Herbaceous Plants in Forest Ecosystems: One Hundred Fundamental and Applied Questions

Authors

• Harikrishnan Venugopalan Nair Radhamoni, Yale School of the Environment
• Michelle Elise Spicer, Lehigh University
• Marlyse C. Duguid, Yale School of the Environment
• Liza S. Comita, Yale School of the Environment
• Emilio Bruna, University of Florida
• Andrew J. Andrade, Desert Research Institute
• Jared J. Beck, Chicago Botanic Garden
• Julia I. Burton, Michigan Technological University
• Hector Chuquillanqui, Asociación Peruana para la Conservación de la Naturaleza
• Daniele Cicuzza, Universiti Brunei Darussalam
• Martin Dovciak, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
• Frank S. Gilliam, University of West Florida
• Keri Greig, The University of Texas at Austin
• Clayton W. Hale, University of Georgia
• Catherine Hulshof, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Natalie Izlar, Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
• Sarah E. Johnson, Grand Valley State University
• Joseph LaManna, Klingler College of Arts and Sciences
• David P. Matlaga, Susquehanna University
• David Kimutai Melly, Bomet University College
• Austin Menzmer, Husson University
• Kathryn Miller, National Park Service
• Gabriel M. Moulatlet, College of Science
• Jonathan A. Myers, Washington University in St. Louis
• Jay P. Sah, Florida International University
• Marcel Caritá Vaz, Wilkes University
• Anna Wassel, Washington University in St. Louis
• Sienna A. Wessel, University of Wyoming
• Jin Yin, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Alejandro Zuluaga, Universidad del Valle, Cali
• Simon A. Queenborough, Yale School of the Environment

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-2026

Abstract

Aims: Herbaceous plants (herbs) found in the understory of forests contribute substantially to the biodiversity of these ecosystems, as well as being important socio-culturally, economically, and for advancing ecological theory. However, the ecology of herbs is less well understood compared with woody plants, despite evidence that herbs are physiologically and ecologically different. Similarly, herb research has focused on north temperate forests, with less information from forests in the tropics and Global South. Understanding this knowledge gap, and recognizing the critical importance of expanding and streamlining the scope of research on forest herbs, we set out to identify 100 fundamental and applied questions related to the ecology of this distinct plant group. Methods: We first conducted a survey shared widely online with the ecological community, which generated a total of 130 questions. We then held a 3-day workshop involving invited herb researchers with expertise in various forest ecosystems, during which the questions were narrowed down through multiple rounds of discussion, revision, and rewording. For conceptual clarity, we then grouped the questions into 19 subject areas, although some questions are relevant to multiple subject areas. Conclusions: These questions serve as a road map for future research in fundamental and applied herbaceous ecology in forested ecosystems. A common theme that emerged from this exercise was the need for standardized protocols to generate comparable data on terrestrial herbs from forests across the planet, including all forest types, biomes, and types of anthropogenic impacts. Research to address these questions will yield knowledge critical for advancing fundamental understanding of this ecologically important group of plants as well as the vital ecosystem services they provide, especially under global change, thus aiding better conservation and restoration policy and practice for forest ecosystems.

Publication Title

Journal of Vegetation Science

Recommended Citation

Radhamoni, H., Spicer, M., Duguid, M., Comita, L., Bruna, E., Andrade, A., Beck, J., Burton, J., Chuquillanqui, H., Cicuzza, D., Dovciak, M., Gilliam, F., Greig, K., Hale, C., Hulshof, C., Izlar, N., Johnson, S., LaManna, J., Matlaga, D., Melly, D., Menzmer, A., Miller, K., Moulatlet, G., Myers, J., Sah, J., Vaz, M., Wassel, A., Wessel, S., Yin, J., Zuluaga, A., & Queenborough, S. (2026). Herbaceous Plants in Forest Ecosystems: One Hundred Fundamental and Applied Questions. Journal of Vegetation Science, 37(4). http://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70168
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p2/2915