Jennifer Martiny from UC Irvine visited Duke University and presented her latest research on microbial ecology to the University Program in Ecology. Specifically, her work focuses on the generation, maintenance, and consequences of biodiversity. Currently they are investigating the mechanisms underlying microbial diversity patterns and the consequences of this diversity for ecosystem functioning, particularly in the face of global change. The lab uses a combination of approaches, from genetic surveys of natural communities to field experiments and microcosm studies. They study a variety of systems including grassland bacteria and fungi and marine viruses.
