This is a PARTIAL listing of recent publications, and it will continue to grow as we populate our publications database.
2019
Journal Article Sugiyama, A., L. S. Comita, T. Masaki, R. Condit, and S. P. Hubbell.“Resolving the Paradox of Clumped Seed Dispersal: Positive Density and Distance Dependence in a Bat-Dispersed Species.”Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America100.1(2019): e01469. DOI: 10.1002/bes2.1469
Journal Article Crawford, K. M., J. T. Bauer, L. S. Comita, M. B. Eppinga, D. J. Johnson, S. A. Mangan, S. A. Queenborough, A. E. Strand, K. N. Suding, J. Umbanhowar, and J. D. Bever.“When and where plant-soil feedback may promote plant coexistence: a meta-analysis.”Ecology Letters22.8(2019): 1274-1284. DOI: 10.1111/ele.13278
Journal Article Eck, J. L., S. M. Stump, C. S. Delavaux, S. A Mangan, and L. S. Comita.“Evidence of within-species specialization by soil microbes and the implications for plant community diversity.”Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America116.15(2019): 7371-7376. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1810767116
2018
Journal Article Comita, L. S., M. Uriarte, J. Forero-Montaña, W. J. Kress, N. G. Swenson, J. Thompson, M. N.Umaña, and J. K. Zimmerman.“Changes in Phylogenetic Community Structure of the Seedling Layer Following Hurricane Disturbance in a Human-Impacted Tropical Forest.”Forests9.9(2018): 556. DOI: 10.3390/f9090556
Journal Article Stump, S. M. and L. S. Comita.“Interspecific variation in conspecific negative density dependence can make species less likely to coexist.”Ecology Letters21.10(2018): 1541-1551. DOI: 10.1111/ele.13135
Journal Article Krishnadas, M., R. Bagchi, S. Sridhara, and L. S. Comita.“Weaker plant-enemy interactions decrease tree seedling diversity with edge-effects in a fragmented tropical forest.”Nature Communications9(2018): 4523. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06997-2
Journal Article Sugiyama, A., L. S. Comita, T. Masaki, R. Condit, and S. P. Hubbell.“Resolving the paradox of clumped seed dispersal: positive density and distance dependence in a bat-dispersed species.”Ecology99.11(2018): 2583-2591. DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2512
Journal Article Fotis, A. T., S. J. Murphy, R. D. Ricart, M. Krishnadas, J. Whitacre, J. W. Wenzel, S. A.Queenborough, and L. S. Comita.“Above-ground biomass is driven by mass-ratio effects and stand structural attributes in a temperate deciduous forest.”Journal of Ecology106.2(2018): 561-570. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12847
Journal Article Weissflog, A., L. Markesteijn, O. T. Lewis, L. S. Comita, and B. M. J. Engelbrecht.“Contrasting patterns of insect herbivory and predation pressure across a tropical rainfall gradient.”Biotropica50.2(2018): 302-311. DOI: 10.1111/btp.12513
Journal Article Visser, M. D., S. A. Schnitzer, H. C. Muller-Landau, E. Jongejans, H. de Kroon, L. S. Comita, S. P. Hubbell, and S. J. Wright.“Tree species vary widely in their tolerance for liana infestation: A case study of differential host response to generalist parasites.”Journal of Ecology106.SI(2018): 781-794. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12815
Journal Article Rüger, N., L. S. Comita, R. Condit, D. Purves, B. Rosenbaum, M. D. Visser, S. J. Wright, and C. Wirth.“Beyond the fast-slow continuum: demographic dimensions structuring a tropical tree community.”Ecology Letters21.7(2018): 1075-1084. DOI: 10.1111/ele.12974
Journal Article Chen, L, L. S. Comita, S. J. Wright, N. G. Swenson, J. K. Zimmerman, XC. Mi, ZQ. Hao, WH. Ye, S. P. Hubbell, W. J. Kress, M. Uriarte, J. Thompson, C. J. Nytch, XG. Wang, JY. Lian, and KP. Ma.“Forest tree neighborhoods are structured more by negative conspecific density dependence than by interactions among closely related species.”Ecography41.7(2018): 1114-1123. DOI: 10.1111/ecog.03389
