Assessment of community composition and function of non-native S.purpurea populations along an altitudinal gradient

The introduction of Sarracenia purpurea to Europe provides an opportunity to gather empirical data about the development of  microbiome communities in non-native habitats. This information could shed light on the processes affecting the assemblage of novel communities, and how this might influence important ecosystem functions. The overall goal of this research endeavor was to provide a comprehensive assessment describing novel community composition, structure, and function of the microbiome community in non-native S. purpurea populations in Switzerland. The specific research objectives of this project were to gather data that would allow us to 1) characterize community composition, 2) quantify ecosystem function, and 3) explore relationships between local environments, community composition and ecosystem function in novel communities.

Collaborators: Alicia McGrew and Sarah M. Gray

Funding: University of Florida Research Abroad for Doctoral Students (RAD) Grant