
- Black-capped chickadee
- Brown creeper
- BuffleheadÂ
- Canada goose
- Common goldeneye
Sort by
06-10-11 Indigo Bunting, Coyote Pups
05-05-11 Wildflowers, Raptor Surveys
04-02-10 Nest Updates, Raptor Surveys
Research Projects
- Avian Ecology (58) Apply Avian Ecology filter
- Mammals (17) Apply Mammals filter
- Plant Phenology (1) Apply Plant Phenology filter
- Range Restoration (1) Apply Range Restoration filter
- Reptiles and Amphibians (5) Apply Reptiles and Amphibians filter
- (-) Remove Soils, Plants and Invasion filter Soils, Plants and Invasion
- Vegetation Monitoring (1) Apply Vegetation Monitoring filter
- There are no available items that begin with these letters.
Block title
- American kestrel (4) Apply American kestrel filter
- American pipit (1) Apply American pipit filter
- (-) Remove American robin filter American robin
- antelope bitterbrush (1) Apply antelope bitterbrush filter
- arrowleaf balsamroot (5) Apply arrowleaf balsamroot filter
- (-) Remove Bald eagle filter Bald eagle
- Bank swallow (1) Apply Bank swallow filter
- (-) Remove Belted kingfisher filter Belted kingfisher
- bitterroot (1) Apply bitterroot filter
- Black Bear (2) Apply Black Bear filter
- (-) Remove Black-billed magpie filter Black-billed magpie
- (-) Remove Black-capped chickadee filter Black-capped chickadee
- black cottonwood (2) Apply black cottonwood filter
- Black-headed grosbeak (2) Apply Black-headed grosbeak filter
- blanket flower (1) Apply blanket flower filter
- Bonneville shootingstar (1) Apply Bonneville shootingstar filter
- broadleaf arnica (1) Apply broadleaf arnica filter
- (-) Remove Brown creeper filter Brown creeper
- Brown-headed cowbird (1) Apply Brown-headed cowbird filter
- (-) Remove Bufflehead filter BuffleheadÂ
- Bullock's oriole (1) Apply Bullock's oriole filter
- Bullsnake (1) Apply Bullsnake filter
- Calliope hummingbird (1) Apply Calliope hummingbird filter
- (-) Remove Canada goose filter Canada goose
- Cedar waxwing (1) Apply Cedar waxwing filter
- Chipping sparrow (2) Apply Chipping sparrow filter
- Clay-colored sparrow (1) Apply Clay-colored sparrow filter
- Cliff swallow (1) Apply Cliff swallow filter
- (-) Remove Common goldeneye filter Common goldeneye
- (-) Remove Common merganser filter Common merganser
- Common nighthawk (1) Apply Common nighthawk filter
- Common poorwill (3) Apply Common poorwill filter
- (-) Remove Common raven filter Common raven
- Cooper's hawk (4) Apply Cooper's hawk filter
- Coyote (3) Apply Coyote filter
- (-) Remove creeping buttercup filter creeping buttercup
- Crested wheatgrass (2) Apply Crested wheatgrass filter
- cutleaf daisy (1) Apply cutleaf daisy filter
- (-) Remove Dark-eyed junco filter Dark-eyed junco
- death camas (1) Apply death camas filter
- douglas fir (1) Apply douglas fir filter
- (-) Remove Downy woodpecker filter Downy woodpecker
- Dusky grouse (2) Apply Dusky grouse filter
- Eastern kingbird (1) Apply Eastern kingbird filter
- Eastern pasqueflower (1) Apply Eastern pasqueflower filter
- Eastern Racer (1) Apply Eastern Racer filter
- Elk (2) Apply Elk filter
- (-) Remove European starling filter European starling
- false soloman's-seal (1) Apply false soloman's-seal filter
- Feral Horse (3) Apply Feral Horse filter
- few-flowered shooting star (1) Apply few-flowered shooting star filter
- foothill arnica (1) Apply foothill arnica filter
- Golden-crowned kinglet (1) Apply Golden-crowned kinglet filter
- (-) Remove Golden eagle filter Golden eagle
- Gray catbird (2) Apply Gray catbird filter
- Gray-crowned rosy finch (1) Apply Gray-crowned rosy finch filter
- (-) Remove Gray jay filter Gray jay
- Gray Wolf (2) Apply Gray Wolf filter
- (-) Remove Great blue heron filter Great blue heron
- (-) Remove Great horned owl filter Great horned owl
- hairy golden aster (1) Apply hairy golden aster filter
- (-) Remove Hairy woodpecker filter Hairy woodpecker
- heartleaf arnica (1) Apply heartleaf arnica filter
- Hermit thrush (1) Apply Hermit thrush filter
- (-) Remove Horned lark filter Horned lark
- (-) Remove House sparrow filter House sparrow
- House wren (1) Apply House wren filter
- (-) Remove Killdeer filter KilldeerÂ
- (-) Remove Knapweed filter Knapweed
- Lark sparrow (1) Apply Lark sparrow filter
- larkspur (1) Apply larkspur filter
- Lazuli bunting (2) Apply Lazuli bunting filter
- Least Chipmunk (1) Apply Least Chipmunk filter
- Least flycatcher (1) Apply Least flycatcher filter
- Lewis's woodpecker (1) Apply Lewis's woodpecker filter
- (-) Remove littleleaf buttercup filter littleleaf buttercup
- Long-billed curlew (3) Apply Long-billed curlew filter
- (-) Remove Long-eared owl filter Long-eared owl
