Research

I am interested in the functional structure of large mammal communities in tropical systems. My research questions relate to how functional trait patterns arise in mammal communities based on historical context, ecological interactions, environmental conditions and human-induced ecological change. I am particularly focused on research that has meaningful conservation applications for large mammals and tropical ecosystems.

Current Research

Predicting species interactions from qualitative data
I am working to leverage fuzzy state modeling in predicting ecological interactions in ecosystems in Borneo and Montana. I will be developing new models and working to understand how environmental and biological change can cascade through complex ecosystems.

Previous Projects

Global patterns of mammal functional diversity
My second chapter of my dissertation compares the functional structure of mammal communities in different tropical rainforest protected areas. I used data from camera traps in 15 different protected areas globally to try to understand drivers of trait abundance and diversity.

Find the open access, published article in Proceedings of the Royal Society B here

Maintaining functional diversity in protected areas over time
The first chapter of my PhD thesis looked at functional diversity of the large mammal community at Volcan Barva, Costa Rica over an eight year period to evaluate temporal trends and potential environmental drivers.

Find the published article in Biotropica here

Advisor: Dr. Lydia Beaudrot, Rice University

Functional Grouping of Large, Terrestrial, Neotropical Herbivores: Past and Present
Serving as my undergraduate senior thesis, this project looked at how functional categories of large herbivores have changes in Central and South America since the megafaunal extinction at the end of the late Pleistocene.

Advisor: Dr. Malu Jorge, Vanderbilt University

Voyageurs Wolf Project
I worked on this project in conjunction with the National Parks Services as part of the Student Conservation Association. Data collection consisted of camera trapping, scat collection and analysis, and live-captures of wolves.

Check out more info here!!

Herbivore impacts on forest vegetation in a fragmented landscape
Conducted as a field study in the Cerrado and Pantanal of Brazil, this project examined the vegetation community response to presence or absence of white-lipped peccaries in a fragmented agricultural landscape. This project was funded by the Littlejohn Fellowship and the Vanderbilt University Summer Research Program.