Publications

Journal articles

Isaac lab members are underlined

  • Buchanan, S., M. Sauvadet and M.E. Isaac. 2023. Litter mixtures induce non-additive effects on soil priming across a riparian land use gradient. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, in press
  • Nimmo, V., C. Violle, M. Entz, A. Rolhauser and M.E. Isaac. 2023. Changes in crop trait plasticity with domestication history: Management practices matter. Ecology and Evolution 11: e1069
  • Lemoine, T., C. Violle, G. Montazeaud, M.E. Isaac, A. Rocher, H. Freville, F. Fort. 2023. Plant trait relationships are maintained within a major crop species: lack of artificial selection signal and potential for improved agronomic performance. New Phytologist 240: 2227-2238.
  • Gagliardi, S. J. Avelino, A. Martin, M.W. Cadotte, E. de Melo Virginio Filho and M.E. Isaac. 2023. Leaf functional traits and pathogens: Linking coffee leaf rust with intraspecific trait variation in diversified agroecosystems. Plos ONE 18(4) e0284203
  • Avelino, J., S. Gagliardi, I. Perfecto, M.E. Isaac, T. Liebig, J. Vandermeer, I. Merle, Z. Hajian-Forooshani, and N. Motisi. 2023. Tree effects on coffee leaf rust at field and landscape scales. Plant Disease, 107: 247-261.
  •  Rolhauser, A., S. MacIvor, A. Roberto, S. Ahmed and M.E. Isaac. 2023. Stress-gradient framework for green roofs: Applications for urban agriculture and other ecosystem services. Ecological Solutions and Evidence 4(2) e12227
  • Blesh, J., M.E. Isaac, M. Schipanski and S.J. Vanek. 2023. Ecological nutrient management as a pathway to zero hunger. Frontiers media, 16648714.
  • Archibald, S., C. Alline, C.R. Cerdan and M.E. Isaac. 2022. From the ground up: patterns and perceptions of herbaceous community diversity in organic agroecosystems. Ecological Solutions and Evidence 3(3) e12166.
  • Blesh, J., Z. Mehrabi, H. Wittman; R. Bezner Kerr et al. M.E. Isaac… 2023. Against the odds: pathways to agricultural diversification. One Earth, 6: 479-491.
  • Rolhauser, A., E. Windfeld, S. Hanson, H. Wittman, C. Thoreau, A. Lyon and M.E. Isaac. 2022. A trait-environment relationship approach to participatory plant breeding for organic agriculture. New Phytologist, 235: 1018-1031.
  • Gill, D.-G. and M.E. Isaac. 2022. Nitrogen dynamics in agroforestry systems: A review with data synthesis. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 42:1-18.
  • Betley, E.C., A. Sigouin, P. Pascua, S.H. Cheng, K.I. MacDonald, F. Arengo, Y. Aumeeruddy‐Thomas, S. Caillon, M.E. Isaac, S.D. Jupiter, A. Mawyer, M. Mejia, A.C. Moore, D. Renard, L. Sebastien, N. Gazit, E.J. Sterling. 2022. Assessing human well-being constructs with environmental and equity aspects: a review of the landscape. People and Nature, early view.
  • Schmidt, J.E., A. Duval, M.E. Isaac and P. Hohmann. 2022. At the roots of chocolate: understanding and optimizing the cacao root-associated microbiome for ecosystem services. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 42: 1-19
  • Mafa‐Attoye, T.G., K.A. Borden, D. Obregón Alvarez, N.V. Thevathasan, M.E. Isaac and K.E. Dunfield. 2022. Roots alter soil microbial diversity and interkingdom interactions in diversified agricultural landscapes. Oikos, early view.
  • Gagliardi, S., J. Avelino, R. Fulthorpe, E. de Melo Virginio Filho, M.E. Isaac. 2022. No evidence of foliar disease impact on crop root functional strategies and soil microbial communities: what does this mean for organic coffee? Oikos e08987
  • Isaac, M.E., H. Nyantakyi-Frimpong, P. Matous, E. Dawoe, and L. Anglaaere. 2021. Farmer networks and agrobiodiversity interventions: the unintended outcomes of intended change. Ecology and Society, 26(4).
