Research Staff

Kelly M. Andersen, Ph.D.
Research Scientist, Tropical Forest EcologyResearch Scientist, Tropical Forest Ecology
Latin America

Research Associate | Colorado State University | Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
Cofounder & Lead Organizer of TropiRoots

office phone: + 1 (314) 577-9595
email: kandersen@mobot.org | kelly.andersen.m@gmail.com
Lab Website: kellymandersen.wordpress.com
Twitter: @TropiKel_Ecolab; @kmanders7

Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63110
USA

Education
Ph.D., Biology, University of Illinois – Urbana, 2009
B.S., Conservation Biology, University of Wisconsin – Madison, 2000

My primary research interests include forest ecology and plant–soil interactions. My research includes whole plant functional traits, from root and mycorrhizal nutrient uptake strategies to canopy leaf gas exchange, to understand species, community, and ecosystem responses to global changes using gene to ecosystem-level approaches. I have experience in a range of tropical and temperate forests and intermountain grasslands, along soil nutrient and elevational gradients, and in large-scale nutrient manipulation experiments in tropical forest. However, I have broad interests across global change, restoration, plant community and ecosystem ecology.

For a current list of publications, please see Google Scholar
Selected publications

*Graduate Student authors; **Postdoctoral authors; # Research Assistant and Undergraduate authors

