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I am an ecologist interested in understanding how degraded tropical forests can be recovered in a cost-effective way. I use experimental field, lab-based, and synthesis methods to better understand the abiotic and biotic barriers to restoring biodiversity in the tropics. I collaborate with restoration practitioners, land managers, policy makers, non-profits, research centers, and universities.
Restoration ecology Belowground ecology Cost-effectiveness analysis Natural regeneration Commercial tree plantations Conservation Plant functional traits Global change
Yaffar D, Lugli LF, Wong MY, Norby RJ, Addo-Danso SD, Arnaud M, Cordeiro AL, Dietterich LH, Diaz-Toribio MH, Lee MY, Ghimire OP, Smith-Martin CM, Toro L, et al. 2024. Tropical root responses to global changes: A synthesis. Glob Chang Biol. 2024 Jul;30(7):e17420. PubMed PMID: 39044411. Toro L, Torres-Romero F, Salinas SM, Avella-Munoz A, Galatowish S, Secchi S, Powers JS. 2024, Cost-effectiveness of management strategies in a nucleation experiment in a tropical dry forest. Restoration Ecology. 2024 January 14; e14094. Cusack DF, Christoffersen B, Smith-Martin CM, Andersen KM, Cordeiro AL, Fleischer K, Wright SJ, Guerrero-Ramírez NR, Lugli LF, McCulloch LA, Sanchez-Julia M, Batterman SA, Dallstream C, Fortunel C, Toro L, et al. 2024. Toward a coordinated understanding of hydro-biogeochemical root functions in tropical forests for application in vegetation models. New Phytol. 2024 Apr;242(2):351-371. PubMed PMID: 38416367. McCulloch LA, Prada CM, Liao W, Bauters M, Church L, Lee M, Toro L, van de Velde V, Weissflog A, Wong M, Taylor B. 2023. Belowground foundations of tropical forest restoration. Biotropica. 2023 December 12. Available from: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.13296. Bull L, Toro L, Bertola F, Walter S, Panwar R. 2023. Enhancing the engagement of forest-based industries in ecosystem restoration. Unasylva, No. 254 – Vol. 74 2023/1. Rome. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4060/cc8584en. Werden LK, Averill C, Crowther TW, Calderón-Morales E, Toro L, et al. 2023. Below-ground traits mediate tree survival in a tropical dry forest restoration. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2023 Jan 2;378(1867):20210067. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9661956. Toro L, Pereira-Arias D, Perez-Aviles D, Vargas G G, Soper FM, Gutknecht J, Powers JS. 2023. Phosphorus limitation of early growth differs between nitrogen-fixing and nonfixing dry tropical forest tree species. New Phytol. 2023 Feb;237(3):766-779. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10107181. Vargas G G, Kunert N, Hammond WM, Berry ZC, Werden LK, Smith-Martin CM, Wolfe BT, Toro L, et al. 2022. Leaf habit affects the distribution of drought sensitivity but not water transport efficiency in the tropics. Ecol Lett. 2022 Dec;25(12):2637-2650. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9828425. Cusack DF, Addo-Danso SD, Agee EA, Andersen KM, Arnaud M, Batterman SA, Brearley FQ, Ciochina MI, Cordeiro AL, Dallstream C, Diaz-Toribio MH, Dietterich LH, Fisher JB, Fleischer K, Fortunel C, Fuchslueger L, Guerrero-Ramirez NR, Kotowska MM, Figueiredo Lugli L, Marin C, McCulloch LA, Maeght J, Metcalfe D, Norby RJ, Oliveira RS, Powers JS, Reichert T, Smith SW, Smith-Martin CM, Soper FM, Toro L, et al. 2021. Tradeoffs and synergies in tropical forest root traits and dynamics for nutrient and water acquisition: field and modeling advances. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. 2021 December; 4:704469. Available from: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2021.704469 Castellanos C, Cordoba D, Lopez-Gallego C, Toro-González L. 2016. Grupos de flora de interes en conservacion. Zamias, magnolias, palmas y especies endemicas. En Moreno, L. A., Andrade, G. I., & Ruiz-Contreras, L. F. (Eds.). 2016. Biodiversidad 2016. Estado y tendencias de la biodiversidad continental de Colombia. Betancur JC, Sarmiento H, Toro-Gonzalez L, Valencia J. 2015. Plan para el estudio y la conservación de las orquídeas en Colombia. Universidad Nacional de Colombia. 2015; :336.
Science communication
The cost-effectiveness of fertilizing and irrigating tropical dry forest seedlings in an applied nucleation project. Second doctoral dissertation at El Quimbo, Colombia, Colombia, Fundacion Natura, 2020. 300 days without water: How tropical trees can survive drought, College of Biological Sciences, 2020. My journey as a tropical biologist. Fragmentos de Okazaki podcast, 2020.