Ian Dickie
Keynote Speaker
University of Canterbury
Ian A. Dickie is a professor of microbial ecology at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury in Christchurch, NZ. After doing reforestation work with the US Peace Corps in Panama, Ian undertook his doctoral degree in Ecology at Pennsylvania State University (State College, PA, USA), focussing on the role of soil biota in oak forest regeneration with Kim Steiner and Roger Koide. Ian had two post-doctoral research positions, the first with Roger Koide looking at vertical niche partitioning by ectomycorrhizal fungi (Dickie et al., 2002) and then a longer period with Peter Reich and Sarah Hobbie at the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN, USA), researching mycorrhizal fungi in oak savanna. Ian has previously held professional positions at Manaaki Whenua | Landcare Research in Lincoln, New Zealand, and as a professor at Lincoln Universities BioProtection Research Centre. His research team investigates the role of fungi in ecosystems, with a particular focus on plant invasions. Ian has been an Editor of New Phytologist since 2012.
Session:
Abstract:
Progress and future directions in the emerging science of linked plant–fungal invasions
As human activities increasingly alter the distribution and relative dominance of plant and soil fungal communities through introductions and management, it is becoming critical to understand the consequences of these changes for biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Although some case studies demonstrate that introduced plants and fungi bring highly novel traits into ecosystems, relatively little is known about the broad biogeographic patterns, ecological/evolutionary dynamics, and ecosystem/biogeochemical consequences of such introductions. We are aware of numerous individual projects on major plant–fungal co-invasions, and a recent paper (‘The emerging science of linked plant–fungal invasions’ by Dickie et al. , New Phytol., 215:1314–1332) made important contributions to a conceptual framework. This international symposium will build on this foundation, allowing a synthesis of results to date by identifying common themes/goals, developing collaborations across native/introduced ranges, and leveraging a global network to identify questions of large geographic scope.