Yaffar, D., L.F. Lugli, M.Y. Wong, R.J.  Norby, S.D. Addo Danso, M. Arnaud, A.L.  Cordeiro, L.H. Dietterich, M.H. Diaz-Toribio, M.Y. Lee, O.P. Ghimire, C.M. Smith-Martin, L. Toro, K.M. Andersen, L.A. McCulloch, I.C. Meier, J.S. Powers, M. Sanchez-Julia, F.M. Soper, & D.F. Cusack. 2024. Tropical root responses to global changes: A synthesis. Global Change Biology,  30, e17420. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17420. Andersen, K.M. 2024. Hydration multiplier. Nat. Geosci. 17, 489–490 (2024). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01463-9. Cárdenas, R.E., K.M. Andersen, M.J. Endara. 2024. Evolutionary ecology of plant defenses and herbivore interactions in the tropics: from molecules to communities. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 12, 1383248. DOI:10.3389/fevo.2024.1383248. Cusack, D.F., B. Christoffersen, C.M. Smith-Martin, K.M. Andersen, A.L. Cordeiro, K. Fleischer, S.J. Wright, N.R. Guerrero-Ramírez, L.F. Lugli, L.A. McCulloch, M. Sanchez-Julia, S.A. Batterman, C. Dallstream, C. Fortunel, L. Toro, L. Fuchslueger, M.Y. Wong, D. Yaffar, J.B. Fisher, M. Arnaud, L.H. Dietterich, S.D. Addo-Danso, O.J. Valverde-Barrantes, M. Weemstra, J.C. Ng, and R.J. Norby. 2024. Toward a coordinated understanding of hydro-biogeochemical root functions in tropical forests for application in vegetation models. New Phytol, 242: 351-371. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19561. Cusack, D.F, S. Reed, K.M. Andersen, D. Cinoglu, M. Craig, L. Dietterich, A.J. Hogan, J. Holm, A. Nottingham, R. Ostertag, F. Soper, T. Wood, M. Wong. 2024. Meeting Notes: Tropical forests & global change: biogeochemical responses and opportunities for cross-site comparisons, an organized INSPIRE session at the 108^th Annual Meeting, Ecological Society of America, Portland, Oregon, USA, August 2023. New Phytologist. 241: 1922-1926. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19511. Lee, M.Y.* and K.M. Andersen. 2023. Global root trait underrepresentation in Paleotropical communities: A network analysis. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, Special Issue: “Insights into Forest Ecosystem Belowground Processes and Functioning in a Changing Environment”. DOI: 10.3389/ffgc.2023.1206225. Raczka, N.C.**, Q.Y. Ho#, V. Srinivasan#, M.Y. Lee*, C-.W. Ko*, M. Königer*, T. Chua#, D. Binny#, K.M. Ngo, K.M. Andersen. 2023. Greater soil carbon losses from secondary than old-growth tropical forests. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. 6. DOI: 10.3389/ffgc.2023.1135270. Avalos, G., T. Emilio, K.M. Andersen, S. Alvarez-Clare. 2022. Editorial: Functional ecology and conservation of palms. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. 5:1021784. Cunha, H.F.V.*, K.M. Andersen, L.F. Lugli, F.D. Santana, I. Aleixo, E.M. Oblitas, S. Garcia, R. Di Ponzio, A.M. Moraes*, B. Brum, J.R. Schmeisk, A.L. Cordeiro, B. Takeshi, N.B. Lopes, S. Trierveiler, L. Siebert*, F. Antoniêto, M. Pires, R. Vilar de Almeida, A.-C. Salomão, S. Deambrozi, C. Miron, R.L. Assis, T.F. Domingues, L.E.O.C. Aragão, P. Meir, J.L. Camargo, A. Manzi, L. Nagy, L.M. Mercado, I.P. Hartley, C.A. Quesada. 2022. Direct evidence for phosphorus limitation on Amazon forest productivity. Nature. 608:558-562. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05085-2.
Commentary paper: Wright, S. J. Low phosphorus levels limit carbon capture by Amazonian forests. Nature 608, 476–477 (2022).
Editorial: We must get a grip on forest science — before it’s too late. Nature 608, 449–449 (2022).
Media coverage: A. Tan. Lack of 'vitamins' could dampen forest's ability to fight climate change: Study. Straits Times. 22 August 2022. Collins, C.*, D.A. Wardle, K.M. Andersen. 2022. Palm species traits determine soil nutrient effects on seedling performance. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. 5:733636. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2022.733636. Cusack, D.F., S. Addo-Danso, E.A. Agee, K.M. Andersen, M. Arnaud, S.A. Batterman, F.Q. Brearley, M. Ciochina, A.L Cordeiro, M.H. Diaz-Toribio, L.H. Dietterich, J.B. Fisher, K. Fleischer, C. Fortunel, L. Fuchslueger, N. Guerrero-Ramirez, M. Kotowska, L.F. Lugli, C. Marin, L.A McCullock, J.-L. Maeght, D. Metcalfe, R.J. Norby, R.S. Oliveira, J.S. Powers, T. Reichert, S.W. Smith, C. Smith-Martin, F. Soper, L. Toro, M.N. Umana, O. Valverde-Barrantes, M. Weemstra, L. Werden, M. Wong, S.J. Wright and D. Yaffar. 2021. Tradeoffs and synergies in tropical forest root traits for nutrient and water acquisition. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. Special issue Root Dynamics: The Role of Nutrients, Water, and the Environment. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2021.704469. Martins, N.P., L. Fuchslueger, K. Fleischer, K.M. Andersen, R.L. Assis, F.B. Baccaro, P.B. Camargo, A.L. Cordeiro, A. Grandis, I.P. Hartley, F. Hofhansl, L.F. Lugli, D.M. Lapola, J.G. Menezes, R.J. Norby, A. Rammig, J.R. Schmeisk, K.J. Schaap, B. Takeshi, O.J. Valverde-Barrantes, C.A. Quesada. 2021. Fine roots stimulate nutrient release during early stages of leaf litter decomposition in a Central Amazon rainforest. Plant and Soil. 469: 287–303. