Dr Lars Markesteijn

Senior Lecturer in Forest Science

Contact info

Thoday Building, room S10

Email: l.markesteijn@bangor.ac.uk

Tel: 01248 382337 (from U.K.)
+44 1248 382337 (International)

 

Google Scholar, ORCID, ResearchGate

 

Tropical forest ecology, Functional ecology, Restoration ecology, Plant-enemy interactions 


 

As a researcher I am foremost fascinated by biodiversity and as such most of my work is carried out in biologically complex tropical forest ecosystems. My research addresses processes underlying function and co-existence of tropical plants and mechanisms of biodiversity generation and maintenance. I take a special interest in density-dependent mortality or negative density dependence (NDD), as mediated by plant natural enemies, and how it affects regeneration dynamics of tropical plants. I further work on physiological plant responses to limiting resources, resource competition, and tolerance to environmental and global change - principally with respect to water and light. I explore the effects of variation in plant functional traits on individual plant performance and species distribution from local to cross-ecosystem scales.

In addition to being a Senior Lecturer in Forest Scsience at the School of Natural Sciences, I am a Distinguished Research Lecturer (Beatriz Galindo Fellow) in the Area of Biodiversity and Conservation at the Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid (Spain), and an affiliated researcher at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama.

I hold a Ph.D. in Tropical Forest Ecology and an M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Tropical Land Use from Wageningen University (the Netherlands). I worked as a postdoctoral researcher on different projects with STRI and the Universities of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (USA), Oxford (UK), Yale (USA), Oregon State (USA) and Bayreuth (Germany).

  1. Book › Research › Peer-reviewed
  2. Drought-tolerance of tropical tree species: Functional traits, trade-offs and species distribution

    Markesteijn, L., 3 Feb 2010, Wageningen, the Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers. 189 p.

    Research output: Book/ReportBookpeer-review

  3. Poster › Research › Peer-reviewed
  4. Published

    Contrasting patterns of insect herbivory and predation acroiss a tropical rainfall and tree species richness gradient

    Weissflog, A., Markesteijn, L., Lewis, O. T. & Engelbrecht, B. M. J., 2016.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePosterpeer-review

  5. Published
  6. Paper › Research › Peer-reviewed
  7. Published

    Effects of pathogens and insect herbivores on plant dynamics and diversity across a natural rainfall gradient

    Lewis, O. T. & Markesteijn, L., 23 Feb 2016.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

  8. Published

    Effects of the 2015-2016 El Niño on seedling dynamics across a rainfall gradient on Central Panama

    Comita, L. S., Engelbrecht, B. M. J., Markesteijn, L., Manzane, E., Wright, S. J. & Jones, F. A., Dec 2017.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

  9. Published

    Fungal pathogens and insect herbivores mediate seedling dynamics and diversity patterns along a tropical forest humidity gradient

    Markesteijn, L. & Lewis, O. T., 4 Jul 2018.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

  10. Published

    Insect herbivory and predation pressure across a tropical rainfall and tree species richness gradient

    Weissflog, A., Markesteijn, L., Lewis, O. T. & Engelbrecht, B. M. J., 23 Feb 2016.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

  11. Published

    Natural enemies affect plant diversity and density dependence along a tropical precipitation gradient

    Bagchi, R., Markesteijn, L. & Lewis, O., 16 Aug 2019.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

  12. Published

    Natural enemies shape changes in plant diversity across a humidity gradient in central Panama

    Markesteijn, L. & Lewis, O. T., 2015.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

  13. Published

    The relationship of leaf venation architecture to life history in tropical dry forest trees

    Sack, L., Markesteijn, L., Rawls, M., Scoffoni, C., Barlett, M. & Poorter, L., 2015.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

  14. Article › Research › Peer-reviewed
  15. Are lianas more drought-tolerant than trees? A test for the role of hydraulic architecture and other stem and leaf traits

    van der Sande, M. T., Poorter, L., Schnitzer, S. A. & Markesteijn, L., Aug 2013, In: Oecologia. 172, 4, p. 961-972

