OOS 20 - Microbes and Plant Invasions: Breaking Open the Black Box

Wednesday, August 14, 2019: 1:30 PM-5:00 PM
M107, Kentucky International Convention Center
Organizer:
Emily Farrer
Co-organizer:
Wesley Bickford
Moderator:
Emily Farrer
Growing evidence suggests that microbes are key mediators of plant invasions. Many of the major hypotheses explaining plant invasions, such as the Enemy Release Hypothesis, Accumulation of Local Pathogens, the Enhanced Mutualist Hypothesis, and the Mutualist Disruption Hypothesis, all point to plant-microbe feedbacks as the primary mechanism of invasion success. Traditional plant-soil feedback experiments that have been used to develop and support these invasion hypotheses typically take a “black box” approach to the microbial community. However, microbial culturing methods combined with new techniques in next generation sequencing are increasingly being used to characterize the microbial taxa involved in invasions and explore differences in invasive and native plant microbiomes. These techniques attempt to break open the black box to promote conceptual advances in invasion-microbe research by identifying the taxonomy of the key microbial players as well as their function. Furthermore, current research in invasive species management and restoration is utilizing knowledge of the microbial taxa relevant to invasions to investigate the use of microbes as biocontrol agents and to enhance native system recovery. The goals of this session are 1) to bring together researchers merging plant-soil feedback experiments, culturing, and next generation sequencing to synthesize current approaches to understanding the contribution of microbial communities to invasion and their use in control and management, 2) to assess the utility and limitations of opening the black box to contribute to conceptual frameworks and applications in invasion biology, and 3) to provide novel examples of how to test the importance of plant-microbial interactions in species invasion and discuss next steps and future directions to further advance the field. The confirmed speakers of our session are diverse in terms of study system (agricultural, natural systems), focal microbial taxa (mutualists, pathogens, mycorrhizae, nematodes), institution (academia, USDA, USGS), research questions, and career stage, which will promote a dynamic and engaging atmosphere that aligns well with the 2019 ESA meeting theme of inclusion.
1:30 PM
Plant-soil feedbacks and invasions: Which microbes matter?
Wesley Bickford, USGS, University of Michigan
1:50 PM
Biotic interactions drive ecosystem responses to invaders in plant communities
Lauren Waller, University of Canterbury, Lincoln University; Warwick Allen, University of Canterbury, Lincoln University; Leo M Condron, Lincoln University; Kate H. Orwin, Landcare Research; Jason M. Tylianakis, University of Canterbury; Ian A. Dickie, University of Canterbury
2:10 PM
Impact of soil biota on plant invasions
Kurt O. Reinhart, USDA-ARS
2:30 PM
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: Passengers or drivers of plant invasions?
Ylva Lekberg, University of Montana and MPG Ranch; Lorinda Bullington, University of Montana; Rebecca A. Bunn, Western Washington University; Kelly A. LaFlamme, MPG Ranch; Lindsay Manzo, Sentinel High school; John L. Maron, The University of Montana
2:50 PM
Competition and soil legacies alter the role of soil microbes in invaded plant communities
Catherine Fahey, Algoma University; Akihiro Koyama, Algoma University; Kari E. Dunfield, University of Guelph; Pedro M. Antunes, Algoma University; Luke Flory, University of Florida
3:10 PM
3:20 PM
Indirect effects of saltwater intrusion, via alterations of microbial symbionts, intensify invasion by Phragmites australis in a freshwater wetland
Carolyn Schroeder, Tulane University; Danielle Kulick, Tulane University; Isabella Donnell, Tulane University; Emily Farrer, Tulane University
3:40 PM
Trophic interactions in plant-soil feedbacks: Implications for invasion
Matthew Reid, Michigan State University; Sarah Emery, University of Louisville
4:00 PM
Patterns of gene expression in Phragmites australis with a fungal endophyte: Implications for invasion
Philippa Tanford, Washington University in St. Louis; Kurt Kowalski, U.S. Geological Survey; Douglas B. Rusch, Indiana University; Ram Podicheti, Indiana University; Keith Clay, Tulane University
4:20 PM
Enemies of my enemies: Soil microbial communities that suppress germination of noxious weeds
Anthony Yannarell, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Yi Lou, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
4:40 PM Cancelled
OOS 20-10
Management of plant-soil feedbacks during restoration (widthdrawn)
Lora Perkins, South Dakota State University