Education:

• PhD., PhD., Plant Physiology, Ecology minor, Pennsylvania State University-University Park, 2001
• B.S., Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1993

Research Interests:

• Plant physiological ecology & comparative biology of belowground plant form and function
• Plant functional roles in communities
• Plant evolutionary ecology & root-fungal coevolution

Research and Student Projects:

Research Focus:

To understand how our natural world functions, we need a working knowledge of the diversity of biological forms, trade-offs in form and function, and evolutionary history of modern organisms. The main focus of my work has been in belowground systems because so many questions in this area remain unanswered. Specifically, we have limited knowledge of the biodiversity in belowground plant traits that are linked to important nutrient soil processes needed for a comprehensive understanding of environmental systems. My research has addressed fundamental questions of variation in traits among species, control of belowground dynamics, plant functional roles in a community, and, more recently, taken an evolutionary perspective to understand belowground plant strategies and mycorrhizal interactions.

Symbiotic associations between plant roots and fungi, known as mycorrhizas, have been found in the earliest fossil records of plant roots, although roots of modern plants are diverse and vary in their dependency on fungi for acquiring nutrients. Woody species are particularly dependent on these associations, which are sensitive to environmental disturbances. I am currently investigating broad patterns of phylogenetic variation in root characteristics and root trait plasticity among woody species with different types of fungal interactions. I am working in temperate US forests (PSU Experimental Forest and Black Rock Forest) to answer questions related to plant root plasticity in collaboration with Hilary Callahan and her lab (Barnard College, Columbia University). We are working living plant collections at the New York broad Botanic Gardens, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, and Barnard College to investigate broad phylogenetic patterns in plant root traits and their implications for mycorrhizal co-evolution.

The need to better understand belowground plant ecophysiology has broad relevance to topics of global climate change, plant invasions, and conservation, and will continue to be an important area of study as we strive to better understand ecological systems.

Below are some of my students’ projects related to this research, as well as students’ projects related to my interests in native plant restoration.

Student root research:

Saraswati Verma, Sophomore, Biology/Immunology & Infectious Disease
Project: Anatomy of tree fine roots and relationships with mycorrhizal symbioses

John McGuigan, Junior, Biology & Molecular Biology
Project: Molecular identification of mycorrhizal fungi colonizing roots of dominant temperate forest trees.


Bethany Carlisle, Junior, Horticulture Project: Adaptive plasticity of pine root morphology in response to the presence of ectomycorrhizal fungi. (Pictured Left: Bethany setting up her split pot experiment)



Students working with the Growing Native Program:


Jeremy Fitzgerald, Junior, Horticulture
Project: Establishing protocols for native plant propagation of desirable woody species in riparian restoration of the Spring Creek Watershed, Centre County, PA

Mallory Carnuccio, Sophomore, Environmental Resource Management
Project: Developing outreach programs and materials for riparian restoration and native riparian plant propagation in the Spring Creek Watershed, Centre County, PA

Collaborators and Collaborating Labs:

• Hilary Callahan, Barnard College, Columbia University (http://www.barnard.edu/biology/faculty.html)
• David Eissenstat, Penn State University (http://hortweb.cas.psu.edu/dept/faculty/eissenstat/eissenstat.html)
• Javier Espeleta, University of Minnesota
• Dali Guo, Peking University (http://www.environ.pku.edu.cn/personal/assist-prof/ecology/gdl-english.h...)

Synergistic Activities:

• Program Coordinator for ClearWater Conservancy’s Growing Native Program (http://www.clearwaterconservancy.org/riparian_restoration.htm)
• MORPH Fellow (http://www.colorado.edu/eeb/MORPH/ )
• Ecological Society of America (ESA) Seeds Mentor (http://www.esa.org/seeds/)

Recent Publications:

1. Comas LH, Callahan HS and Eissenstat DM. Submitted. Fine root trait diversity among 25 co-existing temperate woody species: ecological implications for plant and mycorrhizal fungal interactions.
2. Comas LH, Goslee SC, Skinner RH and Sanderson MA. Submitted. Identifying potential species effects and tradeoffs in ecosystem functions.
3. Goslee SC and Comas LH. Submitted. Measuring functional diversity in managed ecoystems.
4. Comas LH, Anderson LJ, Dunst RM, Lakso AN, and Eissenstat DM. 2005. Canopy and environmental control of root dynamics in a long-term study of ‘Concord’ grape. New Phytologist 167: 829-840.
5. Comas LH and Eissenstat DM. 2004. Linking fine root traits to maximum potential growth rate among eleven mature temperate tree species. Functional Ecology 18: 388-397.
6. Anderson LJ, Comas LH, Eissenstat DM, and Lakso AN. 2003. Multiple risk factors in root survivorship: a four-year study in Concord grape. New Phytologist 158: 489-501.
7. Comas LH, Bouma TJ, and Eissenstat DM. 2002. Linking root traits to potential growth rate in six temperate tree species. Oecologia 132: 34-43.