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Research in the lab covers a wide range of topics including:

Plant - Soil Community Interactions

We are interested in how plant-soil feedbacks can structure plant community diversity. Currently we are investigating how plant species richness influences soil microbial diversity and function.

Statistical Ecology

Plant community ecology is statistically intensive. We strive to remain current on developments in statistical ecology, and when needed make contributions to the field. Topics that we are currently working on include: improved indices to summarize complex ecological data, methods to bring spatial information into ecologically realistic emipirical models, and the quantification of the prevalence rates of very rare traits from molecular screening data.

Conservation of Plant Species at Risk

Saskatchewan supports populations of a number of rare or threatened vascular plant species. We are currently conducting research into both the major cluster of endemic species in the Athabasca Sand Dunes and threatened Hairy Prairie Clover (Dallea villosa var. villosa).

The Athabasca sand dunes in northern Saskatchewan are a globally unique environment supporting one of the largest clusters of endemic species (10 species and varieties including willows and asters) in the northern boreal. We are currently conducting studies to estimate the population sizes and potential vulnerability of species to acid deposition.

The Hairy Prairie Clover (Dallea villosa var. villosa) is a threatened species in central Saskatchewan rangelands. We are investigating the impacts of grazing management practices on populations of this species.

Grassland Ecology and Rangeland Management

Large areas of Saskatchewan rangelands have been planted to non-native grasses, some of which can become weedy or invasive in neighbouring native grassland. Many native species may be suitable alternatives in seeded pastures and prairie restoration projects. We are collaborating in a multidisciplinary research project to develop practical multispecies mixes of native species. Our goal is to use competition theory and knowledge of species traits to identify combinations of species identity, richness, and evenness with both high levels of facilitation and resistance to drought conditions

Collaborators

Steven Siciliano, Darcy Henderson, J.C. Cahill, Steve Kembel, Gord McNickle, Erin Bayne, Azim Mallik.

Research Support

Our research is supported by many agencies including: NSERC, Environment Canada, the Saskatchwan Parks Service, the Beef Cattle Research Council, the Alberta Ingenuity Fund, and the Alberta Conservation Association.