Faculty and Research

Biology

Research Areas

Our lab aims to understand how disturbances, such as fire and cyclones, shape the structure, function, and resilience of savanna and woodland ecosystems under global change. We primarily focus on longleaf pine ecosystems in the North American Coastal Plain, a global biodiversity hotspot. We assess how climate, fire, hurricanes, and biotic interactions influence tree population dynamics through investigation of three demographic processes: establishment, growth, and mortality. We are particularly interested in vegetation-disturbance feedbacks, the mechanisms underlying fire- and hurricane-induced tree mortality, and how these dynamics shift with changing disturbance regimes and increasing extreme events. To address these questions, we use a combination of field observations and experiments, dendroecology, remote sensing, and statistical modeling. Ultimately, we aim to advance our understanding of disturbance-driven ecosystems and inform conservation and management strategies that sustain biodiversity and ecosystem function in a rapidly changing world.