The Liana Ecology Project is operated by the Schnitzer Lab at Marquette University. The main research objectives of the Schnitzer Lab are to develop and test fundamental conceptual ecological theory pertaining to plant communities. We are focusing on understanding the mechanisms that regulate and maintain plant species diversity, the causes and consequences of plant diversity, the mechanisms that
control plant abundance and distribution, and the causes and consequences of plant competition. Most of our research is conducted in tropical forests and we often use lianas (wordy vines) as a model system to study plant ecology and to test these large conceptual ideas. We created the Liana Ecology Project in 2011 as a way to share our research ideas and findings with other scientists and with the general public. Our goal is to provide an interactive forum for researchers worldwide to contribute their work to the rapidly expanding field of liana ecology. We hope that researchers will contribute to the site by uploading their liana-related research publications, photos, and metadata descriptions of their data. With active participation by the global liana community, we can formulate a clear picture of what research questions are being addressed, what major questions are yet unresolved, and what geographical locations need more attention.
