GK12 Montana State University

 My research deals with soil ecology in extreme environments.  Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a type of symbiotic microorganism that colonize the roots of a majority of plants in virtually all terrestrial ecosystems.  Though we have known of their existence for nearly a century, they are extremely difficult to study due to their size and their obligate nature (they must have a plant host to survive).  We do know that they are generally beneficial to plants, they affect plant community structure and diversity, they are beneficial to soil formation, and they are responsible for a large amount of carbon stored in soils around the world.  My research is aimed at exploring community dynamics of AMF in thermal soils in Yellowstone National Park, where conditions make plant establishment extremely difficult.  I am trying to find out if soil factors such as pH, temperature, and soil texture affect AMF community structure.  My hope is that this line of research will aid in the advancement of restoration ecology.  Anthropogenically disturbed sites (such as mines) experience conditions similar to those in some Yellowstone thermal areas (high temperatures, toxic metals, extreme pH...) and since we are still struggling to establish plants on these severely disturbed sites, research in naturally-extreme environments may help us understand how plants and microorganisms work together to live in tough conditions.