Biogeographic and Macroevolution of Organismal Stoichiometric Diversity

A fundamental goal of ecology is to understand the causes and consequences of biological diversity. One of the many facets of biological diversity is the elemental diversity (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus) of living organisms. Although, the stoichiometry of living organisms shapes their ecology and evolution, patterns of variation and the underlying mechanisms in the elemental composition of species— the stoichiometric diversity — across large spatial scales and among a broad range of organisms, have yet to be explored.

            In this research we are integrating ecological stoichiometry, evolutionary biology, macroecology and functional biogeography to improve our understanding of large-scale biogeographical patterns and the underlying mechanisms of stoichiometric diversity.