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05148-9. Andersen, K.M. 2021. Palm Flora and Drivers of Distributions in Fortuna Forest Reserve. Pg:271-288. in Dalling, J.W.; Turner, B.L. 2021. Fortuna Forest Reserve, Panama: Interacting Effects of Climate and Soils on the Biota of a Wet Premontane Tropical Forest. The Smithsonian Institution. USA. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.14315990.v1. Lugli, L.F., J.S Rosa*, K.M Andersen, R. Di Ponzio, R.V. Almeida, M. Pires, A.L. Cordeiro*, H.F. Cunha*, N.P. Martins, R.L. Assis, A.C. Moraes*, S.T. Souza, L.E. Aragão, J. Camargo, L. Fuchslueger, K.J. Schaap, O.J. Valverde‐Barrantes, P. Meir, C.A. Quesada, L.M. Mercado, and I.P. Hartley. 2021. Rapid responses of root traits and productivity to phosphorus and cation additions in a tropical lowland forest in Amazonia. New Phytologist. 230:116-128. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17154. Hofhansl, F, E. Chacón-Madrigal, L. Fuchslueger, D. Jenking, A. Morera, C. Plutzar, F. Silla, K.M. Andersen, S. Dullinger, K. Fiedler, O. Franklin, P. Hietz, W. Huber, C.A. Quesada, A. Ramming, F. Schrodt, A. Vincent, A. Weissenhofer, W. Wanek. 2020. Divergent controls over functional and structural diversity of tropical tree communities. Scientific Reports 10, 5066. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61868-5. Cordeiro, A.L.*, R.J. Norby, K.M. Andersen, O. Valverde-Barrantes, L. Fuchslueger, E. Oblitas, I.P. Hartley, C.M. Iversen, N.B. Gonçalves, B. Takeshi, D. Lapola, C.A. Quesada. 2020. Fine-root dynamics vary with soil depth and precipitation in a Terra Firme forest in the Central Amazon. Plant-Environment Interactions 00:1-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pei3.10010. Lugli, L.F, K.M. Andersen, L.E.O.C. Aragao, A.L. Cordeiro*, H.F.V. Cunha*, L. Fuchslueger, P.W. Meir, L.M. Mercado, E. Oblitas, C.A. Quesada, J.S. Rosa*, K.J. Schaap, O. Valverde-Barrantes, and I.P. Hartley. 2019. Multiple phosphorus acquisition strategies adopted by fine roots in low-fertility soils in Central Amazonia. Plant and Soil 450:49-63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-03963-9. Prada, C.M., A. Morris, K.M Andersen, B.L. Turner, P. Caballero and J.W. Dalling. 2017. Soils and rainfall drive landscape-scale changes in the diversity and functional composition of tree communities in lower montane tropical forests. Journal of Vegetation Science 28:859-870. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12540. Andersen, K.M., J.R. Mayor and B.L. Turner. 2017. Plasticity in N uptake among sympatric species with contrasting nutrient acquisition strategies in a tropical forest. Ecology 98(5):1388-1398. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.1793. Hofhansl, F., Andersen, K.M., Fleischer, K., Fuchslueger, L., Ramming, A., Schaap, K., Valverde-Barrantes, O.J., Lapola, D. 2016. Amazon forest ecosystem responses to elevated atmospheric CO2 and alterations in nutrient availability: filling the gaps with model-experiment integration. Frontiers: Earth Science Research Topics, 4:19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2016.00019. Andersen, K.M., B.J. Naylor, B.A. Endress, and C.G. Parks. 2015. Contrasting distribution patterns of invasive and naturalized non-native species along environmental gradients in a semi-arid montane ecosystem. Applied Vegetation Science 18:683-693. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12185. Andersen, K.M., J.W. Dalling and B.L. Turner. 2014. Seedling performance trade-offs and habitat filtering along a soil nutrient gradient in a tropical forest. Ecology 95:3399-3413. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1890/13-1688.1. Andersen, K.M. and B.L. Turner. 2013. Preferences or plasticity in nitrogen acquisition by understory palms in a tropical montane forest? Journal of Ecology 101:819-825. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12070. Andersen, K.M., M.J. Endara, B.L. Turner, and J.W. Dalling. 2012. Trait-based community assembly of understory palms along a soil nutrient gradient in a lower montane tropical forest. Oecologia 168:519-531. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-011-2112-z. Andersen, K.M., M.D. Corre, B.L. Turner, and J.W. Dalling. 2010. Plant–soil associations in a lower montane tropical forest: physiological acclimation and herbivore-mediated responses to nitrogen addition. Functional Ecology 24:1171-1180. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2010.01731.x. Andersen, K.M., B.L. Turner, and J.W. Dalling. 2010. Soil-based habitat partitioning in understory palms in lower montane forests. Journal of Biogeography 37:278-289. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2009.02192.x.
Non-peer Review Publications, Contributions, and Interviews
Super, J. Phosphorus from land to sea. Nat. Geosci. 16, 388–389 (2023). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01180-9. Portrait blog. June 5, 2017. The Female Scientist Magazine. Blog article link. Dalling, J.W., A. Morris, P. Caballero, K. Andersen, and B. Turner. 2010. La dinámica del bosque de montaña en la Reserva Forestal de Fortuna, Chiriquí. Tecnociencia, 12:119-135. Morris, A., J. Dalling, K. Andersen 2005. Web-guide to the trees and shrubs of the Fortuna Forest Reserve, Chiriqui, Panama. https://striresearch.si.edu/fortuna-plants/.