  • Isaac, M.E., V. Nimmo, A. Gaudin, A. Leptin, J. Schmidt, C. Kallenbach, A. Martin, M. Entz, M. Carkner, I. Rajcan, T.D. Boyle, X. Lu. 2021. Crop domestication, root trait syndromes, and soil nutrient acquisition in organic agroecosystems: a systematic review. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5:716480
  • Lin, T., A.P. Ko, M.M. Than, D.C., Catacutan, R.F. Finlayson and M.E. Isaac. 2021. Farmer social networks: the role of advice ties and organizational leadership in agroforestry adoption. Plos One16: e0255987
  • Carboni, M., S.W. Livingstone, M.E. Isaac and M.W. Cadotte. 2021. Invasion drives plant diversity loss through competition and ecosystem modification. Journal of Ecology 109: 3587-3601.
  • Gagliardi, S., J. Avelino, E.M. Virginio Filho and M.E. Isaac. 2021. Shade tree traits and microclimate modifications: implications for pathogen management in biodiverse coffee agroforests. Biotropica 53: 1356-1367
  • Borden, K.A., T.G. Mafa-Attoye, K.E Dunfield, N.V. Thevathasan, A.M Gordon, M.E. Isaac (2021) Root functional trait and soil microbial coordination: Implications for soil respiration in riparian agroecosystems. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12: 1384.
  • Sauvadet, M. A.K Dickinson, E. Somarriba, W. Phillips-Mora, R.H. Cerda, A.R. Martin, M.E. Isaac (2021) Genotype-environment interactions shape leaf functional traits of cacao in agroforests. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 41:1-12.
  • Martin, A.R. and M.E. Isaac (2021) The leaf economics spectrum’s morning coffee: plant size-dependent changes in leaf traits and reproductive onset in a perennial tree crop. Annals of Botany 127: 483–49.
  • Sauvadet, M., R. Asare and M.E. Isaac (2020) Evolutionary distance explains shade tree selection in agroforestry systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 304: 107125
  • Livingstone, S.W., M.E. Isaac and M.W. Cadotte (2020) Invasive dominance and resident diversity: unpacking  the impact of plant invasion on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Ecological monographs,90: e01425.
  • Coleman, B., A.R. Martin N.V. Thevathasan A.M. Gordon M.E. Isaac (2020) Leaf trait variation and decomposition in short-rotation woody biomass crops under agroforestry management. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 298: 106971
  • Gagliardi, S., J. Avelino, L.B. Beilhe and M.E. Isaac (2020) Contribution of shade trees to wind dynamics and pathogen dispersal on the edge of coffee agroforestry systems: A functional traits approach. Crop Protection 130:105071.
  • Buchanan, S.W., M. Baskerville, M. Oelbermann, A.M. Gordon, N.V. Thevathasan and M.E. Isaac (2020) Plant diversity and agroecosystem function in riparian agroforests: Providing ecosystem services and land-use transition. Sustainability 12(2):568.
  • Isaac M.E. and A.R. Martin (2019) Accumulating crop functional trait data with citizen science. Scientific Reports 9:15715
  • Isaac, M.E. and K.A. Borden (2019) Nutrient acquisition strategies in agroforestry systems. Marschner Review, Plant and Soil, 444:1-19. PDF_Isaac and Borden 2019
  • Bukovsky-Reyes, S., M.E. Isaac and J. Blesh (2019) Effects of intercropping and soil conditions on cover crop functional traits. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 285:106614.
  • Borden, K.A. and M.E. Isaac (2019) Management strategies differentially affect root functional trait expression in cocoa agroforestry systems. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 39:21.
  • Martin, A.R., M.W. Cadotte, M.E. Isaac, R. Milla, D. Vile and C. Violle (2019) Regional and global shifts in crop diversity through the Anthropocene. PLOS ONE, 14(2):e0209788.
  • Mann, C., J.R. Parkins, M.E. Isaac and K. Sherren. 2019.  Is Holistic Management synonymous with systems thinking? Ecology and Society, 24(3):19.
