Publications by authors named "Lukas Magee"
Conspecific density dependence (CDD) in plant populations is widespread, most likely caused by local-scale biotic interactions, and has potentially important implications for biodiversity, community composition, and ecosystem processes. However, progress in this important area of ecology has been hindered by differing viewpoints on CDD across subfields in ecology, lack of synthesis across CDD-related frameworks, and misunderstandings about how empirical measurements of local CDD fit within the context of broader ecological theories on community assembly and diversity maintenance. Here, we propose a conceptual synthesis of local-scale CDD and its causes, including species-specific antagonistic and mutualistic interactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe ecology of forest ecosystems depends on the composition of trees. Capturing fine-grained information on individual trees at broad scales provides a unique perspective on forest ecosystems, forest restoration, and responses to disturbance. Individual tree data at wide extents promises to increase the scale of forest analysis, biogeographic research, and ecosystem monitoring without losing details on individual species composition and abundance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Positive and negative interactions among species shape the assembly of communities, particularly in dryland plant ecosystems like southeastern U.S. savannas.
- A study of longleaf pine and sandhill oaks revealed that higher oak densities significantly increased the survival and growth rates of longleaf pine seedlings, while lowest recruitment occurred under longleaf pine canopies.
- The findings suggest that conserving and managing xeric oaks can enhance the recovery and sustainability of longleaf pine ecosystems, which are vital for global biodiversity.
Article Synopsis
- When plants die, it helps nearby plants by reducing competition for resources like sunlight and nutrients.
- In a study of 37,212 trees, scientists found that dead trees (legacy effects) had a much stronger impact on the growth and survival of neighboring trees than the living ones.
- Most tree species were negatively affected by the presence of dead trees, which shows that the past presence of these trees can change how plant communities work.