Adler Lab
We are plant ecologists interested in explaining population and community dynamics in space and time. We study coexistence and patterns of diversity, climate change impacts on plant populations and communities, and plant-animal interactions. Much of our field work is in arid and semiarid ecosystems, but we also rely on statistical and simulation modeling techniques that apply to many ecosystems. Here are some of the questions we are excited about:
Coexistence and diversity
- What is the relative importance of niche and neutral coexistence mechanisms?
- Does climate variability promote species diversity?
- How do species richness and turnover scale in space and time?
Ecological forecasting
- How will species interactions mediate the impact of climate change on plant communities?
- Can plant functional traits help us predict population and community dynamics?
- How will biological invasions interact with climate change?
- Can we apply population models at scales relevant to management?
- How can researchers and land managers collaborate more effectively?
Plant-animal interactions
- Why have domestic livestock had major impacts on some ecosystems, but only subtle impacts on others?
- How do natural enemies and resources interact in structuring plant communities?
1/2024: Peter took on a new role as Director of the USU Ecology Center.