  • Martin, A.R., F.J. Hayes, K.A. Borden, S.W. Buchanan, A.M. Gordon, M.E. Isaac and N.V. Thevathasan (2019) Integrating nitrogen fixing structures into above- and below-ground functional trait spectra in soy (Glycine max). Plant and Soil, 440:53-69.
  • Borden, K.A., S.C. Thomas and M.E. Isaac (2019) Variation in fine root traits reveals nutrient-specific acquisition strategies in agroforestry systems. Plant and Soil, on line first.
  • Nyantakyi-Frimpong, H., P. Matous and M.E. Isaac (2019) Social networks and resource-conserving agriculture under climate change: a multicase comparison using Exponential Random Graph Models. Ecology and Society, 24(1):5.
  • Borden, K., L. Anglaaere, S. Adu-Bredu and M.E. Isaac (2019) Root biomass variation of cocoa and implications for carbon stocks in agroforestry systems. Agroforestry Systems, 93: 369-381.
  • Buchanan, S., K. Van den Meersche, A.R. Martin and M.E. Isaac (2019) Functional trait variation along a shade and fertility gradient in coffee agroforestry systems. Agroforestry Systems, 93:1261-1273.
  • Bugiel, L., S. Livingstone, M.E. Isaac, R. Fulthorpe and A.R. Martin (2018) Impacts of invasive plant species on soil biodiversity: a case study of dog-strangling vine (Vincetoxicum rossicum) in a Canadian national park. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 98(4): 716-723.
  • Isaac, M.E., R. Isakson, B. Dale, C.Z. Levkoe, S.K. Hargreaves, V.E. Méndez, H. Wittman, C. Hammelman, J.C. Langill, A.R. Martin, E. Nelson, M. Ekers, K.A. Borden, S. Gagliardi, S. Buchanan, S. Archibald and A. Gálvez Ciani (2018) Agroecology in Canada: Towards an integration of agroecological practice, movement and science. Sustainability, 10: 3299.
  • Livingstone, S., M.W. Cadotte and M.E. Isaac (2018) Ecological engagement determines ecosystem service valuation: A case study from Rouge National Urban Park in Toronto, Canada. Ecosystem Services, 30: 86-97.
  • Martin, A.R. and M.E. Isaac (2018) Functional traits in agroecology: advancing description and prediction in agroecosystems. Journal of Applied Ecology, 55: 5-11.
  • Isaac, M.E., R. Cerda, B. Rapidel, A.R. Martin, A.K. Dickinson and N. Sibelet (2018) Farmer perception and utilization of leaf functional traits in agroecosystems. Journal of Applied Ecology 55: 69-80.
  • Bargaz, A., G.L. Noyce, R. Fulthorpe, G. Carlsson, J.R. Furze, E.S. Jensen, D. Dhiba and M.E. Isaac (2017) Species interactions enhance root allocation, microbial diversity and P acquisition in intercropped wheat and soybean under P deficiency. Applied Soil Ecology, 120: 179-188.
  • Isaac, M.E., A.R. Martin, E. de M. Virginio Filho, B. Rapidel, O. Roupsard and K. Van den Meersche (2017) Intraspecific trait variation and coordination: root and leaf economics spectra in coffee across environmental gradients. Frontiers in Plant Science, Functional Plant Ecology, 8: 1196.
  • Isaac, M.E. and P. Matous (2017) Social network ties predict land use diversity and land use change: a case study in Ghana. Regional Environmental Change, 17, 1823-1833.
  • Furze, J.R., A.R. Martin, J. Nasielski, N.V. Thevathasan, A.M. Gordon and M.E. Isaac (2017) Resiliency of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to water limitation in a temperate agroecosystem. Ecology and Evolution, on-line first.
  • Martin, A.R., B. Rapidel, O. Roupsard, K. Van den Meersche, E. de M. Virginio Filho, M. Barrios, and M.E. Isaac (2017) Intraspecific trait variation across multiple scales: the leaf economics spectrum in coffee. Functional Ecology, 31: 604-612.
  • Borden, K.A., S.C. Thomas and M.E. Isaac (2016) Interspecific variation of tree root architecture in a temperate agroforestry system characterized using ground-penetrating radar. Plant and Soil, on-line first.
