My research examines the influence disturbance on biodiversity and community dynamics in freshwater systems. My research approach employs 1) laboratory and field-based experiments to establish causal relationships and 2) large-scale spatial analyses to illustrate general pattern across populations and landscapes.
In particular, I am interested in addressing the following themes:
In particular, I am interested in addressing the following themes:
How chemical contaminants shape aquatic systems
Freshwater systems are the most biodiverse in the world and provide important ecosystem services to humans, yet these systems are globally imperiled because of widespread pollution of synthetic chemicals. My work investigates how synthetic chemicals can shape ecological communities and ecosystem functions of ponds and streams.
Currently, I am interested in two questions. First, how consistent are the effects of synthetic chemicals in the environment? Tens of thousands of synthetic chemicals are registered for use in the U.S. alone. If effects of synthetic chemicals are consistent within 'classes' (those with similar chemical structures) or 'types' (those with similar targets), complexity in predicting the impacts of synthetic chemicals could be greatly reduced. Second, how do the complex effects of synthetic chemicals on stream communities and ecosystems vary across space and time? Along with Devin Jones and a team of collaborators, we are using publicly available data from the USGS and EPA to explore these patterns.
Currently, I am interested in two questions. First, how consistent are the effects of synthetic chemicals in the environment? Tens of thousands of synthetic chemicals are registered for use in the U.S. alone. If effects of synthetic chemicals are consistent within 'classes' (those with similar chemical structures) or 'types' (those with similar targets), complexity in predicting the impacts of synthetic chemicals could be greatly reduced. Second, how do the complex effects of synthetic chemicals on stream communities and ecosystems vary across space and time? Along with Devin Jones and a team of collaborators, we are using publicly available data from the USGS and EPA to explore these patterns.
Environmental drivers of wildlife infectious diseases
Anthropogenic environmental change is rapid and widespread. Environmental change can influence both hosts and parasites, and the net effect of these forces can have consequences for infectious disease dynamics. I have investigated how pesticides, temperature, and host resource availability influence host-pathogen interactions in amphibian-fungal and amphibian-trematode systems. Understanding the effects of environmental factors on amphibian diseases is markedly important because amphibians are facing global declines due in part to infectious diseases.
Currently, I am interested in two questions. First, what are consequences of pesticide exposure on parasite transmission within the host's community context? Second, can we predict the effects of pesticides on the likelihood of infections across broad spatial scales?
Currently, I am interested in two questions. First, what are consequences of pesticide exposure on parasite transmission within the host's community context? Second, can we predict the effects of pesticides on the likelihood of infections across broad spatial scales?
Contributions of community composition to ecosystem function
Human-induced alterations to natural systems have led to a homogenization of ecological communities (an increase in the number of shared species across locations), which could have negative consequences for the functioning of ecosystems. My latest research endeavor seeks to examine trends in biodiversity across time and space and determine the extent to which changes in community composition influence ecosystem functions including primary production, decomposition, and ecosystem respiration in aquatic and terrestrial systems.