Dissertation Research: Regulation of plant-mycorrhizal interactions depends on the abundance and identity of limiting resources

这项拟议的研究探索了植物与一种特定类型的土壤真菌(丛枝菌根真菌)之间的相互作用。这些真菌可以极大地改善植物营养、植物生产力、植物多样性和生态系统功能，极大地促进作物生产、维持原生生境的多样性和土壤健康。然而，真菌可能对植物有害，特别是在土壤肥沃(例如，通过施肥)或光照有限(例如，在茂密的植被层下)的环境中。这项研究考察了真菌使植物受益的资源可获得性(土壤养分和光照)的具体条件，并询问某些植物是否比其他植物更善于控制它们与真菌的相互作用。了解是什么控制了植物和菌根真菌之间的相互作用，对于预测和控制这些真菌的丰度以及它们对植物生长的影响至关重要。这项研究的结果将为低投入农业、本地生态系统的恢复和管理以及土壤碳储存方面的进展提供信息。她还将继续在密歇根州劳顿的劳顿社区学校工作，帮助K-12年级的学生开展以探究为基础的科学活动，以了解生态学。与劳顿的K-12教师合作，她开发了关于重要主题的课程，如碳循环、植物多样性，以及植物和土壤生物如何共同为我们的环境提供重要服务。联合国际还将继续在国家会议和同行评议的出版物上介绍她的研究成果。

The proposed research explores the interactions between plants and a specific type of soil fungi (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi). These fungi can dramatically improve plant nutrition, plant productivity, plant diversity, and ecosystem function, greatly contributing to crop production, the maintenance of diversity in native habitats, and soil health. However, fungi can be detrimental to plants, especially in environments where soils are fertile (e.g., through fertilization) or light limited (e.g., under a dense layer of vegetation). The research examines the specific conditions of resource availability (soil nutrients and light) under which fungi benefit plants, and asks whether some plants are better at controlling their interactions with fungi than others. Understanding what controls the interactions between plants and mycorrhizal fungi is essential for predicting and manipulating the abundance of these fungi as well as their effects on plant growth. The results of this research will inform advances in low-input agriculture, restoration and management of native ecosystems, and soil carbon storage. The co-PI will also continue her work in Lawton Community Schools in Lawton, MI, helping K-12 students to conduct inquiry-based science activities to learn about ecology. In collaboration with K-12 teachers in Lawton, she develops lessons about important topics such as carbon cycling, plant diversity, and how plants and soil organisms work together to provide important services for our environment. The co-PI will also continue to present the results of her research at national meetings and in peer-reviewed publications.