Tara Rajaniemi

faculty

Tara Rajaniemi, PhD

Professor

Biology

Curriculum Vitae

508-999-8223

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Science & Engineering 333

Education

2001University of MichiganPhD
1995Florida State UniversityBA

Teaching

  • Plant Biology
  • Community Ecology
  • Experimental Design and Analysis

Teaching

Programs

Teaching

Courses

Introduction to experimental design & statistical analysis of data in the biological sciences. Topics include design of experiments to yield valid & reliable conclusions; methods to summarize data numerically & graphically; and statistical techniques to test hypotheses involving one or two variables.

A laboratory applying principles of experimental design and statistical analysis to concepts in ecology and evolution. Given questions in ecology and evolution, students propose hypotheses and design and conduct experiments in the lab, in the field, or using computer simulations. Data is graphed and analyzed using appropriate analysis software.

A laboratory applying principles of experimental design and statistical analysis to concepts in ecology and evolution. Given questions in ecology and evolution, students propose hypotheses and design and conduct experiments in the lab, in the field, or using computer simulations. Data is graphed and analyzed using appropriate analysis software.

A laboratory applying principles of experimental design and statistical analysis to concepts in ecology and evolution. Given questions in ecology and evolution, students propose hypotheses and design and conduct experiments in the lab, in the field, or using computer simulations. Data is graphed and analyzed using appropriate analysis software.

A laboratory applying principles of experimental design and statistical analysis to concepts in ecology and evolution. Given questions in ecology and evolution, students propose hypotheses and design and conduct experiments in the lab, in the field, or using computer simulations. Data is graphed and analyzed using appropriate analysis software.

A laboratory applying principles of experimental design and statistical analysis to concepts in ecology and evolution. Given questions in ecology and evolution, students propose hypotheses and design and conduct experiments in the lab, in the field, or using computer simulations. Data is graphed and analyzed using appropriate analysis software.

Patterns and processes shaping distributions, abundance, and diversity of species. Topics include interactions between pairs of species, structuring of multispecies communities, and responses of species pairs and larger species networks to the physical environment. These questions are explored through conceptual frameworks of communities, mathematical models, foundational publications in the field, and current research. Plant, animal, and microbial communities are considered.

Students with senior standing (or others with consent of the instructor) report on and discuss current biological problems as presented in principle journals, abstracts and reviews. The work of each seminar is usually built upon a single unifying content area.

An advanced research project in an advanced student's field of general interest conducted under the supervision of an appropriate staff member, in the form of independent research leading to the solution of a problem. (Hours will be arranged)

Patterns and processes shaping distributions, abundance, and diversity of species. Topics include interactions between pairs of species, structuring of multispecies communities, and responses of species pairs and larger species networks to the physical environment. These questions are explored through conceptual frameworks of communities, mathematical models, foundational publications in the field, and current research. Plant, animal, and microbial communities are considered.

Research

Research interests

  • Root growth responses to competition
  • Effects of species interactions on community structure
  • Plant species distributions on coastal dunes

Select publications

See curriculum vitae for more publications

  • Rajaniemi, T.K., and Barrett, D.T. (2018).
    Germination responses to abiotic stress shape species distributions on coastal dunes
    Plant Ecology, 219, 1271-1282.
  • Rajaniemi, T.K., Goldberg, D.E., Turkington, R., and Dyer, A.R. (2012).
    Local filters limit species diversity, but species pools determine composition
    Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 14, 373-380.
  • Rajaniemi, T.K. (2011).
    Competition for patchy soil resources reduces community evenness
    Oecologia, 165, 169-174.