Yale School of the Environment
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Liza Comita

Associate Professor of Tropical Forest Ecology

Liza Comita is on leave.
2020-2021 Academic Year

 
Publications (BETA)

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 America 100.1 (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 Letters 22.8 (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 America 116.15 (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.” Forests 9.9 (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 Letters 21.10 (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 Communications 9 (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.” Ecology 99.11 (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 Ecology 106.2 (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.” Biotropica 50.2 (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 Ecology 106.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 Letters 21.7 (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.” Ecography 41.7 (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.” Oecologia 186.1 (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 Applications 28.8 (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 Letters 21.4 (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 Applications 27.6 (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 Letters 20.11 (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 Ecology 26.9 (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.” Oecologia 184.1 (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 Naturalist 189.3 (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 Science 28.1 (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 Sciences 284.1869 (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 Evolution 6.17 (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 Science 27.6 (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 Ecology 30 (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.” Ecology 97.8 (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.” Ecology 96.3 (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 One 10.6 (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 Ecology 103.4 (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 Ecology 102.4 (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 Conservation 169 (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 Ecology 215.8 (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.” Oecologia 172.1 (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 Evolution 4.6 (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 Ecology 101.1 (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 Biogeography 22.2 (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 Ecology 100.4 (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.” Ecology 93.1 (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 ONE 7.2 (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.” Science 333.6050 (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: 1441–1452 99.6 (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 Ecology 27.3 (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 Letters 14.1 (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 Ecology 212.8 (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, & Policy 7.1 (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.” Oikos 119.11 (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 Letters 13.6 (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.” Science 329.5989 (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 Applications 20.5 (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 Letters 13.12 (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 Ecology 25.7 (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.” Ecology 90.10 (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 Ecology 97.6 (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 Research 24.1 (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.” Ecology 90.2 (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.” Biotropica 40.2 (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 Ecology 24 (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 Sciences 275.1652 (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 Ecology 95.3 (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.” Nature 447.7140 (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 Science 18.2 (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 Management 234.1-3 (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.” Science 311.5760 (2006): 527-531. DOI: 10.1126/science.1117715
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