Research
I am an ecologist interested in how biodiversity influences ecosystem function. Specifically, I want to understand how anthropogenically mediated species loss and introductions impact ecological function and community structure. I employ theoretical, field, and lab-based methods in my research including functional diversity analysis and fecal DNA metabarcoding. My research bridges insights from the fossil record with modern conservation and ecological restoration.
Mammal diversity patterns across space and time
​Human activity has strongly impacted mammal distributions via extinctions, range contractions, and introductions. My research explores how anthropogenic impacts over millennia have influenced modern mammal communities from local to global scales. I am particularly interested in characterizing mammal functional diversity as a way to link changes in diversity to shifts in ecosystem function. For example, how has the size-biased extinction of megafaunal mammals altered the functional diversity of modern ecosystems? Can introduced mammals serve as functional replacements for extinct or extirpated fauna? Have human impacts influenced our understanding of what drives large-scale patterns in mammal diversity? Understanding these aspects can provide important context for current biodiversity protection and restoration initiatives.
Mammal dietary ecology
Understanding animal diets can provide fundamental insights into how species interact, influence their ecosystem, and respond to environmental changes. My research employs a combination of stable isotope analysis and DNA metabarcoding to characterize mammalian herbivore diets with high resolution and accuracy. Current projects in the Southwestern US and Yukon, Canada leverage dietary analysis to address broader, conservation-relevant questions around the ecological role of non-native fauna and resilience of keystone species to climate change. This research is conducted in partnership with various management stakeholders, including government agencies and private landowners, to generate applied conservation outcomes.