  • Cadger, K., A.K. Quaicoo, E. Dawoe and M.E. Isaac (2016) Development interventions and agriculture adaptation: A social network analysis of farmer knowledge transfer in Ghana. Agriculture 6:32
  • Bargaz, A., M.E. Isaac, E.S. Jensen and G. Carlsson (2016) Nodulation and root growth increase in lower soil layers of water-limited faba bean intercropped with wheat. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 179: 537-546.
  • Martin, A.R.and M.E. Isaac (2015) Plant functional traits in agroecosystems: a blueprint for research. Journal of Applied Ecology, pdf 52: 1425–1435.
  • Nasielski, J., J. Furze, J. Tan, A. Bargaz, N.V. Thevathasan and M.E. Isaac (2015) Agroforestry promotes soybean yield stability and N2-fixation under water stress. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 35: 1541-1549.
  • Fitzpatrick, C.R., A.A. Agrawal, N. Basiliko, A.P. Hastings, M.E. Isaac, M. Preston and M.T.J. Johnson (2015) The importance of plant genotype and contemporary evolution for terrestrial ecosystem processes. Ecology,96: 2632–2642.
  • Munroe, J.W., G. Soto, E. de M. Virginio Filho, R. Fulthorpe and M.E. Isaac (2015) Soil microbial and nutrient properties in the rhizosphere of coffee under agroforestry management. Applied Soil Ecology, 93:40-46.
  • Link, C., N.V. Thevathasan, A.M. Gordon and M.E. Isaac (2015) Determining tree water acquisition zones with stable isotopes in a temperate tree-based intercropping system. Agroforestry Systems, 89:611-620.
  • Gagliardi, S., A.R. Martin, E. Virginio Filho, B. Rapidel and M.E. Isaac (2015) Intraspecific leaf economic trait variation partially explains coffee performance across agroforestry management regimes. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 200: 151–160.
  • Borden, K.A., M.E. Isaac, N.V. Thevathasan, A.M. Gordon and S.C. Thomas (2014) Estimating coarse root biomass with ground penetrating radar in a tree-based intercropping system. Agroforestry Systems, 88: 657-669.
  • Isaac, M.E., L.C.N. Anglaaere, D.S. Akoto and E. Dawoe (2014) Migrant farmers as information brokers: agroecosystem management in the transition zone of Ghana. Ecology and Society, 19(2): 56.
  • Isaac, M.E., L.C.N. Anglaaere, K.A. Borden and S. Adu-Bredu (2014) Intraspecific root plasticity in agroforestry systems across edaphic conditions. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 185: 16-23.
  • Munroe, J.W. and M.E. Isaac (2014) N2-fixing trees and the transfer of fixed N for sustainable agroforestry: A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 34:417–427.
  • Isaac, M.E., G. Carlsson, C. Ghoulam, M. Makhani, N.V. Thevathasan and A. Gordon (2014) Legume performance and nitrogen acquisition strategies in a tree-based agroecosystem. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 38:686–703.
  • Makhani, M. and M.E. Isaac (2014) Rhizosphere soil dynamics under nitrogen-induced root modification: the interaction of phosphorus and calcium. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 177:624-632.
  • Isaac, M.E. and L.C.N Anglaaere (2013) An in-situ approach to detect tree root ecology: linking ground penetrating radar imaging to isotope-derived water acquisition zones. Ecology and Evolution, 3:1330-1339.
  • Isaac, M.E. (2012) Agricultural information exchange and organizational ties: the effect of network topology on managing agrodiversity. Agricultural Systems 109: 9-15.
  • Whitehead, M. and M.E. Isaac (2012) Effects of shade on nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition in cereal-legume intercropping systems. Special Issue: Soil biology and its importance to soil fertility. Agriculture 2:12-24.
  • Isaac, M.E., P. Hinsinger and J.M. Harmand (2012)  Nitrogen and phosphorus economy of a  legume tree-cereal intercropping system under controlled conditions. Science of the Total Environment 434: 71-78.
