Ph.D., Biology - Duke University (2005)

M.S., Zoology - University of Florida (1998)

B.S., Biology - Bard College (1995)

I study direct and indirect effects of behavioral and species interactions on population-level phenomena: When do interactions between species have fitness consequences for individuals, and when do these fitness effects influence population dynamics? I am also interested in the ways human-induced changes, such as habitat fragmentation and introduced species, affect the behavior and population dynamics of species involved in multi-species interactions (including mutualisms). In my research, I address these issues using a combination of field and lab experiments, statistical and mathematical models, and molecular tools. In addition, I focus primarily on interactions involving fungi, and more recently viruses, which touch on the rapidly growing but still relatively poorly developed fields of microbial and virus ecology. I have studied plant-associated fungi and fungal viruses; indirect interactions involving plants that share pollinators, or between plants, plant-associated fungi and insect vectors; multi-trophic interactions between plants; and mutualisms between plants and pollinators. Thus, I study animal vectors of pollen or fungal pathogens, and their individual and population-level effects on fungi and plants. My work addresses three main questions. (1) What factors might enable plant-pollinator mutualisms to persist when plants are at low densities? (2) What are the behavioral, fitness, and population consequences of competitors on mutualisms involving plant pathogens and their vectors? (3) What role do plant-associated fungal viruses play in ecological communities?

 

For more on my research interests, see the research section of my personal website​.