Labs

Global Change Ecology Lab examines the challenges that plant communities face in the context of global change (i.e. climate change, invasive species and landscape fragmentation). These challenges are interconnected as they form the novel environment under which plants are growing. The fact that forest communities are highly dependent on recruitment dynamics makes the study of early demographic stages critical for understanding the impact of global change on the natural ecosystems around us. To isolate these phenomena, this lab directs research at the recruitment of dominant tree species, from seed production to the sapling stage, including seed dispersal, germination, establishment and survival during the first years. By focusing on the actual demographic responses of plant species to a changing environment, results will be essential to forecast reliable vegetation changes under future climate scenarios.