Current Projects
Biodiversity x atmospheric drought x soil drought (Bio3D)
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In experimental manipulations, higher biodiversity plant communities generally produce more biomass than lower diversity communities (see single species biomass production on the top left vs. high diversity biomass production on the bottom left). Increased biomass production has strong effects on local microclimate conditions. Higher diversity plots can be more than 10 degrees cooler and 15% more humid than lower diversity plots. This is likely also due sampling effects in higher diversity communities. Higher diversity communities are more likely to contain a species that functionally affects the microclimate. This could be a drought tolerant species that evaporatively cools the microclimate or a flood tolerant species that aerates the soil.
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We are examining the effects of microclimate amelioration for biodiversity ecosystem functioning relationships during periods of environmental stress. Microclimate amelioration likely helps explain why biodiversity is particularly important during periods of environmental severity. These types of environmental severity events are becoming more common due to climate change.
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WE ARE LOOKING FOR MASTERS and PHD STUDENTS AND UNDERGRADUATES TO HELP US EXAMINE THIS QUESTION. Please contact Dr. Wright if you are interested.
Microclimate amelioration and urban heat islands:
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We are interested in how urban heat islands impose a strong gradient in temperature in urban centers. Central LA is warmer on a hot day than the surrounding areas. This urban heat effect is particularly strong at night.
This likely imposes a strong filter on community composition in urban centers vs. surrounding areas. It also likely results in stronger microclimate amelioration in urban centers than in surrounding areas. We are establishing a network of plots to examine this question more carefully around the CSULA campus.
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WE ARE LOOKING FOR MASTERS and PHD STUDENTS AND UNDERGRADUATES TO HELP US EXAMINE THIS QUESTION. Please contact Dr. Wright if you are interested.
Plant traits, microclimate and surface temperature:
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We are measuring microclimate temperature, humidity and VPD in grassland and forest ecosystems across Los Angeles and Minnesota. We are interested in how different plants, plant traits, and communities affect microclimate and surface temperature conditions. This work may inform temperature mitigation policies in the face of climate change, nature-based solutions to a warming and drying planet, and our predictions about plant community coexistence (Wright & Francia 2024).
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WE ARE LOOKING FOR MASTERS and PHD STUDENTS AND UNDERGRADUATES TO HELP US EXAMINE THIS QUESTION. Please contact Dr. Wright if you are interested.