The Lau Lab

Community Ecology and Evolutionary Ecology

Thomas Zambiasi

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Thomas received his Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology from Michigan State University. He is interested in plant community ecology in the context of climate change, biotic homogenization, and the relationship between biodiversity and community stability. See Thomas’ CV.

Resilience to drought? Or a drought of resilience?

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Irrigating soybeans on the KBS LTER Resource Gradient Experiment
Photo Credit: J.E.Doll, Michigan State University

In collaboration with a great team of social scientists and natural scientists, the Lau lab is investigating how farmer decisions affect the capacity of soil microbes to protect plants from drought stress. This collaboration investigates feedbacks between humans and microbes, linking the social and natural sciences in new ways.

Mechanisms of Resilience to Drought

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Treatment Plots at the KBS LTER
Photo Credit: K. Kahmark, Michigan State University

The next phase of the Kellogg Biological Station Long-term Ecological Research, the KBS LTER, is investigating how resources, diversity, and adaptation might promote resilience to drought. We are investigating whether microbial diversity can promote plant drought resilience and how plant species and functional diversity promote resilience.

 

Sierra Pérez

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Sierra received her BA in Geology from Bryn Mawr College and her MS in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her research explores the factors influencing the resilience of plant populations and communities to ongoing global changes. See Sierra’s CV.