Journal Article Krishnadas, M. and L. S. Comita.“Influence of soil pathogens on early regeneration success of tropical trees varies between forest edge and interior.”Oecologia186.1(2018): 259-268. DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-4006-1
Journal Article Krishnadas, M., N. G. Beckman, J. C. Peñagos Zuluaga, Y. Zhu, J. Whitacre, J. W. Wenzel, S. A. Queenborough, and L. S. Comita.“Environment and past land-use together predict functional diversity in a temperate forest.”Ecological Applications28.8(2018): 2142-2152. DOI: 10.1002/eap.1802
Journal Article Zhu, Y., S. A. Queenborough, R. Condit, S. P. Hubbell, K.P. Ma, and L. S. Comita.“Density-dependent survival varies with species life-history strategy in a tropical forest.”Ecology Letters21.4(2018): 506-515. DOI: 10.1111/ele.12915
2017
Journal Article Audino, L. D., S. J. Murphy, L. Zambaldi, J. Louzada, and L. S. Comita.“Drivers of community assembly in tropical forest restoration sites: role of local environment, landscape and space.”Ecological Applications27.6(2017): 1731-1745. DOI: 10.1002/eap.1562
Journal Article Murphy, S. J., T. Wiegand, and L. S. Comita.“Distance-dependent seedling mortality and long-term spacing dynamics in a neotropical forest community.”Ecology Letters20.11(2017): 1469-1478. DOI: 10.1111/ele.12856
Journal Article Marden, J. H., S. A. Mangan, M. Peterson, E. Wafula, H. W. Fescemyer, J. Der, C. W. dePamphilis, and L. S. Comita.“Ecological genomics of tropical trees: how local population size and allelic diversity of resistance genes relate to immune responses, co-susceptibility to pathogens, and negative density dependence.”Molecular Ecology26.9(2017): 2498-2513. DOI: 10.1111/mec.13999
Journal Article Du, Y., S. A. Queenborough, L. Chen, Y. Wang, X. Mi, K. Ma, and L. S. Comita.“Intraspecific and phylogenetic density-dependent seedling recruitment in a subtropical evergreen forest.”Oecologia184.1(2017): 193-203. DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-3842-3
Journal Article Bruijning, M. M. D. Visser, H. C. Muller-Landau, S. J. Wright, L. S. Comita, S. P. Hubbell, H. de Kroon, and E. Jongejans.“Surviving in a Cosexual World: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Dioecy in Tropical Trees.”The American Naturalist189.3(2017): 297-314. DOI: 10.1086/690137
Journal Article Lin, Y.-C., L. S. Comita, D. J. Johnson, M-R. Chen, and S-H. Wu.“Biotic vs. abiotic drivers of seedling persistence in a tropical karst forest.”Journal of Vegetation Science28.1(2017): 206-217. DOI: 10.1111/jvs.12479
Journal Article Johnson, D. J., R. Condit, S. P. Hubbell, and L. S. Comita.“Abiotic niche partitioning and negative density dependence drive tree seedling survival in a tropical forest.”Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences284.1869(2017): 20172210. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2210
2016
Journal Article Murphy, S. J., K. Xu, and L. S. Comita.“Tree seedling richness, but not neighborhood composition, influences insect herbivory in a temperate deciduous forest community.”Ecology and Evolution6.17(2016): 6310-6319. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2336
Journal Article Krishnadas, M., A. Kumar, and L. S. Comita.“Environmental gradients structure tropical tree assemblages at the regional scale.”Journal of Vegetation Science27.6(2016): 1117-1128. DOI: 10.1111/jvs.12438
Journal Article Visser, M. D., M. Bruijning, S. J. Wright, H. C. Muller-Landau, E. Jongejans, L. S. Comita, and H. de Kroon.“Functional traits as predictors of vital rates across the life cycle of tropical trees.”Functional Ecology30(2016): 168-180. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12621
