Nutritional Mutualisms

Partnerships in which two organisms with different metabolisms exchange nutrients have evolved across the tree of life, forming the foundation of many of the ecosystems on Earth, ranging from forests, to arctic tundra, to coral reefs.

 My research program investigates the ecology and evolution of these relationships across taxa, with a focus on three broad groups: marine invertebrates associated with unicellular algae, vascular plants associated with mycorrhizal fungi, and lichens, which are comprised of a fungus partnered with a algae and/or cyanobacteria.

I primarily use stable isotope analysis and molecular tools to quantify the assimilation and exchange of different nutrient sources in mutualisms, identify adaptations involved in these relationships, and investigate the genetic underpinnings of nutritional partnerships.