Jens main interest in ecosystem ecology is the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem processes in the field. Specifically she is interested in the interactions and feedbacks between plant genetic diversity, arthropod herbivores, microbial communities and nutrient cycling.  To this end she is pursuing questions that integrate multiple factors to understand the emergent and synthetic patterns of diversity on the cycling of nutrients.

Publications:

Schweitzer, J.A., J.K. Bailey, S.C. Hart and T.G. Whitham. Non-additive effects of mixing cottonwood genotypes on litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics. Ecology (in press)

Schweitzer, J.A., J.K. Bailey, S.C. Hart, G.M. Wimp, S.C. Chapman and T.G. Whitham. The interaction of plant genotype and herbivory decelerate leaf litter decomposition and alter nutrient dynamics. Oikos 110:133-145.

Bailey, J. K., R. Deckert, J. A. Schweitzer, B. J. Rehill, R. L. Lindroth, C. Gehring, and T. G. Whitham. 2005. Host-plant Genetics affect Hidden Ecological Players: Links among Populus, Condensed Tannins and Fungal Endophyte Infection. Canadian Journal of Botany 83:356-362.

Whitham, T.G., E. Lonsdorf, J. A. Schweitzer, J. K. Bailey, D. G. Fischer, S. M. Shuster, R. L. Lindroth, S. C. Hart, G. J. Allan, C. A. Gehring, P. Keim, B. M. Potts, J. Marks, B. J. Rehill, S. P. DiFazio, C. J. LeRoy, G. M. Wimp, and S. Woolbright. 2005. “All effects of a gene on the world”: extended phenotypes, feedbacks and multi-level selection. Ecoscience 12:5-7.

Bailey, J.K., R.K. Bangert, J.A. Schweitzer, R.T. Trotter, S.M. Shuster and T.G. Whitham. 2004. Broadsense heritability of fractal achitecture in trees. Evolution 58:2100-2102.

Schweitzer, J.A., J.K. Bailey, B.J. Rehill, S.C. Hart, R.L. Lindroth, P. Keim and T.G. Whitham. 2004. Genetically Based Trait in Dominant Tree Affects Ecosystem Processes. Ecology Letters 7:127-134.

Bailey, J.K., J.A. Schweitzer, B.J. Rehill, R.L. Lindroth, P. Keim, T.G. Whitham. 2004. Beavers as molecular geneticists: a genetic basis to the foraging of an ecosystem engineer. Ecology 85:603-608.

Whitham, T.G., G.D. Martinsen, W. Young, C.A. Gehring, J.A. Schweitzer, S.M. Shuster, G.M. Wimp, J.K. Bailey, R.D. Fischer, R. Lindroth and P. Keim. 2003. Community and ecosystem genetics:A consequence of the extended phenotype. Ecology 84:559-573.

Bailey, J.K., J.A. Schweitzer, G.D. Martinsen, M.A. Howe, T.G. Whitham. 2002. Beaver preference and plant species shifts: Implications for exotic invasions. Pages 180-188 in Proceedings from the 11th International Conf. of Exotic Invasions of Aquatic Systems.

Schweitzer, J.A., G.D. Martinsen and T.G. Whitham. 2002. Cottonwood hybrids gain fitness traits of both parents: a mechanism for their long-term persistence? Am. Journal of Bot. 89:981-990.

Whitham, T.G., and J.A. Schweitzer. 2002. Leaves as islands of spatial and temporal variation: consequences for plant herbivores, pathogens, communities and ecosystems. Pages 279-298 in Phyllosphere Microbiology (S.E. Lindow, E.I. Hecht-Poinar, and V.J. Elliott, eds.). APS Press, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Bailey,J.K., J.A. Schweitzer and T.G. Whitham. 2001. Salt cedar negatively affects biodiversity of aquatic macro-invertebrates. Wetlands 21:442-447.
Schweitzer, J.A. and K.C. Larson. 1999. Greater morphological plasticity of exotic honeysuckle species may make them better invaders than native species. J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 21: 15-23.