We are beginning new studies of phenology at the Andrews Forest to better understand influences of existing complex climatic gradients on timing of springtime life history events for multiple trophic levels. Phenological events are highly sensitive to temperature and climatic variations and are some of the most responsive indicators to climate change. By studying timing of events at multiple sites in a very heterogeneous climatic landscape, we expect to learn much about plant, insect and bird responses to current abiotic variability (i.e.

Dispersal ability can affect the dynamics and composition of intertidal communities. Sandy beach ecosystems, where several key taxa have limited dispersal, are increasingly impacted by growing coastal development, and human use, while facing additional habitat loss and fragmentation from sea level rise. Implications of low dispersal rates for populations of key beach taxa, such as talitrid amphipods, include susceptibility to local extinctions and potentially lengthy recolonization times relative to lifespans/generation times.

Understanding how biotic and abiotic factors combine to affect species interactions is an important challenge in ecology. Because the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on species interactions are often studied separately, it can be difficult to predict potential non-linear and indirect interactions among factors. We manipulated three key biotic and abiotic factors (temperature, food quality, predation) in field experiments in continental grassland using a plant – grasshopper – spider food chain.

Invertebrates have known impacts on ecosystem services, and these impacts are likely to change as invertebrates respond to climate change. In this workshop, we aim to use the breadth of knowledge and diversity of sites in the LTER network to conceptualize the impacts that invertebrates have on ecosystem services, and how these may be altered by climate change. Invertebrates impact ecosystem services both directly (e.g. pollination, pest and disease control, water pollution, decomposition, and recreation) and indirectly through their consumption of primary producers (e.g.

 In temperate systems, invertebrate consumers have known impacts to ecosystem processes, but in tropical ecology, it is assumed that only plant and microbes affect these processes. This study investigated what impacts common folivores (walking sticks) and detritivores (litter snails) have on decomposition, nutrient cycling and primary productivity in the understory of the Luquillo rainforest (LUQ). To test these effects, we started an enclosure experiment with consumers both present and absent in 2005.