The Jones Lab

Plant Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Our research integrates natural history observations, ecological experiments, and modern molecular approaches in population genetics and genomics. We aim to uncover the mechanisms that generate, sustain, and erode biodiversity, and understand the complex processes driving ecological and evolutionary dynamics.

About

Teaching and Research

Plant Ecology

BOT 341 – Spring Term, Corvallis Campus

Introduction to Plant Ecology, Data Collection, and Data Analysis with weekly field exercises in local forests and grasslands

Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Seminar and Discussion

BOT 507/599 Fall and Winter Terms, Corvallis Campus

Cross disciplinary graduate student seminar series

Plant Climate Interactions

Examining the role of interspecific variation in local adaptation to drought in tropical tree species

Advanced Plant Ecology

BOT 445/545 – Fall Term, Corvallis Campus

Advanced topics in plant population and community ecology with in depth literature review and discussion

Plant Pollinator Interactions

Investigating plant pollinator interactions in tropical and temperate ecosystems

Plant Microbe Interactions

Investigating the role of microbes in the maintenance of species diversity in temperature rainforest ecosystems

What we do

We employ methodologies from molecular ecology, population genetics, and both population and community ecology to address fundamental and applied questions in plant ecology and evolutionary biology across temperate and tropical forest ecosystems.

Tropical Forests

  • Role of local adaptation of species response to season drought
  • Understanding the impact of forest degradation of plant pollinator interactions and maintenance of genetic diversity
  • Investigating role of gene dispersal in plant population dynamics

Temperate Forests

  • Testing the role of microbial communities in tree regeneration and maintenance of biodiversity
  • Investigating microbial community dynamics in assisted migration approaches to mitigating species response to disturbance and climate change

Watch, Read, Listen

Andy Jones is an Associate Professor in the Botany and Plant Pathology Department at Oregon State University. He has broad interests in the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms responsible for the origin and maintenance of plant diversity.
Andy is a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama.