Lots! Recently, our @uslter.bsky.social Synthesis Working Group published a synthesis paper in an #EcologyLetters Very Long-Term Data special issue! We explored a new area of research, looking at Community-Level synchrony in woody plant reproduction. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... - ThreadSky

jalene-lamontagne.bsky.social • 110 days ago

Lots! Recently, our @uslter.bsky.social Synthesis Working Group published a synthesis paper in an #EcologyLetters Very Long-Term Data special issue! We explored a new area of research, looking at Community-Level synchrony in woody plant reproduction. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ele.14498

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jalene-lamontagne.bsky.social•110 days ago

We used long-term data from 7 #NSFfunded LTER sites, totalling 103 woody plant species, from Puerto Rico to Alaska. We asked - how synchronous is reproduction over time between pairs of co-occurring species (cross-species synchrony)?
A. more synchronous than by chance, with lots of variation.

jalene-lamontagne.bsky.social•110 days ago

The LTER sites ranged from having 3 to 62 species. There were 44 total plots where species co-occurred, and the average amount of synchrony varied between LTER sites. Species in areas with a great climate water deficit were more synchronous in their seed production over time.

jalene-lamontagne.bsky.social•110 days ago

Using #NSFfunded @uslter.bsky.social data from 7 LTER sites, we captured a wide range of plant trait space. We found that co-ocurring species with more similar traits had greater reproductive synchrony. And we're talking about 10-58 years(!) of overlapping data btwn species for our synchrony calcs.

jalene-lamontagne.bsky.social•110 days ago

Species pairs with more similar traits had higher synchrony in seed production, but what did we see with individual traits? This fig shows synchrony btwn species paird when a trait was different (0) or the same (1).

Interestingly, phylogenetic similarity was NOT associated with synchrony.

jalene-lamontagne.bsky.social•110 days ago

Okay, but what about the actual values of the traits and if they were the same between a pair of species or not? How is that reflected in the level of reproductive synchrony? Well, we asked that too! An example is: a pair evergreen species are more synchronous than if one or both sp are deciduous.

jalene-lamontagne.bsky.social•110 days ago

#MastSeeding is a pattern of synchronous & highly variable reproduction over time in perennial plants - at a population level. A dominant hypothesis for it is seed-predator satiation. Lots of woody plants have similar environmental cues. There could be benefits & costs to community-level synchrony.

honestcanadian.bsky.social•110 days ago

Looks great.
If Canada were to start funding at sufficient levels in your area(s) of study would you consider moving back?

jalene-lamontagne.bsky.social•110 days ago

I have been very fortunate to receive support for my lab and our research in the U.S.

A few years ago, I testified to a Canadian Parliamentary Committee on Science & Research about my experiences. Here's my testimony: https://openparliament.ca/committees/science-and-research/44-1/13/dr-jalene-lamontagne-1/

honestcanadian.bsky.social•110 days ago

$1.6 million, considering the money our governments throw away that is small change.
And your research is so relevant here.
Your map covers most of Canada.
Ontario alone should put up that much $.

jalene-lamontagne.bsky.social•110 days ago

Well, thank you. The success rate of NSERC grants has begun to go down, and there's room for governments in Canada to invest in science to bring up funding levels.

honestcanadian.bsky.social•110 days ago

Can I share your post and mention lack of funding here in Canada?

dlnarango.bsky.social•110 days ago

wow! heck yea that's a cool paper.

jalene-lamontagne.bsky.social•110 days ago

Thanks! We think so! 😁

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