Mammals, truffles & tress: Linking above and below ground interactions
Presenter:
Dr. Ryan Stephens
Assistant Professor, East Tennessee State University
Department of Biological Sciences
Date:
Friday, April 17, 2026
Please join us on Friday, April 17 at 12:00 pm in RSW 183 for a departmental seminar featuring Dr. Ryan Stephens from East Tennessee State. His talk is titled:
“Mammals, truffles, and trees: linking above- and below-ground interactions”
Dr. Stephens' research explores the ecological factors that shape species’ niches and functional roles within ecosystems, with a focus on dietary niches and trophic ecology. His work examines how foraging behavior scales from individuals to populations and ecosystems, particularly in mammals. He is especially interested in how mammals contribute to the consumption and dispersal of fungal spores and seeds, influencing plant–fungal interactions and forest dynamics. By mediating the spread of mycorrhizal fungi and seeds, mammals play key roles in shaping plant community composition and ecosystem processes.
Please bring a mug—coffee, tea, and cookies will be provided before and after the seminar.