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PhD, 2012, University of Maryland; Behavior, Ecology, Evolution and Systematics
MS, 2003, Kansas State University, Biology
BS, 2000, Texas A&M University, Entomology
Ecology
Courses: Introductory Biology (Bio 110, 111 lab), Ecology (Bio 325), Plant Ecology (Bio 312), Environmental Science (Bio 225), Invertebrate Zoology (Bio 201), Biostatistics (Bio 205); Food, Fiber and Drugs (General Science)
The Plant Ecology Lab focuses on plant ecology and ecological interactions that impact plant growth, reproduction and survival. Students explore the effects of competition, pollination, herbivory and mycorrhizal symbiosis, as well as several of these interactions simultaneously. We ask questions like, do phenotypic traits affect the outcome of competition, how does plant density impact pollination and seed set, and what are the impacts of insect herbivory for plant populations? Primarily our work is experimental, and projects take place in the lab or greenhouse and in both open meadow and forested field sites on campus, at off-campus field stations or within state and national parks. The overarching goal of our research program is to explore basic ecological questions that may be used to support problem solving in conservation and agriculture.
Buffington, ML, A Garretson, RR Kula, M Gates, R Carpenter, D Smith and AAR Kula. 2021. "Pan trap color preference across Hymenoptera in a forest clearing.” Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 169(3): 298-311
Kula, AAR, MH Hey, JJ Couture, PA Townsend and HJ Dalgleish. 2020. Intraspecific competition reduces plant size and quality and damage severity increases defense response in the herbaceous perennial, Asclepias syriaca. Plant Ecology. 221: 421-430.
Kula, AAR, and DC Hartnett. 2015. “Mycorrhizal symbiosis affects insect herbivory in tallgrass prairie as mediated through plant community changes.” Plant Ecology. 216(4): 589-597.
Kula, AAR, DM Castillo, MR Dudash and CB Fenster. 2014. “Interactions between a pollinating seed predator and its host plant: the role of environmental context within a population.” Ecology and Evolution. 4(14): 2901-2912.
Castillo, DM, AAR Kula, S Dotterl, MR Dudash and CB Fenster. 2014. “Invasive Silene latifolia may benefit from a native pollinating seed predator, Hadena ectypa, in North America.” International Journal of Plant Science. 175(1): 80-91.
Kula, AAR, MR Dudash and CB Fenster. 2013. “A nursery pollinator as a selective agent on floral traits through oviposition behavior.” American Journal of Botany. 100(6): 1148-1154. doi:10.3732/ajb.1200636
Castillo, DM, AAR Kula, KAD Fenster, CB Fenster and MR Dudash. “Specialist pollinating seed predators exhibit oviposition strategy consistent with optimal foraging and optimal oviposition theories.” Ecological Entomology. 38: 164-172. doi: 10.1111/een.12003
Reynolds, RJ, AAR Kula, CB Fenster and MR Dudash. 2012. “Variability in nursery pollinator importance and effects on plant reproductive success.” Oecologia. 168: 439-448. doi: 10.1007/s00442-011-2095-9.
Louda, SM, TA Rand, AAR Kula, AE Arnett, NM West and B Tenhumberg. 2011. “Priority resource access mediates competitive intensity between an invasive weevil and native floral herbivores.” Biological Invasions. 13(10): 2233-2248.
Dalgleish, HJ, AR Kula, DC Hartnett and BK Sandercock. 2008. “Responses of two bunchgrasses to nitrogen addition in tallgrass prairie: the role of bud bank demography.” American Journal of Botany. 95(6): 672-680.
Kula, AAR, DC Hartnett and GWT Wilson. 2005. “Effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis on tallgrass prairie plant-herbivore interactions.” Ecology Letters. 8(1): 61-69.