  • Dawoe, E., S.J. Quashie-Sam, M.E. Isaac, and S.K. Oppong (2012) Exploring farmers local knowledge and perceptions of soil fertility and management in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.  Geoderma 179-180: 96-103.
  • Djomo, A.N., G. Gravenhorst, A. Kimaro and M.E. Isaac (2012) Modelling stand dynamics after selective logging: implications for REDD and carbon pool estimations from forest degradation. Journal of Life Sciences 6: 801-816.
  • Isaac, M.E. and A.A. Kimaro (2011) Diagnosis of nutrient imbalances with vector analysis in agroforestry systems. Journal of Environmental Quality 40: 860-866.
  • Isaac, M.E., J.N. Harmand, D. Lesueur and J. Lelon  (2011) Tree age and soil phosphorus conditions influence N2-fixation rates and soil N dynamics in natural populations of Acacia senegal. Forest Ecology and Management, 261: 582-588
  • Isaac, M.E., E. Adjei, R. Issaka and V.R. Timmer (2011) A strategy for improved tree-perennial crop productivity: nursery phase nutrient additions in cocoa-shade agroforestry systems. Agroforestry Systems, 81: 147-155.
  • Isaac, M.E., J.M. Harmand and J.J. Drevon (2010) Growth and nitrogen acquisition strategies of Acacia senegal under phosphorus gradients.  Journal of Plant Physiology 168: 776-781.
  • Isaac, M.E, A.A. Kimaro, Y. Teng and V.R. Timmer (2010) Increasing agricultural complexity: An approach for integration of trees in crop landscapes. Agricultural Journal, special issue, 4: 64-71.
  • Dawoe, E., M.E. Isaac, and S.J. Quashie-Sam (2009)  Litterfall dynamics in cocoa-agroforestry systems of lowland Ghana.  Plant and Soil, 330: 55-64.
  • Isaac, M.E. and E. Dawoe (2009)  Promoting long-term farm diversity: Integrative management of cocoa agroforestry systems in Ghana.  Journal of Science and Technology (Ghana) 26: 26-33.
  • Isaac, M.E., E. Dawoe and K. Sieciechowicz (2009)  Assessing localized knowledge use in agroforestry management with cognitive maps.  Environmental Management 43: 1321-1330.
  • Isaac, M.E., F. Ulzen-Appiah, V.R. Timmer and S.J. Quashie-Sam (2007) Early growth and nutritional response to resource competition in cocoa-shade intercropped systems.  Plant and Soil 298: 243-254.
  • Isaac, M.E. and V.R. Timmer (2007) Comparing in situ methods for measuring nitrogen mineralization under mock precipitation regimes.  Canadian Journal of Soil Science 87: 39-42.
  • Isaac, M.E., V.R. Timmer and J. Quashie-Sam (2007)  Shade tree effects in an 8-year-old cocoa agroforestry system: Biomass and nutrient diagnosis of Theobroma cacao by vector analysis. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 78:155-165.
  • Isaac, M.E, B. Erickson, J. Quashie-Sam and V.R. Timmer (2007)  Transfer of agroforestry practices and management techniques: structure of informal advice networks.  Ecology and Society 12(2): 32
  • Isaac, M.E., A.M. Gordon, N. Thevathasan, S.K. Oppong and J. Quashie-Sam (2005) Temporal changes in soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics in tropical multistrata agroforestry systems:  a chronosequence of pools and fluxes.  Agroforestry Systems 65: 23-31.

Book Chapters

  • Isaac, M.E. and E. Dawoe (2011) Agrarian communication networks: Consequences for agroforestry. In Ö. Bodin and C. Prell, editors. Social Networks and Natural Resource Management:Uncovering the Social Fabric of Environmental Governance. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.pdf
  • Kimaro, A.A., M.E. Isaac and S.O.A. Chamshama (2011) Carbon pools in tree biomass and soils under rotational woodlot systems in Eastern Tanzania. In Kumar, B.M. and Nair, P.K.R. (eds.) Carbon sequestration in Agroforestry: Process, Policy and Prospects. Advances in Agronomy, Vol. 8. Springer, Netherlands

Media Coverage of Research