I study interactions of soil invertebrates, such as collembola and mites, with beneficial mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots. I have three types of projects involving these tripartate interactions underway in my lab. First, quantifying the productivity of invertebrates under elevated as compared with ambient atmospheric CO2 in a number of FACE arrays. I use invertebrate productivity responses as an index of the response of all soil biota to the belowground changes caused by elevated CO2. Second, collembola effects on nutrient uptake by roots.
Nutrient uptake involves a number of mechanisms operating in a compensatory manner.
With Hormoz BassiriRad, I am studying how collembola affect compensitory mechanisms of nutrient uptake in roots. Third, the growth of tree seedlings can be manipulated by increasing the diversity of litter, of mycorrhizal fungi, and the intensity of invertebrate grazing. Regulation of plant nutrient uptake and growth responses to elevated CO 2 . Response of soil biota to elevated CO 2 in poplar model systems.