Overview
Experiments inspired by field observations form the core of my group's research approach. As ecologists and environmental engineers, we study how interactions among species - commonly habitat-forming foundation species - drive patterns in the organization of biological communities, and how different types of interactions, such as those involving mutualists and top predators, enhance or reduce an ecosystem's resilience to climate change and other human impacts. We then use this insight and work with natural resource managers to improve restoration design and conservation strategies. In addition to manipulating species interactions or physical factors of interest with experiments, we employ correlational approaches, spatial models, contaminant analyses, biogeochemical analyses and hydrodynamic measurements when necessary to contextualize research findings, elucidate how ecosystem dynamics may change over time, understand biomagnification processes, and tease apart mechanisms driving natural patterns.
Our research group collaborates with a diverse and talented group of ecologists, hydrologists, biogeochemists, geomorphologists, and engineers at the University of Florida, other US and international academic institutions, and a broad range of state and federal agencies.
For more information, please visit the webpages of each of these students and our publications page
Experiments inspired by field observations form the core of my group's research approach. As ecologists and environmental engineers, we study how interactions among species - commonly habitat-forming foundation species - drive patterns in the organization of biological communities, and how different types of interactions, such as those involving mutualists and top predators, enhance or reduce an ecosystem's resilience to climate change and other human impacts. We then use this insight and work with natural resource managers to improve restoration design and conservation strategies. In addition to manipulating species interactions or physical factors of interest with experiments, we employ correlational approaches, spatial models, contaminant analyses, biogeochemical analyses and hydrodynamic measurements when necessary to contextualize research findings, elucidate how ecosystem dynamics may change over time, understand biomagnification processes, and tease apart mechanisms driving natural patterns.
Our research group collaborates with a diverse and talented group of ecologists, hydrologists, biogeochemists, geomorphologists, and engineers at the University of Florida, other US and international academic institutions, and a broad range of state and federal agencies.
For more information, please visit the webpages of each of these students and our publications page
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