Big-leaf mistletoe infects alder, cottonwood, walnut, willow and sycamore trees, while oak typically infects oaks and woody chaparral shrubs such as manzanita, California bay laurel and sumac.

Through careful analysis of leaf litter and bird diets, I’ve demonstrated that the keystone effect of mistletoe is the result of bottom-up processes, driven by their high volumes of enriched ...