Research Interests

Time Scale Interactions

I am generally interested in the interactions of species within communities, and particularly the interplay of processes that operate at different time scales.  When prey abundances change in predator-prey systems, predators may have an immediate functional response (change in predation rate), as well as a slower numerical response (change in reproductive output).  I am investigating the effects of the interplay of these two responses on predator-prey dynamics, using the snail, Nucella ostrina, as a focal predator.  In particular, I am interested how the episodic (as opposed to continuous) reproduction of many species affects the behavior of predator-prey systems.  My thesis project will involve a combination of mathematical and computer modeling, “natural experiments” and direct experimental manipulations to elucidate these effects.

Ecological Informatics

I am generally interested in the interactions of species within communities, and particularly the interplay of processes that operate at different time scales.  When prey abundances change in predator-prey systems, predators may have an immediate functional response (change in predation rate), as well as a slower numerical response (change in reproductive output).  I am investigating the effects of the interplay of these two responses on predator-prey dynamics, using the snail, Nucella ostrina, as a focal predator.  In particular, I am interested how the episodic (as opposed to continuous) reproduction of many species affects the behavior of predator-prey systems.  My thesis project will involve a combination of mathematical and computer modeling, “natural experiments” and direct experimental manipulations to elucidate these effects.