Afkhami, Michelle - University of Miami

个人简介

2016-present, Assistant Professor, University of Miami, Biology Department 2013-2015, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto & Plant Sciences Department, Michigan State University 2007-2013, Ph.D. in Population Biology, University of California Davis 2006-2007, M.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Rice University 2002-2006, B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Rice University

研究领域

My lab studies the ecology, evolution, and genomics of species interactions at scales ranging from genes to communities using a combination of long term field and greenhouse experiments, mathematical modeling, and laboratory-based molecular methods. While our research spans all types of interactions, we are especially interested in positive species associations and often work with plant-microbial mutualisms, such as rhizobia, mycorrhizal fungi, and fungal endophytes. Much of our research is aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying how mutualisms work and integrating these associations into the broader foundations of ecology and evolution. For example, we ask questions like “Can mutualism cause range expansions into new habitats?”, “What is the impact of microbial mutualisms on plant and herbivore community diversity?”, “How do complex multispecies mutualisms impact fitness and what is the genomic basis of these effects?”, “Can mutualists also act as reproductive manipulations?”, “Does mutualism drive diversification of plant radiations?”, and “Can we improve sustainable agriculture through use of natural species interactions?” Some of our current projects investigate: (1) the role of fungal endophytes in plant population persistence across species ranges and in the resilience of communities to wildfires in California, (2) how plant-soil feedbacks impact the demography and conservation of rare species in Florida, and (3) the genomic basis of plant and microbial performance in a tripartite interaction between legumes, rhizobia, and mycorrhizal fungi. Please see the lab website (link available above) for more details on our research and contact me if you are interested in joining us.

近期论文

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Afkhami, M.E. & J.R. Stinchcombe. (2016) Multiple Mutualist Effects on genomewide expression in the tripartite association between Medicago truncatula, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and mycorrhizal fungi. Molecular Ecology. 25:4946–4962. Afkhami, M.E. & S.Y. Strauss. (2016) Native fungal endophytes suppress an exotic dominant and increase plant diversity over small and large spatial scales. Ecology. 97: 1159-1169. E.I. Jones, M.E. Afkhami, E. Akcay, J.L. Bronstein, R. Bshary, M.E. Frederickson, K.D. Heath, J. Hoeksema, J. Ness, S. Pankey, S.S. Porter, J.L. Sachs, K. Scharnagl, M.L. Friesen. (2015) Cheaters must prosper: reconciling theoretical and empirical perspectives on cheating in mutualism. Ecology Letters. 18:1270–1284 Afkhami, M.E., P.J. McIntyre, S.Y. Strauss. (2014) Mutualist-mediated effects on species’ range limits across large geographic scales. Ecology Letters. 17: 1265-1273. (Recommended by Faculty 1000) Afkhami, M.E., J.A. Rudgers, J.J. Stachowicz. (2014) Multiple Mutualist Effects: Conflict and synergy in multispecies mutualisms. Ecology. 95: 833-844. Gorischek, A.M.*, M.E. Afkhami, E.K. Seifert, J.A. Rudgers. (2013) Fungal symbionts as manipulators of reproductive biology. The American Naturalist. 181: 562-570. (Covered by Science News) Afkhami, M. E. (2012) Fungal endophyte-grass symbioses are rare in the California floristic province and other regions with Mediterranean-influenced climates. Fungal Ecology special issue. 5: 345-352. Afkhami, M. E., J. A Rudgers. (2009) Endophyte-mediated resistance to herbivores depends on herbivore identity in the wild grass, Festuca subverticillata. Environmental Entomology. 38: 1086-1095.