CURRENT PROJECTS:

Species interactions can be represented in a network that describes which species interact with each other in a community. Changes in network metrics, such as nestedness or specialization, can provide insight into the structure and stability of interactions. I'm currently researching how habitat connectivity alters plant-pollinator network structure and whether network changes are driven by species turnover (changes in community composition) or interaction rewiring (behavioral changes). Understanding why plant-pollinator networks are impacted by connectivity will inform how fragmentation changes species interactions and better guide pollinator conservation. 

Collaborators : Nick Haddad (MSU)

Because multiple types of species interactions occur at the same time, a change in one interaction due to fragmentation has the potential to shift other interaction types. I tested how three components of habitat fragmentation (connectivity, edge amount, edge proximity) impacted three co-occurring plant-arthropod interactions (plant-pollinator, plant-florivore, plant-spider). Using the sandywoods chaffhead Carphephorus bellidifolius, I found that connectivity increased plant-pollinator and plant-spider interactions, while edge amount and proximity affected florivores. However, despite the strong effects of connectivity and edge on arthropod visitation, pollination rate was not affected. This work provides experimental evidence that multiple plant-arthropod interactions are affected by fragmentation through connectivity loss and edge effects. 

Collaborators : Thomas Smith (UW-Madison), Nick Haddad (MSU)

Restoration efforts often target plant community recovery, but restoration success relies on the recovery of species interactions to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem processes. We tested how seeding practices (seeding richness and admixture seed sourcing) in prairie restoration affected multi-trophic interactions between plants, pollinators, and crab spiders (predators of pollinators). We found that seeding treatments affected floral abundance, which increased arthropod abundance and prey capture. Seeding treatments also influenced which flower species arthropods interacted with. Prioritizing restoration techniques that promote floral resources for arthropods is significant for the restoration of multi-trophic interactions, which may be important for the long-term success of prairie restoration. 

Collaborators : Lindsey Kemmerling (UMN), Sean Griffin (UT Austin), Jess Webb (UC Riverside), Ally Brown (UGA), Nick Haddad (MSU)

Read more here:

Hulting, KA, LR Kemmerling, SR Griffin, J Webb, AK Brown, and NM Haddad (2024) Seed-based restoration practices and floral resources increase multi-trophic interactions. Journal of Applied Ecology 61: 859-868. LINK