In this new video, Felipe Albornoz presents the findings of his recent study, accepted for publication in Journal of Ecology, and titled ‘Native soilborne pathogens equalize differences in competitive ability between plants of contrasting nutrient-acquisition strategies‘. This study was part of Felipe’s PhD project on the role of mycorrhizal fungi on plant-plant interactions and in maintaining plant diversity, that he carried out at The University of Western Australia with Hans Lambers, Etienne Laliberté and Francois Teste. The video is available below and can also be found on the Journal of Ecology YouTube channel (english subtitles available).

Felipe Albornoz did his undergrad studies at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. His undergrad thesis was focused on providing evidence of nucleated regeneration of a forest after a fire; a process that was highly dependent on the presence of burnt logs. Felipe moved then to The University of Western Australia to do a PhD on arbuscular and ecto- mycorrhizal fungi in a 2 million years chronosequence in south Western Australia. He studied how pedogenesis and plant communities influenced ectomycorrhizal communities, as well as, how these mycorrhizal fungi affect plant interactions, which is the aim of his study published in Journal of Ecology. Felipe is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State University studying the role of native Oomycetes in structuring plant communities in North-West USA.