MSI PI Peter Reich (professor, Forest Resources) is a co-author on a new paper that analyzed the trait-environment relationships of plants, using a massive database containing over 26,000 plant species. This research will help scientists understand plant communities and how they are affected by factors besides temperature and precipitation, such as soil conditions and wildfires. This can provide insight into how climate change might affect plant communities in different regions.
Professor Reich uses MSI to support his group's work to create plant-trait databases. An article about the paper appears as a Research Brief on the University website: Plant Communities Help Predict Consequences of Climate Change. The paper can be found on the Nature Ecology & Evolution website: Global Trait-Environment Relationships of Plant Communities.