Macrosystems Biology & Patterns of Biodiversity
Project 1: Biodiversity Patterns & Drivers Across Scales - Project Website: https://neon-biodiversity.github.io/
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This NSF funded research includes a NSF EF EAGER-NEON award "Using Intraspecific Trait Variation to Understand Processes Structuring Continental-scale Biodiversity Patterns" (2015-2018), and a Macrosystems Biology award "Local- to Continental-Scale Drivers of Biodiversity" (2019-2024)). These projects utilize National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) data on intraspecific trait variation, additional measurements from NEON organismal samples, and data related to NEON sites and samples (e.g., phylogenetic community structure) to determine how assembly processes internal to communities (e.g., biotic interactions, microenvironmental heterogeneity) and large-scale assembly processes external to communities (e.g., climate, land use, disturbance) combine to affect intraspecific trait variation and community structure across the continental United States.
Monitoring shifts in trait variation and can help detect species-level and community-level responses to disturbances, climate and land use change, and invasive species.
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Project 2: bioXgeo (Connecting Biodiversity, Geodiversity, and Remote Sensing across Scales)
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Geodiversity is the variation in abiotic features and processes on Earth's surface. This NASA funded Working Group brings together scientists and practitioners in biodiversity and remote sensing to address two main research questions:
(1) How do the relationships between biodiversity and geodiversity change across spatial scales? (2) What derived NASA data products at particular spatial or temporal scales would transform the use of geophysical data by biodiversity scientists and practitioners? Here is our Project Summary.
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Project 3: aquaXterra (Aquatic & Terrestrial Linkages)
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Quantifying linkages between biodiversity and productivity across aquatic and terrestrial realms—and how their relationship varies across spatial scales—is a needed area of research informing biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF). Such investigations determine the spatial extent of interconnectivity of nutrient subsidies, species interactions and habitat use, as well as functional diversity among both realms. In combination with the LAke multi-scaled GeOSpatial and temporal database (LAGOS), we are integrating species occurrence, species trait, and satellite remotely sensed data across USGS Hydrologic Units with the goal of generating a publicly-accessible database.
Goals:
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Project 4: Frugivoria: Biodiversity, Cloud Forests, & Species vs. Functional Conservation
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Cloud forests are biodiversity hotspots but climate change is altering cloud layer distribution and thickness. Many of the species residing in cloud forests are data deficient, making it challenging to apply traditional species distribution models. We are working to improve the conservation assessments of a data-deficient species in the Northern Andes by incorporating occurring and functionally similar species occurrence data. This work builds on a project focused on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, plus Conservation (REDD+), which creates financial incentives to reduce forest land C emissions and to promote C-sequestration in developing countries via sustainable development. Faunal biodiversity is not considered per se in the planning or monitoring process. We investigated >100 REDD+ sites to determine their potential for conserving amphibian, mammal, and bird diversity.
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