Research
Effects of network complexity on the scaling of trophic cascadesAs the processes governing the structure and function of ecological networks are inherently complex, I am interested in evaluating how top-down and bottom-up processes interact to shape communities across scales. Specifically, I use a metaecosystem framework to investigate the roles of ecological network connectivity in shaping trophic cascades at local (habitat patch) and regional (habitat network) scales through a combination of theoretical and empirical approaches.
Spatiotemporal structure of micro-habitat temperature fluctuationsIntertidal marine organisms located at the interface of the land and sea and are exposed to alternations in water and air temperatures. I am particularly interested in how intertidal organisms 'filter' temperature fluctuations at different spatial and temporal scales. To address this question I am currently conducting time-resolved univariate and bivariate wavelet analyses on a global dataset of temperature fluctuations measured in situ (via biomimetic loggers).
Coexistence mechanisms interact across scalesOne of the central goals of ecology is to identify the coexistence mechanisms that give rise to biodiversity in natural ecosystems. Seminal work has identified such mechanisms operating at both local and regional scales. I am interested in understanding how coexistence mechanisms operating at different spatial scales interact to control local and regional biodiversity. I developed a spatially explicit metacommunity model that includes multiple coexistence mechanisms in order to determine their joint influence on patterns of diversity, abundance and extinction risk across scales.
Multifactorial effects of dispersal on biodiversityUnderstanding the relative influence of dispersal and environmental heterogeneity on patterns of biodiversity across scales is a critical issue in ecology, particularly in an era of global change. I use dynamical models and empirical data to understand how environmental heterogeneity and dispersal affect the structure and dynamics of ecological communities and the ability of statistical frameworks to detect biotic signals in environmentally forced metacommunities. Overall, by linking statistical patterns to their underlying ecological processes, I aim to bridge the gap between empirical and theoretical frameworks used to study metacommunities.
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