PARENT SESSION
Organized Oral Session 36: Role of microbial communities in mediating biogeochemical response to disturbance
Organizer(s): EAH Smithwick and MG Turner
Wednesday, August 10, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Meeting Room 511 B, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal

Bridging the gap between micro- and macroscale perspectives on the role of microbial communities in ecosystem response to disturbance.

McMahon , Katherine^*,1, Balser, Teri ¹, ¹ University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA

ABSTRACT- In order to understand the role that microbial communities play in mediating ecosystem response to disturbances of any kind, it will be essential address the methodological and conceptual gap that exists between micro- and macroscale perspectives in disturbance ecology. While there is little doubt that microorganisms play a central role in ecosystem functioning (and therefore in ecosystem response to disturbance) our ability to investigate the exact nature of that role is limited by disciplinary and methodological differences among microbial and ecosystem ecologists. Here we present results from an interdisciplinary graduate level seminar class focused on this topic. We highlight differences in our "ways of knowing ecology", and present case-stories where disciplinary perspective influences our interpretation of the system under study. Finally, we suggest mechanisms for integrating these two (often disparate) perspectives that may lead to greater interdisciplinary collaboration and enhanced conceptual and mechanistic modeling of ecosystem response to disturbance.

Key words: interdisciplinary, microbial ecology, disturbance