Variation and Integration of Ecophysiological Traits across Scales in Tropical and Temperate Trees: Patterns, Drivers and Consequences Item Type text; Electronic Dissertation Authors Messier, Julie Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 10/10/2021 23:02:47 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/594556 VARIATION AND INTEGRATION OF ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS ACROSS SCALES IN TROPICAL AND TEMPERATE TREES: PATTERNS, DRIVERS AND CONSEQUENCES by Julie Messier __________________________ Copyright © Julie Messier 2015 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2015 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Dissertation Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by Julie Messier, titled “Variation and integration of ecophysiological traits across scales in tropical and temperate trees: patterns, drivers and consequences”, and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. _______________________________________________________________________ Date: November 9th 2015 Brian J. Enquist _______________________________________________________________________ Date: November 9th 2015 Brian J. McGill _______________________________________________________________________ Date: November 9th 2015 Martin J. Lechowicz _______________________________________________________________________ Date: November 9th 2015 Judith L. Bronstein _______________________________________________________________________ Date: November 9th 2015 Katrina M. Dlugosch Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate’s submission of the final copies of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement. ________________________________________________ Date: November 9th 2015 Dissertation Director: Brian J. Enquist ________________________________________________ Date: November 9th 2015 Dissertation Director: Brian J. McGill 2 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for an advanced degree at the University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that an accurate acknowledgement of the source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright holder. SIGNED: Julie Messier 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. ~ Bernard de Chartres I owe the accomplishment of this work to many wonderful people. Above all I am indebted to my three advisors, Brian McGill, Brian Enquist and Martin Lechowicz, exceptional scientists who have given me the freedom to pursue my ideas, taught me so much, and managed to gracefully navigate a complicated 3-way advising situation. Brian McGill is a truly creative thinker who showed me how to think outside the box, turn science into good stories and find the essence of complex results. He has also showed me how to keep faith in the importance and relevance of my work despite tides or rejections. Marty, an in- depth thinker, careful scientist and exceptional writer with an encyclopedic knowledge of plant physiology and of the ecological literature, showed me how to design thoughtful experiments, think thoroughly through problems and be prudent and skeptical with the meaning of data and results. His wisdom in understanding how one’s work fits within the greater context of science and how science itself is a lifestyle where one must balance research in the greater context of their life, continues to uplift and impress me. Brian Enquist, a scientist who dreams large and makes those dreams happen, has always encouraged me to try new things and throw myself at new challenges with confidence. His passion, energy and unwavering positive outlook on challenges really does lift mountains. I have also been blessed with the support of two scientists of excellence, Judie Bronstein and Katrina Dlugosch. Judie, with a deep mastery of fundamental ecological and evolutionary concepts is also a big picture thinker. Her sharp, critical mind can cut through the first layers of one’s research to see the big picture. She has been invaluable in reminding me to find the broader questions and messages in my research that scientists in different fields can relate to. Katrina with her unique expertise at the intersection of plant ecology and evolutionary biology has been instrumental in shaping the direction of my dissertation. She introduced me to some aspects of evolutionary biology that are now a major focus of my research interests. Katrina, your comprehensive exam question on quantitative genetics was by far the hardest, but it has been a pivotal, eye-opening milestone. She has also helped me navigate the professional and ‘business’ side of academia. Cyrille Violle a mentor, colleague and friend, has played a crucial role in my dissertation work in many ways. Our numerous conversations have not only helped shape 4 my thoughts on ecology and evolution, but also acted as a catalyst in the writing of my dissertation chapters. He has pushed me through the finish line by offering me a writing haven in Montpellier for seven months in the last year of my doctoral research. Cyrille is selflessly generous with his time, sharing his ideas and financial support. I thank the funding sources – Canada’s NSERC and the Organization for American States - that have allowed me to come to the rich and stimulating research environment of EEB at the University of Arizona. The Chateaubriand fellowship from the French Embassy in the United States has also allowed me the time to finish writing my dissertation, to form new work relationships in Europe and make wonderful friends. I am indebted to experts in their field who have generously and patiently shared their knowledge. They have taught me so much and allowed all of this work to happen: Dr. Erica Bigio made all the tree ring work possible; Dr. Louise Comas taught me how to collect fine roots of trees in the field; Dr. David Killick showed me how to operate high-precision microscopes to document wood anatomy and trusted me with the expensive equipment; and John Sperry and Mel Tyree guided my efforts to measure sap transport. None of this work would have been possible without the steady and dedicated efforts of a number of field and lab assistants: Anke Roth, Émilie Lavoie, Natasha Salter, Andréanne Ferland, Carol Mordy, Ricardo Cossio, Sierra Kaszubinski, Sanga Shir, Surbhi Patel, Margretta Murphy, John Lacson, Kevin Wong, Sarah Schwenck, Anjeanette McKay, Casey Knoks, Meghan Iacueuilli, Shahrzad Badie, Irene Liang, Jordyn Celaya and Mélisanne Gagnon. David Maneli and the McGill Gault crew have made possible all the field logistics, lending me their hands, chainsaws, vehicles and ArcGIS skills when in need. My present and past lab, Vanessa Buzzard, Lindsey Sloat, Brian Maitner, Alex Brummer, Kyle Martins , Amanda Henderson, Ben Blonder, Sean Michaletz, Daniel Guaderrama, Kathy Hulshof and Christine Lamanna for the shared excitement over nature, math and ecology, the intellectual stimulation, the innumerable laughs and for standing by my side through trials and tribulations. You have made the daily grind enjoyable. I also want to acknowledge the profound influence of my early mentor, Daniel Kneeshaw, on shaping my career path. He took me under his wing and his generosity, patience and faith launched me forward in the scientific world when I had everything to learn. I need to thank early mentors and role models: thanks to Alain Bombardier, my high School math teacher whose recognition of my stubborn perseverance bolstered me up; to 5 Farley Morris, my high school English teacher who taught me to think critically and question the world around me; to Will Boshuck my calculus Math teacher who infected me with a love of math; and to Sharon Rutherford, my college Biology teacher who held her students to high standards with confidence, whose enthusiastic teaching of biology steered my studies and whom I continue to look up to. Last, I need to thank the people close to me who supported me through the ups and downs of the long doctoral journey. Loren Albert and Pacifica Sommers, my accountabili- buddies whose daily support through the last year of my PhD made everything seem manageable. To my mother, father and brother who never doubted for an instant my ability to succeed, to my best friends Maryse and Gerardo who reminded me to stay silly with my serious, to my boyfriend Cres who cooked for me more meals than I can count and whose supportive love gave me the freedom to work as hard and travel as much as I needed and wanted. Thanks to good friends along the journey who made Tucson and Montpellier home: Erica,