Journal Article Murphy, S. J, K. Salpter, and L. S. Comita.“Higher β-diversity observed for herbs over woody plants is driven by stronger habitat filtering in a tropical understory.”Ecology97.8(2016): 2074-2084. DOI: 10.1890/15-1801.1
2015
Journal Article Murphy, S. J., L. D. Audino, J. Whitacre, J. L. Eck, J. W. Wenzel, S. A. Queenborough, and L. S. Comita.“Species associations structured by environment and land-use history promote beta-diversity in a temperate forest.”Ecology96.3(2015): 705-715. DOI: 10.1890/14-0695.1
Journal Article Calinger, K., E. Calhoon, H. C. Chang, J. Whitacre, J. Wenzel, L. Comita and S. Queenborough.“Historic Mining and Agriculture as Indicators of Occurrence and Abundance of Widespread Invasive Plant Species.”Plos One10.6(2015): e0128161. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128161
Journal Article Zhu, Y., L. S. Comita, S. P. Hubbell, and KP. Ma.“Conspecific and phylogenetic density-dependent survival differs across life stages in a tropical forest.”Journal of Ecology103.4(2015): 957-966. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12414
2014
Journal Article Comita, L. S., S. A. Queenborough, S. J. Murphy, J. L. Eck, KY. Xu, M. Krishnadas, N. Beckman and Y. Zhu.“Testing predictions of the Janzen-Connell hypothesis: a meta-analysis of experimental evidence for distance- and density-dependent seed and seedling survival.”Journal of Ecology102.4(2014): 845-856. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12232
Journal Article Audino, L. D., J. Louzada, and L. Comita.“Dung beetles as indicators of tropical forest restoration success: Is it possible to recover species and functional diversity?.”Biological Conservation169(2014): 248-257. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2013.11.023
Journal Article Lin, F., L. S. Comita, XG. Wang, XJ. Bai, ZQ. Yuan, DL. Xing, and ZQ. Hao.“The contribution of understory light availability and biotic neighborhood to seedling survival in secondary versus old-growth temperate forest.”Plant Ecology215.8(2014): 795-807. DOI: 10.1007/s11258-014-0332-0
Book Chapter Comita, L. S. and B. M. J. Engelbrecht.“Drought as a driver of tropical tree species regeneration dynamics and distribution patterns.”Forests and Global Change.Ed. D. A. Coomes, D. F. R. P. Burslem, and W. D. Simonson.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,2014.473.Link
2013
Journal Article Piao, T., L. S. Comita, GZ. Jin, and J. H. Kim.“Density dependence across multiple life stages in a temperate old-growth forest of northeast China.”Oecologia172.1(2013): 207-217. DOI: 10.1007/s00442-012-2481-y
Journal Article Bolker, B. M., B. Gardner, M. Maunder, C. W. Berg, M. Brooks, L. Comita, E. Crone, S. Cubaynes, T. Davies, P. de Valpine, J. Ford, O. Gimenez, M. Kéry, E. J. Kim, C. Lennert-Cody, A. Magnusson, S. Martell, J. Nash, A. Nielsen, J. Regetz, H. Skaug, and E. Zipkin.“Strategies for fitting nonlinear ecological models in R, AD Model Builder, and BUGS.”Methods in Ecology and Evolution4.6(2013): 501-512. DOI: 10.1111/2041-210X.12044
Journal Article Muscarella, R., M. Uriarte, J. Forero-Montana, L. S. Comita, N. G. Swenson, J. Thompson, C. Nytch, I. Jonckheere, and J. K. Zimmerman.“Life-history trade-offs during the seed-to-seedling transition in a subtropical wet forest community.”Journal of Ecology101.1(2013): 171-182. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12027
Journal Article Stegen, J. C. , A. L. Freestone, T. O. Crist, M. J. Anderson, J. M. Chase, L. S. Comita, H. V. Cornell, K. F. Davies, S. P. Harrison, A. H. Hurlbert, B. D. Inouye, N. J. B. Kraft, J. A. Myers, N. J. Sanders, N. G. Swenson and M. Vellend.“Stochastic and deterministic drivers of spatial and temporal turnover in breeding bird communities.”Global Ecology and Biogeography22.2(2013): 202-212. DOI: 10.1111/j.1466-8238.2012.00780.x
2012