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  16. Published

    BAAD: a Biomass And Allometry Database for woody plants

    Falster, D. S., Duursma, R. A., Ishihara, M. I., Barneche, D. R., Fitzjohn, R. G., Varhammar, A., Aiba, M., Ando, M., Anten, N., Aspinwall, M. J., Baltzer, J. L., Baraloto, C., Battles, J. J., Bond-Lamberty, B., van Breugel, M. (ed.), Camac, J., Claveau, Y., Coll, L., Dannoura, M., Delagrange, S., Domec, J-C., Fatemi, F., Feng, W., Gargaglione, V., Goto, Y., Hagihara, A., Hall, J. S., Hamilton, S., Harja, D., Hiura, T., Holdaway, R., Hutley, L. S., Ichie, T., Jokela, E. J., Kantola, A., Kelly, J. W. G., Kenzo, T., King, D., Kloeppel, B. D., Kohyama, T., Komiyama, A., Laclau, J-P., Lusk, C. H., Maguire, D. A., Le Maire, G., Makela, A., Markesteijn, L., Marshall, J., McCulloh, K., Miyata, I., Mokany, K., Mori, S., Myster, R. W., Nagano, M., Naidu, S. L., Nouvellon, Y., O'Grady, A. P., O'Hara, K. L., Ohtsuka, T., Osada, N., Osunkoya, O. O., Peri, P. L., Petrotan, A. M., Poorter, L., Portsmuth, A., Potvin, C., Ransijn, J., Reid, D., Ribeiro, S. C., Roberts, S. D., Rodriguez, R., Saldama-Acosta, A., Santa-Regino, I., Sasa, K., Selaya, N. G., Sillett, S. C., Sterck, F., Takagi, K., Tange, T., Tanouchi, H., Tissue, D., Umehara, T., Utsugi, H., Vadeboncoeur, M. A., Valladares, F., Vanninen, P., Wang, J. R., Wenk, E., Williams, R., De Aquino Ximenes, F., Yamaba, A., Yamada, T., Yamakura, T., Yanai, R. D. & York, R. A., May 2015, In: Ecology. 96, 5, p. 1445

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  17. Published

    Contrasting patterns of insect herbivory and predation pressure across a tropical rainfall gradient

    Weissflog, A., Markesteijn, L., Lewis, O. T., Comita, L. S. & Engelbrecht, B. M. J., Mar 2018, In: Biotropica. 50, 2, p. 302-311

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  18. Diverging drought-tolerance strategies explain tree species distribution along a fog-dependent moisture gradient in a temperate rain forest

    Salgado Negret, B., Perez, F., Markesteijn, L., Jimenez Castillo, M. & Armesto, J. J., Nov 2013, In: Oecologia. 173, 3, p. 625-635

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  19. Published

    Do prey shape, time of day, and plant trichomes affect the predation rate on plasticine prey in tropical rainforests?

    Weissflog, A., Markesteijn, L., Aiello, A., Healey, J. & Geipel, I., 22 Sept 2022, In: Biotropica. 54, 5, p. 1259-1269

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  20. Ecological differentiation in xylem cavitation resistance is associated with stem and leaf structural traits

    Markesteijn, L., Poorter, L., Paz, H., Sack, L. & Bongers, F., Jan 2011, In: Plant Cell and Environment. 34, 1, p. 137-148

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  21. Published

    Functional responses of mangrove fauna to forest degradation

    Barbanera, A., Markesteijn, L., Kairo, J., Juma, G. A., Karythis, S. & Skov, M., 17 Mar 2022, In: Marine and Freshwater Research.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  22. Published

    Functional traits determine trade-offs and niches in a tropical forest community

    Sterck, F., Markesteijn, L., Schieving, F. & Poorter, L., 20 Dec 2011, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA. 108, 51, p. 20627-20632

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  23. Global patterns of leaf mechanical properties

    Onoda, Y., Westoby, M., Adler, P. B., Choong, A. M. F., Clissold, F. J., Cornelissen, J. H. C., Diaz, S., Dominy, N. J., Elgart, A., Enrico, L., Fine, P. V. A., Howard, J. J., Jalili, A., Kitajima, K., Kurokawa, H., McArthur, C., Lucas, P. W., Markesteijn, L., Perez-Harguindeguy, N., Poorter, L., Richards, L., Santiago, L. S., Sosinski, E. E. . J., Van Bael, S. A., Warton, D. I., Wright, I. J., Wright, S. J. & Yamashita, N., Mar 2011, In: Ecology Letters. 14, 3, p. 301-312

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  24. Published

    How does grazing management influence the functional diversity of oak woodland ecosystems? A plant trait approach.

