Lola Milder, a 2022 BURA* student, has co-authored an academic research paper examining plants’ response to their soil environment— a crucial aspect for predicting how forests could react to climate change.
"This information," said BSE Professor Fiona Soper, who is also a co-author, "is relevant for understanding everything from species co-existence in hyper-diverse tropical forests, to how these species might respond to global change."
The research paper published in the journal New Phytologist explores the intricate physiological and symbiotic mechanisms by which plants and their roots adapt to environmental conditions.
From the surface, soil all looks the same. But that can be very deceiving– even over the space of a few footsteps, soil can vary drastically in terms of the resources, conditions, and organisms that live there. “We showed that plant roots can be very adaptable and respond rapidly to maximize their success in these diverse conditions,” explained Soper.
Soper further explained that plant roots are particularly vital for carbon and nutrient cycling. However, they remain critically understudied due to the difficulty of measuring underground processes, especially in natural ecosystems like forests. The paper attempts to fill this gap with analyses of fine-root samples at various scales.
The collection of these samples requires labour-intensive fieldwork, which was precisely what Milder was engaged in as a BURA recipient.
Back in 2022, Milder’s BURA-funded research project involved assisting PhD candidate Caroline Dallstream, who led the paper. Milder completed a variety of tasks in support of Dallstream’s thesis field campaign, all in an effort to understand tree roots and their significance for individual trees, communities, and ecosystems in the tropics.
“We uncovered these beautiful root systems that exist a mere few inches under the top layer of the soil.” I would dream about the roots and night, I learned how much I love working outdoors,” said Milder.
The fieldwork largely consisted of sampling shallow roots and soil in the tropical forests of Costa Rica. Later, samples were taken back to their field lab in Costa Rica and then to McGill University. Milder and Dallstream conducted measurements of root respiration, anatomy, and enzyme assays, and analysed soil chemistry.
The paper concludes with a statement that, “Our detailed sampling and analysis methods were very effective in uncovering the relationships between soil conditions and the characteristics of plant roots.”
Milder, said this BURA experience not only opened her mind to earth science but helped her understand the intersection of humans and nature.
“You can’t look at the health the land without talking about the people who live there. Just like the roots of the trees, we all depend on and are connected to the land,” she said.
*BURA, Bieler Undergraduate Research Award, is an award given out to BSE student applicants, funding full or part-time research opportunities with a BSE supervisor.