Ecological determinants of diversity in plant metacommunities: the importance of species interactions and stochasticity in heterogeneous landscapes

生态学的一个基本目标是理解和解释为什么大多数生态系统包含高度多样性的物种。当物种从一个地方迁移到另一个地方时，无论是几米还是几公里外，这种多样性尤其引人注目。我的研究旨在了解导致这种多样性的过程。许多传统研究将多样性与不同的环境条件（如不同的土壤类型）联系起来，或者与有限的种子传播使某些物种无法到达某些地区联系起来。我的研究解决了这些假设，以及其他关于物种之间的相互作用和随机机会如何导致不同物种出现在不同地点的想法。特别是，我的研究包括使用和开发数学模型来预测不同的过程如何导致多样性，然后在自然环境中用实验来测试这些模型。这项研究的目的是进一步加深我们对基本生态学的理解。这样的理解会导致如何控制入侵物种或如何保护濒危物种的问题的应用解决方案。

A fundamental goal in ecology is to understand and explain why most ecosystems contain a high diversity of species. This diversity is particularly striking when species change from one location to another, be it meters or kilometres away. My research aims to understand the processes that lead to this diversity. Many traditional studies have associated diversity with varying environmental conditions (such as different soil types), or with limited seed dispersal preventing some species from arriving in some areas. My research addresses these hypotheses, as well as other ideas about how interactions among species and random chance can cause different species to occur in different locations. In particular, my research consists of using and developing mathematical models that predict how different processes lead to diversity, and then testing these models with experiments in natural settings. The goal of this research is to further our understanding of basic ecology. This understanding then leads to applied solutions to questions about how to control invasive species or how to conserve endangered species.