    Ford, H., Healey, J., Markesteijn, L. & Smith, A., 15 Apr 2018, In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 258, p. 154-161 8 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  25. Hydraulics and life history of tropical dry forest tree species: coordination of species' drought and shade tolerance

    Markesteijn, L., Poorter, L., Bongers, F., Paz, H. & Sack, L., 2011, In: New Phytologist. 191, 2, p. 480-495

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  26. Published

    Increased mortality of tropical tree seedlings during the extreme 2015-16 El Niño

    Browne, L., Markesteijn, L., Engelbrecht, B. M. J., Jones, F. A., Lewis, O. T., Manzané-Pinzón, E., Wright, S. J. & Comita, L. S., Oct 2021, In: Global Change Biology. 27, 20, p. 5043-5053

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  27. Published

    Intraspecific leaf trait variability along a boreal-to-tropical community diversity gradient

    C. Bastias, C., Fortunel, C., Valladares, F., Baraloto, C., Benavides, R., Cornwell, W., Markesteijn, L., de Oliveira, A. A., Sansevero, J. B. B., Vaz, M. C. & Kraft, N. J. B., 27 Feb 2017, In: PLoS ONE. 12, 2, p. 1-16

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  28. La disponibilidad hídrica estacional y topográfica en un bosque seco y húmedo tropical y la variación en la morfología de las plántulas arbóreas

    Markesteijn, L., Poorter, L. & Yanguas Fernandez, E., 2008, In: Revista Boliviana de Ecología y Conservación Ambiental. 24, p. 27-42

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  29. Leaf Vein Length per Unit Area Is Not Intrinsically Dependent on Image Magnification: Avoiding Measurement Artifacts for Accuracy and Precision

    Sack, L., Caringella, M., Scoffoni, C., Mason, C., Rawls, M., Markesteijn, L. & Poorter, L., Oct 2014, In: Plant Physiology. 166, 2, p. 829-838

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  30. Published

    Light-dependent leaf trait variation in 43 tropical dry forest tree species

    Markesteijn, L., Poorter, L. & Bongers, F., Apr 2007, In: American Journal of Botany. 94, 4, p. 515-525

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  31. Pervasive and strong effects of plants on soil chemistry: a meta-analysis of individual plant 'Zinke' effects

    Waring, B. G., Alvarez-Cansino, L., Barry, K. E., Becklund, K. K., Dale, S., Gei, M. G., Keller, A. B., Lopez, O. R., Markesteijn, L., Mangan, S., Riggs, C. E., Rodriguez-Ronderos, M. E., Segnitz, R. M., Schnitzer, S. A. & Powers, J. S., 7 Aug 2015, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 282, 1812, p. 91-98

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  32. Sapling performance along resource gradients drives tree species distributions within and across tropical forests

    Sterck, F., Markesteijn, L., Toledo, M. & Poorter, L., Sept 2014, In: Ecology. 95, 9, p. 2514-2525

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  33. Seasonal variation in soil and plant water potentials in a Bolivian tropical moist and dry forest

    Markesteijn, L., Iraipi, J., Bongers, F. & Poorter, L., Sept 2010, In: Journal of Tropical Ecology. 26, p. 497-508

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  34. Published

    Seed predation by insects across a tropical forest precipitation gradient

    Jeffs, C. T., Kennedy, P., Griffith, P., Gripenberg, S., Markesteijn, L. & Lewis, O. T., Dec 2018, In: Ecological Entomology. 43, 6, p. 813-822

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  35. Seedling root morphology and biomass allocation of 62 tropical tree species in relation to drought- and shade-tolerance

    Markesteijn, L. & Poorter, L., Mar 2009, In: Journal of Ecology. 97, 2, p. 311-325

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  36. Published

    Soil carbon stocks in tropical forests regulated by base cation effects on fine roots

    Cusack, D. F., Markesteijn, L., Condit, R., Lewis, O. T. & Turner, B. L., Jan 2018, In: Biochemistry. 137, 1-2, p. 253-266

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  37. Published

    TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access

    Nutrient Network & Markesteijn, L., Jan 2020, In: Global Change Biology. 26, 1, p. 119-188 70 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  38. Published

    The hydraulic efficiency–safety trade-off differs between lianas and trees

    van der Sande, M. T., Poorter, L., Schnitzer, S. A., Engelbrecht, B. M. J. & Markesteijn, L., May 2019, In: Ecology. 100, 5, p. e02666

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  39. Published

    The role of herbivorous insects and pathogens in the regeneration dynamics of Guazuma ulmifoliain Panama

    Solé, R., Gripenberg, S., Lewis, O. T., Markesteijn, L., Barrios, H., Ratz, T., Ctvrtecka, R., Butterill, P. T., Segar, S. T., Metz, M. A., Dahl, C., Rivera, M., Viquez, K., Ferguson, W., Guevara, M. & Basset, Y., 6 Mar 2019, In: Journal for Nature Conservation. 32, 32, p. 81-101

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  40. Published

    Widespread variation in functional trait-vital rate relationships in tropical tree seedlings across a precipitation and soil phosphorus gradient

    Browne, L., Markesteijn, L., Manzané-Pinzón, E., Wright, S. J., Bagchi, R., Engelbrecht, B., Jones, F. A. & Comita, L. S., 1 Feb 2023, In: Functional Ecology. 37, 2, p. 248-260 13 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review