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| Ecology and Evolution of Symbiosis
For my PhD dissertation research, I am using the mushroom-forming genus Amanita to study the ecology and evolution of symbiosis. I am using phylogenetic, isotopic and genomic studies of the whole genus to dissect the evolution of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. Population, community and ecosystem studies with the introduced ectomycorrhizal fungus Amanita phalloides are allowing us to understand the role of symbiotic interactions in the range expansion of a microbial symbiont.
In collaboration with the Joint Genome Institute, I am leading our lab’s effort to sequence the genome of Amanita thiersii.
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| Microbial Diversity of Urban Soils
We know more about the diversity of microbes in treeholes in tropical rainforests and remote tundra soils than we do about the microbial diversity in our own backyards. I am working with the Harvard Yard Soils Restoration Project to develop baseline data on the diversity of bacteria, archaea and fungi in the soils of Harvard Yard.
Here is a poster with some preliminary data from this study. [pdf]
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| Invasive
Plants and Soil Biota
Although there are many examples of how exotic plants alter aboveground
communities, we know relatively little about the impacts of plant
invasions on soil communities. In collaboration with researchers at
the Harvard Forest and Boston University, I am examining how the invasive
plant garlic mustard (Alliaraia petiolata) interacts with
native fungal communities of North American forests.
Recent Publications:
Wolfe, BE, VL Rodgers, KA Stinson and A Pringle. 2008. The invasive plant Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) inhibits ectomycorrhizal fungi in its introduced range. Journal of Ecology 96: 777-783. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2745.2008.01389.x (abstract)
Wolfe BE, and JN Klironomos. 2005. Breaking new ground: soil communities
and exotic plant invasion. BioScience 55: 477-487. (pdf)
Stinson, KA, SA Campbell, JR Powell, BE Wolfe, RM Callaway, GC Thelen,
SG Hallett, D Prati, and JN Klironomos. 2006. Invasive plant suppresses
the growth of native tree seedlings by disrupting belowground mutualisms.
PLoS Biology 4: 727-731. (pdf)
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| Ecology
of Mycorrhizal Fungi
I am broadly interested in the interactions between plants and mycorrhizal
fungi. For my MSc research with John Klironomos, I examined the spatial
ecology of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
Recent Publications:
Wolfe BE, MC Rillig, DL Mummey, and JN Klironomos. 2007. Small-scale spatial heterogeneity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a calcareous fen. Mycorrhiza 17: 175-183. (pdf).
Wolfe BE, PA Weishampel, and JN Klironomos. 2006. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and water table affect wetland plant community composition.
Journal of Ecology 94: 905-914. (pdf)
Klironomos JN, MF Allen, MC Rillig, JS Piotrowski, S Makvandi-Nejad, BE
Wolfe, and JR Powell. 2005. Abrupt rise in atmospheric CO2 overestimates
community response in a model plant-soil system. Nature 433: 621-624. (pdf)
Wolfe BE, BC Husband, and JN Klironomos. 2005. Effects of a belowground mutualism on an aboveground mutualism. Ecology Letters 8:218-223. (pdf)
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