Journal Article Lin, LX., L. S. Comita, Z. Zheng, and M. Cao.“Seasonal differentiation in density-dependent seedling survival in a tropical rainforest.”Journal of Ecology100.4(2012): 905-914. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2012.01964.x
Journal Article Uriarte, M., J. S. Clark, J. K. Zimmerman, L. S. Comita, J. Forero-Montaña, and J. Thompson.“Multidimensional tradeoffs in species responses to disturbance: implications for diversity in a subtropical forest.”Ecology93.1(2012): 191-205. DOI: 10.1890/10-2422.1
Journal Article Wang, XG., L. S. Comita, ZQ. Hao, S. J. Davies , J. Ye, F. Lin, and ZQ. Yuan.“Local-scale drivers of tree survival in a temperate forest.”PLoS ONE7.2(2012): e29469. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029469
2011
Journal Article Kraft, N. J. B., L. S. Comita, J. M. Chase, N. J. Sanders, N. G. Swenson, T. O. Crist, J. C. Stegen, M. Vellend, B. Boyle, M. J. Anderson, H. V. Cornell, K. F. Davies, A. L. Freestone, B. D. Inouye, S. P. Harrison, and J. A. Myers.“Disentangling the drivers of β Diversity Along Latitudinal and Elevational Gradients.”Science333.6050(2011): 1755-1758. DOI: 10.1126/science.1208584
Journal Article Kanagaraj, R., T. Wiegand, L. S. Comita, and A. Huth.“Tropical tree species assemblages in topographical habitats change in time and with life stage.”Journal of Ecology 99: 1441–145299.6(2011): 1441-1452. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2011.01878.x
Journal Article Goldsmith, G. R., L. S. Comita, and S. C. Chua.“Evidence for arrested succession within a tropical forest fragment in Singapore.”Journal of Tropical Ecology27.3(2011): 323-326. DOI: 10.1017/S0266467411000010
Journal Article Anderson M. J., T. O. Crist, J. M. Chase, M. Vellend, B. D. Inouye, A. L. Freestone, N. J. Sanders, H. V. Cornell, L. S. Comita, K. F. Davies, S. P. Harrison, N. J. B. Kraft, J. C. Stegen, and N. G. Swenson.“Navigating the multiple meanings of β diversity: a roadmap for the practicing ecologist.”Ecology Letters14.1(2011): 19-28. DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01552.x
Journal Article Chuyong, G. B., D. Kenfack, K. E. Harms, D. W. Thomas, R. Condit, and L. S. Comita.“Habitat specificity and diversity of tree species in an African wet tropical forest.”Plant Ecology212.8(2011): 1363-1374. DOI: 10.1007/s11258-011-9912-4
Journal Article Winowiecki, L., S. Smukler, K. Shirley, R. Remans, G. Peltier, E. Lothes, E. King, L. Comita, S. Baptista, and L. Alkema.“Tools for enhancing interdisciplinary communication.”Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy7.1(2011): 74-80. Link
2010
Journal Article Jones, F. A. and L. S. Comita.“Density dependent pre-dispersal seed predation and fruit set in a tropical tree.”Oikos119.11(2010): 1841-1847. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2010.18547.x
Journal Article Chen, L., XC. Mi, L. S. Comita, LW. Zhang, HB. Ren, and KP. Ma.“Community-level consequences of density dependence and habitat association in a subtropical broad-leaved forest.”Ecology Letters13.6(2010): 695-704. DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01468.x
Journal Article Comita, L. S., H. C. Muller-Landau, S. Aguilar, and S. P. Hubbell.“Asymmetric density dependence shapes species abundance in a tropical tree community.”Science329.5989(2010): 330-332. DOI: 10.1126/science.1190772
Journal Article Comita, L. S., J. Thompson, M. Uriarte, I. Jonckheere, C. D. Canham, and J. K. Zimmerman.“Interactive effects of land use history and natural disturbance on seedling dynamics in a subtropical forest.”Ecological Applications20.5(2010): 1270-1284. DOI: 10.1890/09-1350.1
Journal Article Uriarte, M., N. G. Swenson, R. L. Chazdon, L. S. Comita, W. J. Kress, D. Erickson, J. Forero-Montaña, J. K. Zimmerman, and J. Thompson.“Trait similarity, shared ancestry and the structure of neighbourhood interactions in a subtropical wet forest: implications for community assembly.”Ecology Letters13.12(2010): 1503-1514. DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01541.x
