Mounting evidence suggests that interactions among microbes, soil, and plants have profound impacts on ecosystems, but the mechanisms are complex and still unresolved. The Zalamea lab aims to understand how interactions on these microscopic scales control tree species distributions, forest dynamics, and forest function in the tropics and beyond. Our research integrates large-scale field, greenhouse, and laboratory experiments with molecular techniques to address questions fundamental to understanding the distribution and maintenance of biodiversity in tropical forests.