The Becklin lab explores physiological, ecological, and evolutionary processes that shape interactions between plants and their environment. We are especially interested in the consequences of global change for interactions between plants and microbes and subsequent feedback on population, community, and ecosystem dynamics. Combining approaches in plant ecophysiology, microbial ecology, and experimental biology, we aim to (1) characterize physiological mechanisms driving functional variation in species interactions, (2) trace the impacts of such variation on ecological and evolutionary processes within natural and managed ecosystems, and (3) inform conservation of natural resources and ecosystem services in a changing world.