Welcome to my webpage!! My name is Mariana and I am in the PhD program in Ecology and Evolution here at UIC. I began the program and joined Henry Howe´s lab in Fall of 2007.
   "What maintains tropical biodiversity?" This important question, with huge implications for the future of tropical forest fate is what drives me to ecology. For many decades scientist have answered questions and generated paradigms to explain "tropical biodiversity". I am specifically interested in the role that plant-mutualist interactions have on structuring populations and communities. My research will focus on mycorrhizal fungi which are root symbionts essential to most plants for nutrient uptake, and their  role on  early seedling recruitment.           

                                                                                         

CV available