Jen Schweitzer

Using a combination of field research and experimental manipulations our lab has been focused on the ecological and evolutionary links between above- and below-ground processes in forest ecosystems. We take an integrative community and ecosystems genetics approach to understanding the ecosystem consequences of species interactions. With this approach we are interested in broadly addressing questions regarding the importance of biodiversity and genetic diversity, plant-animal interactions and invasive species to ecosystem ecology.

Teaching:
General Ecology (BIO 250).  See attached syllabus
Field Ecology (EEB 415 – co-teach with Joe Bailey).  See attached syllabus
Ecosystem Ecology (EEB 405 – co-teach with Aimee Classen).  See attached syllabus

 

 

Joe Bailey

I am broadly interested in how species interactions link genes and ecosystems, how natural selection operates in a community context, and how these processes scale geographically and with genetic resolution (i.e., small molecular differences to subpopulation structure). I try to take an integrative view of natural systems and have worked with native and introduced plants and herbivores, from microbes to mammals, linking genes to ecosystems.

Teaching:

Field Ecology

Bio for Non Majors

 

Clara Pregitzer

I am generally interested in plant-soil feedbacks and the evolutionary consequences of these interactions.  My research focuses on genetic by environment interactions and how different genotypes of Populus angustifolia influence nitrogen cycling and soil microbial communities within three common gardens across an elevational gradient.  Understanding how this genotype by environment interaction affects ecosystem processes has important evolutionary and applied ecological consequences.  Once the soil is conditioned by this dominant tree (through leaf litter and root exudates) it effects the survival and performance of its offspring.  Currently, I am trying to quantify how this relationship can influence seedling growth through selection of trait variation and survival. These legacy affects of plant soil feedbacks could potentially shape the riparian forests of the west, and conservation of genetic diversity in these areas will extend to increase the diversity and structure of this important ecosystem.   I am also interested using genetic and evolutionary knowledge in applied ecology and ecological restoration.  In my spare time I enjoy eating tacos, nature, taking pictures of nature, yoga, live music and spending time with my dog and friends.

 

Pregitzer C.C., J.K. Bailey, S.C. Hart, J.A. Schweitzer. Soils as agents of selection: Feedbacks between plants and soils alter seedling survival and performance.  Evolutionary Ecology. (Accepted Pending Revision)

 

 

Mark Genung

I am an ecologist with broad interests including community and ecosystem genetics, quantitative methods in ecology, and the importance of genotypic and species diversity to community and ecosystem properties.

Research: Although it is well known that genotypic and species diversity can be important to community and ecosystem properties, I am interested in finding patterns that can help predict when genotypic and species diversity may be more, or less, important. I am also interested in investigating the role that adaptive evolution plays in determining traits with important community and ecosystem level consequences; in other words, putting evolution in a community and ecosystem context.

To address these questions, I use two common gardens which manipulate genotypic and species diversity in Solidago, and I am in the process of establishing a third common garden using individuals of Solidago collected along a 1000 m elevational gradient in the southern Appalachians. This garden will examine local adaptation to changing conditions along an elevational gradient. Additionally, I will manipulate Solidago genotypic diversity at each elevation, to test whether genotypic diversity is more or less important at different elevations.

Contact: My email address is mgenung @ utk.edu, and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or if you have similar interests and just want to talk about ecology!

Genung M.A., J.P. Lessard, C.B. Brown, W.A. Bunn, M.A. Cregger, W.N. Reynolds, E. Felker-Quinn, M.L. Stevenson, A.S. Hartley, G.M. Crutsinger, J.A. Schweitzer and J.K. Bailey. Non-Additive Effects of Genotypic Diversity Increase Pollinator Visitation. PLOSONE. in press

 

 

Emmi Felker-Quinn

Emmi graduated from Smith College in 2006 with a B.A. in Biology.  Her undergraduate thesis focused on the historic presence of introduced plant species in Western Massachusetts.  Since June 2006, Emmi has been working on a community genetics approach to understanding invasive species dynamics and range expansion.

 

Ian "Nutter" Ware

Ian’s interests lie in conservation biology and sustainability.  He is studying how genotypic variation in switchgrass affects rates of decay, carbon and nitrogen mineralization to examine questions regarding the sustainability of switchgrass as a biofuel plant.

 

 

 

Logan "Wildcat" Elmore

Logan has been interested in vertebrate-plant interactions and is studying the role of high deer populations on plant-soil feedbacks in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park using 12 year old deer exclosures.

 

Derek "D-Rock" Dawson

Derek is interested in conservation biology and is examining the role of plant genotype on`trophic interactions between plants, insect galls and birds as well as leaf litter decomposition.

 

Nicole Hergott

Nicole is interested broadly in soil ecology and has been working on a project to examine the role of Populus angustifolia genotype and environment on ectomycorhiza colonization and community structure (funded by NSF REU grant).

 

Brett Ashenfelter

I am interested in ethnobotany. I am currently working on classifying various Argentinean botanicals based on how humans have used them. In the future, I would like to work on a system for quantitatively
analyzing the uses of these plants.