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Rebecca
A. Montgomery
Assistant
Professor
Ph.D.
1999,
University
of Connecticut
Forest ecology, ecophysiology, tropical ecology
Office:
330g Green
Hall
Phone:
(612) 624-7249
Fax:
(612) 625-5212
E-mail: rebeccam@umn.edu
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Areas of Interest
Humans continue to change the environment locally,
regionally and globally. We have eliminated and introduced
species, changed resource availability, fragmented the
landscape and altered climate. Understanding the response
of natural systems to these changes requires knowledge
of the mechanisms through which organisms
respond to the abiotic and biotic environment. Research
in my lab focuses on understanding these mechanisms.
In particular, we study the role of plant functional
traits (e.g., photosynthesis, water loss, leaf anatomy,
biomass allocation, allometry, growth, survival) in
plant ecology, evolution and response to global change.
We are interested in understanding how plants interact
with and respond to their environments and the implications
of these responses for forest dynamics, forest management,
biodiversity, ecosystem function and trait evolution.
This broad scope allows us to ask questions pertinent
to understanding important topics such as
- the effects of global climate change on terrestrial
ecosystems
- the mechanisms underlying diversification of species
- the determinants of gradients in species diversity
- the mechanisms associated with the ability of exotic
species to invade new habitats
- the ecology managed forest ecosystems
Current research projects in my lab examine: (1) the
potential for projected climate change to alter tree
species composition at the southern boreal-temperate
forest ecotone (2) the role of physiological traits
in adaptive radiation, with a focus on the Hawaiian
lobeliads (3) the relative importance of above- versus
belowground competition in structuring interactions
between shrubs, herbs and trees in forest understories
(4) the impact of diverse silvicultural practices on
resource availability, regeneration and diversity in
red pine forests in N. Minnesota.
Courses taught:
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