The relationships between plant diversity and microbial diversity are unclear: How does microbial diversity vary geographically within a single forest type, and is it related to plant diversity? Moreover, have microbial ‘species’ co-diversified with plants since the origin of the EA-ENA disjunction? Further, do patterns of codiversification vary depending on the physical location of the microbes – in bulk soil, in the rhizosphere, as endophytes?
Sampling plans
6 sites in eastern US, 4 sites in China
At each site:
- Plant traits for 20 species of disjuncts (5 individuals) (mostly canopy trees)
- Subset of traits for 100 additional species
- 20-30 species for phylogenetics of disjuncts
- Up to 300 species for community phylogenetics
- Microbial sampling: 4 soil cores + leaves for same individuals scored for plant traits
- Mapping of canopy trees via Remote Sensing
Disjunct Genera:
Disjunct Genera
| Disjunct Genera: |
|---|
| Aesculus |
| Cartrema |
| Carya |
| Castanea |
| Catalpa |
| Cercis |
| Chionanthus |
| Cladrastis |
| Cornus |
| Corylus |
| Decumaria |
| Fagus |
| Gleditsia |
| Gymnocladus |
| Halesia |
| Hamamelis |
| Illicium |
| Liriodendron |
| Liquidambar |
| Lyonia |
| Nyssa |
| Ostrya |
| Parthenocissus |
| Picea |
| Pieris |
| Sassafras |
| Schisandra |
| Smilax |
| Stewartia |
| Torreya |
| Tsuga |
| Wisteria |