Research
Our research is motivated by the key challenge facing ecologists and conservation biologists today: to accurately predict how global change will affect biodiversity.
We study how and why species vary in the way they respond to global change. We conduct research at multiple scales to understand both the causes and consequences of this variation. We integrate field surveys and experiments, data synthesis, and modeling to understand the factors that structure species’ distributions, phenologies (the timing of life history events) and interactions.
Habitat restoration in a changing world
Habitat restoration is an important conservation strategy to mitigate the effects of human activities on ecological communities. Yet, most restoration efforts have yet to target the resilience of these communities in response to climate change. Understanding how restoration efforts support species interactions is critical and requires testing some long-standing assumptions about best-practices in restoration.
Climate change and the timing of species interactions
Variation among species in their recent phenological responses to climate change suggests that shifts in the relative timing of key life stages between interacting species (phenological synchrony) are likely to occur under climate warming. We are working to determine whether these shifts are actually occurring, what physiological mechanisms are driving differences among species and what the consequences of these shifts are for ecological communities.
Testing species distribution models
A substantial effort has been made to predict where species will shift in response to changing environmental conditions based on current climate-distribution relationships. While this approach has roots in ecological theory (e.g. niche theory), many assumptions of these models have not been rigorously tested. Our research focuses on testing some of these key underlying assumptions to determine the practical utility of these models for basic and applied ecological research.
Become part of our mission
Science thrives through collaboration, curiosity, and shared knowledge. Whether you’re looking to contribute, collaborate, or connect, there are many ways to be part of our mission. Explore opportunities to get involved, share insights, or reach out with inquiries—we’d love to hear from you.
Students
Explore available opportunities and find application requirements to begin your journey with us.
Public
Have questions or want to learn more about our work? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out and let’s connect.