The Iler lab asks basic ecological questions in the context of timely environmental challenges. Our research tests fundamental questions about how abiotic and biotic variation affect individual plants, population dynamics, plant-pollinator interactions, and communities through the lens of environmental change. We use long-term data sets, observational & experimental field studies, and demographic modeling to address our questions.
THE ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE-INDUCED SHIFTS IN FLOWERING PHENOLOGY
Climate change is shifting flowering dates in temperate regions around the world, but we know little about the ecological consequences of these shifted flowering times.
We are investigating how altered co-flowering patterns that we have documented from a long-term record of flowering phenology in Colorado affect the pollination and reproductive success of plants.
The question of whether different rates of phenological change between plants and pollinators will alter plant-pollinator temporal synchrony has received a lot of attention in the literature. I have studied this topic with hummingbirds and syrphid flies. We are interested in learning more about the consequences of altered temporal synchrony in plant-pollinator interactions, if any.
Our recent work on aspen sunflower (Helianthella quinquenervis) shows that earlier flowering under climate change may not have consequences for long-term population growth rates, even when earlier flowering has a large reproductive consequence, such as frost damage. Instead, early snowmelt under climate change threatens population growth primarily via reductions in plant survival. We want to further explore the way in which early snowmelt leads to increases in mortality with field experiments that manipulate drought conditions.
My research fellowship at an interdisciplinary institute in Denmark (aias.au.dk) lead to a collaboration with a photobiologist to examine the potential effects of frost damage under earlier flowering on the albedo of meadows. We find that in the absence of sunflowers (which happens when plants bloom too early and get frosted), soils are warmer and drier and have a lower surface albedo (less light reflected from the Earth’s surface). We want to follow-up on this work to understand in more detail the role of flowers in affecting microclimates and larger climate systems.
Finally, a recently-funded NSF project will examine the effects of earlier phenological events in plants on plant population growth rates, using an early snowmelt manipulation to alter plant phenology. We know that earlier life-cycle events affect demographic vital rates (survival, growth, and reproduction), but whether these changes translate to effects at the population-level are unclear. This project takes place at the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab in Gothic, Colorado.
Climate change is shifting flowering dates in temperate regions around the world, but we know little about the ecological consequences of these shifted flowering times.
We are investigating how altered co-flowering patterns that we have documented from a long-term record of flowering phenology in Colorado affect the pollination and reproductive success of plants.
The question of whether different rates of phenological change between plants and pollinators will alter plant-pollinator temporal synchrony has received a lot of attention in the literature. I have studied this topic with hummingbirds and syrphid flies. We are interested in learning more about the consequences of altered temporal synchrony in plant-pollinator interactions, if any.
Our recent work on aspen sunflower (Helianthella quinquenervis) shows that earlier flowering under climate change may not have consequences for long-term population growth rates, even when earlier flowering has a large reproductive consequence, such as frost damage. Instead, early snowmelt under climate change threatens population growth primarily via reductions in plant survival. We want to further explore the way in which early snowmelt leads to increases in mortality with field experiments that manipulate drought conditions.
My research fellowship at an interdisciplinary institute in Denmark (aias.au.dk) lead to a collaboration with a photobiologist to examine the potential effects of frost damage under earlier flowering on the albedo of meadows. We find that in the absence of sunflowers (which happens when plants bloom too early and get frosted), soils are warmer and drier and have a lower surface albedo (less light reflected from the Earth’s surface). We want to follow-up on this work to understand in more detail the role of flowers in affecting microclimates and larger climate systems.
Finally, a recently-funded NSF project will examine the effects of earlier phenological events in plants on plant population growth rates, using an early snowmelt manipulation to alter plant phenology. We know that earlier life-cycle events affect demographic vital rates (survival, growth, and reproduction), but whether these changes translate to effects at the population-level are unclear. This project takes place at the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab in Gothic, Colorado.
BASIC PHENOLOGY
The widespread effects of climate change on biological timing highlights a need for a more thorough basic understanding of phenology in ecology. We are studying the degree to which earlier events in the plant life cycle affect the timing of later events, the role of within and between-individual variation in flowering date on pollination and plant reproductive success, and the degree to which the timing of flowering influences germination timing and success.
The widespread effects of climate change on biological timing highlights a need for a more thorough basic understanding of phenology in ecology. We are studying the degree to which earlier events in the plant life cycle affect the timing of later events, the role of within and between-individual variation in flowering date on pollination and plant reproductive success, and the degree to which the timing of flowering influences germination timing and success.
POLLINATION & PLANT POPULATION DYNAMICS
This NSF-funded project addresses a key, yet largely untested assumption in pollination biology: that changes in pollination have population-level consequences for plants. This assumption is especially relevant in light of recent, widespread evidence of pollinator declines and the need to understand their consequences. Demographic life history theory shows that the population growth rates of perennial plants are more sensitive to perturbations in growth and survival than fecundity, suggesting that alterations to pollination may not have extensive population-level consequences, but there are no empirical data to link reductions in pollination to plant population growth rates. Therefore, we are conducting an experimental demography project on five subalpine plant species at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory.
This NSF-funded project addresses a key, yet largely untested assumption in pollination biology: that changes in pollination have population-level consequences for plants. This assumption is especially relevant in light of recent, widespread evidence of pollinator declines and the need to understand their consequences. Demographic life history theory shows that the population growth rates of perennial plants are more sensitive to perturbations in growth and survival than fecundity, suggesting that alterations to pollination may not have extensive population-level consequences, but there are no empirical data to link reductions in pollination to plant population growth rates. Therefore, we are conducting an experimental demography project on five subalpine plant species at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory.
EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION ON PLANT-POLLINATOR MUTUALISMS
Our group is investigating the effects of urbanization on pollination services, and how to mitigate these effects, in urban farms across Chicago (Windy Cindy Harvest). Current research in the lab is finding that urban farms experience shortages in pollination services to crop plants, and shortages increase in severity with increasing urbanization. Future directions include investigating the extent to which pollinator gardens mitigate the negative effects of urbanization on pollination services at these farm sites. We hope that this research will ultimately help to improve crop production on urban farms and therefore the well-being and health of the human communities that benefit from them. |
PLANT INVASIONS & PLANT-POLLINATOR INTERACTIONS
We are interested in the effects of invasive plant species on plant-pollinator mutualisms. I have studied two pathways by which invasive shrubs affect the pollination of native plants: (1) by adding new floral resources to plant communities and (2) by altering the abiotic environment via shading. I am starting a new project that aims to understand the effects of invasive plants on native bees in the Midwestern US.
We are interested in the effects of invasive plant species on plant-pollinator mutualisms. I have studied two pathways by which invasive shrubs affect the pollination of native plants: (1) by adding new floral resources to plant communities and (2) by altering the abiotic environment via shading. I am starting a new project that aims to understand the effects of invasive plants on native bees in the Midwestern US.
RARE PLANT MONITORING WITH COMMUNITY SCIENCE
I recently became the science director for the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Plants of Concern program. Our dedicated volunteers work with natural resource managers and researchers to monitor rare plants in the greater Chicago region. We have long-term data on over 200 species that offer opportunities for asking questions about the effects of different management techniques on rare plant populations.
I recently became the science director for the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Plants of Concern program. Our dedicated volunteers work with natural resource managers and researchers to monitor rare plants in the greater Chicago region. We have long-term data on over 200 species that offer opportunities for asking questions about the effects of different management techniques on rare plant populations.