Journal Article Zimmerman, J., L. S. Comita, M. Uriarte, N. Brokaw, and J. Thompson.“Patch dynamics and community metastability of a tropical forest: Compound effects of natural disturbance and human land use.”Landscape Ecology25.7(2010): 1099-1111. DOI: 10.1007/s10980-010-9486-x
2009
Journal Article Comita, L. S. and B. M. J. Engelbrecht.“Seasonal and spatial variation in water availability drive habitat associations in a tropical forest.”Ecology90.10(2009): 2755-2765. DOI: 10.1890/08-1482.1
Journal Article Comita, L. S., M. Uriarte, J. Thompson, I. Jonckheere, C. D. Canham, and J. Zimmerman.“Abiotic and biotic neighborhood determinants of seedling survival in a hurricane-impacted forest.”Journal of Ecology97.6(2009): 1346-1359. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01551.x
Journal Article Comita, L. S., G. R. Goldsmith, and S. P. Hubbell.“Intensive research activity alters short-term seedling dynamics in a tropical forest.”Ecological Research24.1(2009): 225-230. DOI: 10.1007/s11284-008-0490-4
Journal Article Comita, L. S. and S. P. Hubbell.“Local neighborhood and species' shade tolerance influence survival in a diverse seedling bank.”Ecology90.2(2009): 328-334. DOI: 10.1890/08-0451.1
2008
Journal Article Comita, L. S. and G. R. Goldsmith.“Impact of Research Trails on Seedling Dynamics in a Tropical Forest.”Biotropica40.2(2008): 251-254. DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2007.00337.x
Journal Article Metz, M. R., L. S. Comita, Y-Y. Chen, N. Norden, R. Condit, S. P. Hubbell, I-F. Sun, N. S. b. Md. Noor, and S. J. Wright.“Temporal and spatial variability in seedling dynamics: a cross-site comparison in four lowland tropical forests.”Journal of Tropical Ecology24(2008): 9-18. DOI: 10.1017/S0266467407004695
Journal Article Jones, F. A. and L. S. Comita.“Neighbourhood density and genetic relatedness interact to determine fruit set and abortion rates in a tropical tree.”Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences275.1652(2008): 2759-2767. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2008.0894
2007
Journal Article Comita, L. S., R. Condit, and S. P. Hubbell.“Developmental changes in habitat associations of tropical trees.”Journal of Ecology95.3(2007): 482-492. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2007.01229.x
Journal Article Engelbrecht, B. M. J., L. S. Comita, R. Condit, T. A. Kursar, M. T. Tyree, B. L. Turner, and S. P. Hubbell.“Drought sensitivity shapes species distribution patterns in tropical forests.”Nature447.7140(2007): 80-82. DOI: 10.1038/nature05747
Journal Article Comita, L. S., S. Aguilar, R. Perez, S. Lao, and S. P. Hubbell.“Patterns of woody plant species abundance and diversity in the seedling layer of a tropical forest.”Journal of Vegetation Science18.2(2007): 163-174. Link
2006
Journal Article Goldsmith, G. R., L. S. Comita, L. L. Morefield, R. Condit, and S. P. Hubbell.“Long-term research impacts on seedling community structure and composition in a permanent forest plot.”Forest Ecology and Management234.1-3(2006): 34-39. DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2006.06.011
Journal Article Wills, C., K. E. Harms, R. Condit, D. King, J. Thompson, FL. He, H. C. Muller-Landau, P. Ashton, E. Losos, L. Comita, S. Hubbell, J. LaFrankie, S. Bunyavejchewin, H. S. Dattaraja, S. Davies, S. Esufali, R. Foster, N. Gunatilleke, S. Gunatilleke, P. Hall, A. Itoh, R. John, S. Kiratiprayoon, S. L. de Lao, M. Massa, C. Nath, M. N. S. Noor, A. R. Kassim, R. Sukumar, H. S. Suresh, I-F. Sun, S. Tan, T. Yamakura, and J. Zimmerman.“Nonrandom processes maintain diversity in tropical forests.”Science311.5760(2006): 527-531. DOI: 10.1126/science.1117715