Submitted by Claire Kremen on
Belowground organisms influence pollinator behavior. Soil communities are extremely diverse, and when their interactions with plants influence floral characteristics, they have the potential to alter pollinator attraction and visitation. Plant–pollinator interactions have been neglected in studies of the direct and indirect effects of soil organism–root interactions.
Our research will explore these belowground interactions, focusing on the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and their effects on floral traits. In the field, we will collect soil, plant, and pollinator measurements on farms across a gradient of farm diversification. In addition, we will maintain plants inoculated with various AMF strains in the greenhouse and determine the effect of AMF on pollinator traits (floral display, pollen and nectar composition, and fruit and seed set). This study will further our understanding of ecological processes between soil microbes, plants, and pollinators that can inform land management strategies in agriculture and conservation biology.
Undergraduate students will be mostly involved in collecting samples in the field. Specifically, they will be required to collect various pollinator traits measurements (floral display, pollen and nectar composition, and fruit and seed set) and soil composition measurements (nutrients and mycorrhizal colonization) throughout the experiment. This an excellent opportunity for students interested in gaining experience in plant ecology research in the field.
Interest in plant ecology, soil science, microbial ecology, and agroecology. Past experience in greenhouse management or field work is good but not required.