Publications by authors named "R Karban"
Article Synopsis
- A 1920s survey showed chestnuts and oaks were dominant in the White Oak Canyon, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, but by 1977, chestnuts began to be replaced by other tree species due to chestnut blight.
- A 2021 resurvey revealed significant changes in forest composition, with increased birch and maple, a decline in hemlock and oak, and a notable reduction in chestnut sprouts since 1977, likely due to repeated diebacks affecting their root systems.
- The study indicates that the long-term ecological impact of losing American chestnuts has been more profound than previously understood, highlighting a shift toward early to mid-successional tree species in the forest ecosystem.
Herbivory is a major threat to virtually all plants, so adaptations to avoid herbivory will generally be selected. One potential adaptation is the ability to 'listen in' on the volatile cues emitted by plants that are experiencing herbivory and to then respond by ramping up defences. The nature of these volatile cues is poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The TEDDY Study aims to understand the environmental factors contributing to type 1 diabetes in children with a genetic predisposition, emphasizing the importance of keeping participants engaged throughout the 15-year research period for reliable results.
- - Retention strategies for the TEDDY Study were categorized into four main domains: barrier reduction, community building, follow-up reminders, and tracing, alongside unique approaches specifically tailored for the study.
- - Effective participant retention planning from the outset, along with ongoing engagement strategies for both children and their parents, is critical for addressing challenges and ensuring a successful observational study.
Article Synopsis
- Plants communicate both within their species and with other species using various signals, particularly when damaged by herbivores, by releasing volatile chemicals that enhance anti-herbivore defenses in nearby plants.
- Some plants exhibit a kin specificity in their response, showing increased resistance when alerted by cues from genetically related neighbors compared to non-related plants.
- A mathematical model was used to explore the evolution of this heightened sensitivity to kin cues, revealing that the evolution is more likely when competition occurs over a larger area than the effective range of alarm signals.
Plant size, latitude, and phylogeny explain within-population variability in herbivory.
Science
November 2023
Article Synopsis
- * It presents data from surveys on herbivory for 503 plant species across various geographic locations, revealing that variability increases with latitude and decreases with plant size.
- * The authors propose that understanding the factors influencing this variability is crucial for comprehending broader ecological patterns and advancements in plant-herbivore research.