Paul Kardol

As an ecologist, I build on basic ecological theory in investigating effects of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on terrestrial ecosystems. It has become increasingly acknowledged that individual species’ responses to environmental changes strongly depend on community context and on multi-trophic interactions. Single species experiments may provide little information on whole ecosystem functioning under environmental change. Therefore, in my research, I explicitly focus on community dynamics, both under natural conditions (e.g. succession) and as affected by global change factors.

My research particularly regards linkages between plant communities and soil communities (microbes, nematodes, and other small creatures) and the consequences of plant-soil interactions for ecosystem functioning. In my group, we are mostly working in boreal forest and subarctic tundra ecosystems. But, we also work on large, international projects spanning a broader variety of ecosystems.