- low pussytoes (1) Apply low pussytoes filter
- MacGillivray's warbler (3) Apply MacGillivray's warbler filter
- (-) Remove Mallard filter MallardÂ
- moss phlox (1) Apply moss phlox filter
- (-) Remove Mountain bluebird filter Mountain bluebird
- (-) Remove Mountain chickadee filter Mountain chickadee
- Mountain Lion (1) Apply Mountain Lion filter
- (-) Remove Mourning dove filter Mourning dove
- Mule Deer (1) Apply Mule Deer filter
- (-) Remove Northern flicker filter Northern flicker
- Northern goshawk (2) Apply Northern goshawk filter
- (-) Remove Northern harrier filter Northern harrier
- Northern Pygmy-owl (1) Apply Northern Pygmy-owl filter
- Northern rough-winged swallow (1) Apply Northern rough-winged swallow filter
- (-) Remove Northern saw-whet owl filter Northern saw-whet owl
- (-) Remove Northern shrike filter Northern shrike
- Northern waterthrush (1) Apply Northern waterthrush filter
- oregon grape (1) Apply oregon grape filter
- (-) Remove Oregon Sunshine filter Oregon Sunshine
- Osprey (1) Apply Osprey filter
- pale indian paintbrush (1) Apply pale indian paintbrush filter
- Pearly pussytoes (1) Apply Pearly pussytoes filter
- ponderosa pine (1) Apply ponderosa pine filter
- Prairie falcon (1) Apply Prairie falcon filter
- prarie kittentails (1) Apply prarie kittentails filter
- prickly currant (1) Apply prickly currant filter
- (-) Remove Pygmy nuthatch filter Pygmy nuthatch
- quaking aspen (1) Apply quaking aspen filter
- (-) Remove Red-breasted nuthatch filter Red-breasted nuthatch
- Red-naped sapsucker (2) Apply Red-naped sapsucker filter
- Red-tailed Chipmunk (1) Apply Red-tailed Chipmunk filter
- (-) Remove Red-tailed hawk filter Red-tailed hawk
- (-) Remove Rock Pigeon filter Rock Pigeon
- Rock wren (1) Apply Rock wren filter
- Rosy pussy-toes (1) Apply Rosy pussy-toes filter
- Rosy pussytoes (1) Apply Rosy pussytoes filter
- (-) Remove Rough-legged hawk filter Rough-legged hawk
- Rubber Boa (1) Apply Rubber Boa filter
- Ruby-crowned kinglet (1) Apply Ruby-crowned kinglet filter
- (-) Remove Ruffed grouse filter Ruffed grouse
- Rufous hummingbird (1) Apply Rufous hummingbird filter
- Sandhill crane (1) Apply Sandhill crane filter
- (-) Remove Say's phoebe filter Say's phoebe
- Serviceberry, Saskatoon (1) Apply Serviceberry, Saskatoon filter
- (-) Remove Sharp-shinned hawk filter Sharp-shinned hawk
- silky lupine (1) Apply silky lupine filter
- silvery brown pussytoes (1) Apply silvery brown pussytoes filter
- silvery lupine (1) Apply silvery lupine filter
- small geranium (1) Apply small geranium filter
- Small-leaf pussytoes (1) Apply Small-leaf pussytoes filter
- Snow bunting (1) Apply Snow bunting filter
- Snowshoe Hare (1) Apply Snowshoe Hare filter
- (-) Remove Spotted towhee filter Spotted towhee
- sticky geranium (1) Apply sticky geranium filter
- Swainson's thrush (1) Apply Swainson's thrush filter
- Swallowtail Butterflies (1) Apply Swallowtail Butterflies filter
- Townsend's warbler (2) Apply Townsend's warbler filter
- (-) Remove Tree swallow filter Tree swallow
- Turkey vulture (1) Apply Turkey vulture filter
- twin arnica (1) Apply twin arnica filter
- Umber pussy-toes (1) Apply Umber pussy-toes filter
- Vesper sparrow (5) Apply Vesper sparrow filter
- Warbling vireo (1) Apply Warbling vireo filter
- wax currant (1) Apply wax currant filter
- Western bluebird (2) Apply Western bluebird filter
- Western kingbird (2) Apply Western kingbird filter
- (-) Remove Western meadowlark filter Western meadowlark
- western showy aster (1) Apply western showy aster filter
- Western tanager (1) Apply Western tanager filter
- Western wood pewee (2) Apply Western wood pewee filter
- (-) Remove White-breasted nuthatch filter White-breasted nuthatch
- White-tailed Deer (2) Apply White-tailed Deer filter
- (-) Remove Wild turkey filter Wild turkey
- Wilson's warbler (1) Apply Wilson's warbler filter
- (-) Remove Wood duck filter Wood duck
- (-) Remove woodland buttercup filter woodland buttercup
- Woods pussytoes (1) Apply Woods pussytoes filter
- yellow bell (1) Apply yellow bell filter
- Yellow-pine Chipmunk (1) Apply Yellow-pine Chipmunk filter
- Yellow-rumped warbler (1) Apply Yellow-rumped warbler filter
- Yellow warbler (2) Apply Yellow warbler filter
Formats
- (-) Remove Field Note filter Field Note
Authors
- (-) Remove Eric Rasmussen filter Eric Rasmussen
- Jeff Clarke (37) Apply Jeff Clarke filter
- Kate Stone (22) Apply Kate Stone filter
- Debbie Leick (5) Apply Debbie Leick filter
- Jeff Clark (4) Apply Jeff Clark filter
- Staff (4) Apply Staff filter
- Philip Ramsey (2) Apply Philip Ramsey filter
- Nathan Gordon (1) Apply Nathan Gordon filter
- Prairie Wolfe (1) Apply Prairie Wolfe filter