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职称:ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
所属学校:Georgetown University
所属院系:Department of Biology
所属专业:Environmental Biology
联系方式:202-687-8482
As a community ecologist, I seek to understand the forces, both natural and anthropogenic, which shape ecological interactions within communities of organisms. I examine the mechanisms that regulate diversity in natural populations, as well as the human influences that may lead to the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem function. My research is highly interdisciplinary and integrates approaches from community and ecosystem ecology, molecular and population genetics, statistical modeling, and chemistry. I address basic questions of theoretical importance with application to conservation. I work in two different types of wetland habitats; a cottonwood riparian forest and an intertidal salt marsh. Wetland habitats foster an enormous diversity of ecological interactions and represent critical wildlife habitat, but are heavily impacted by human interference. Indeed, it is estimated that more than half of the riparian forests and intertidal salt marshes in the United States have been lost due to habitat destruction. Wetland habitats that have not been directly lost to development often receive large amounts of nitrogen runoff from fertilizers, which can lead to eutrophication, as well as exposure to heavy metals, chemical pesticides and herbicides, and petroleum from oil spills. While wetlands represent areas of critical conservation importance, they also represent model systems for addressing basic questions in community and ecosystem ecology. High levels of genetic variation found in riparian cottonwoods make these systems ideal for exploring the relationship between community ecology and evolution; natural plant monocultures in salt marshes facilitate an exploration of the relationship between productivity and diversity that is not confounded by changes in plant species diversity; and fragmented habitats in salt marshes afford an opportunity to examine the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms associated with habitat destruction that lead to species loss. My research therefore centers on understanding the factors that promote diversity in wetland habitats, how human activities have altered food web interactions and ecosystem processes, and how we can conserve and restore these habitats.
Ecological Analysis (BIOL 386). This course is a key part of both the undergraduate and graduate curriculum in the department and is also a core requirement of the Environmental Biology major. Through this course, I strive to help students understand the critical importance of appropriate experimental design and methods of data analysis when testing hypotheses in environmental biology. The course is oriented around hands-on field and laboratory experiences in experimental design, data collection, data analysis techniques, null model formulation and hypothesis testing. Students design, conduct, analyze and present (in oral and written forms) the results of field and greenhouse experiments. Global Climate Change Ecology (BIOL 268). Over the past century, the mean surface temperature of our planet has increased slightly less than 1°C. While this may seem like a small increment, global warming is already profoundly affecting Earth’s organisms and ecological communities. In this class, we will explore the causes and biological consequences of climate change on Earth. Through lectures, discussion, critical reading of the literature, and examination of long-term data sets, students will gain an understanding of: how Earth’s climate system functions, how past climatic fluctuations compare to projected future changes, how human activities contribute to climate change, and how climate change affects organisms, communities, and ecosystems. Additionally, we will explore the direct effects of climate change on disease risk for human and other animal populations. Lastly, we will consider what changes would need to occur to stabilize or reverse current trends. We welcome lively discussion and debate that will further our understanding of the impacts of climate change on Earth’s living resources. Research Intensive Senior Experience - RISE (BIOL 341/342). The Biology Department encourages students to pursue scientific and pedagogical research in collaboration with faculty members so that they may learn the joy and frustration of research through hands-on experiences. I have mentored undergraduate students that pursued both RISE options: 1) Laboratory research: students develop an original research project including experimental design, execution and data analysis. 2) Teaching biology: students perform original pedagogical research while conducting supervised teaching in D.C. public high schools. Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Journal Club (BIOL 514). EEB Journal Club provides an environment for graduate students to research and present a journal article of their choosing to an audience of peers and professors and serves as practice grounds for speaking to a scientific audience.
