Ecological Effects of N Fixers
Do N fixers have the facilitative effects on the growth of the surrounding forests, as we would expect given their ability to provide N to these systems? Our data indicate that the actually effect of N fixers can range from strongly positive to strongly negative depending on site and species characteristics. Along with our collaborators, we work at site- and continental-scales to better understand whether N fixers promote or inhibit forest growth and what ecological mechanisms drive these effects.