Phenological sequences of deciduous woody plants
For many tree species in the forests of Eastern North America (and other temperate regions of the globe), it is not the green tips of new shoots that mark the commencement of the growing season, but the subtle colors of flowers.
Why do some species flower before leaf emergence?
I explore the evolutionary drivers, physiological mechanisms and climate change implications of this unique phenological syndrome.
Germination niches of woodland perennials
The germination requirements of seed plants are a strong determinant of species' ecological niches, range size and demography. Germination responses differ among species and may have an important role in determining the outcomes of species interactions.
Using growth chambers to simulate climate change I work to both characterize the gemination niches of herbaceous perennial plants and to predict how these differences will affect inter-specific competition with climate change.
Invasive Plant Impacts
Humans are moving species around the globe at unprecedented rates, and these introduced species can radically impact communities. Yet, the impacts of introduced species on biodiversity vary over space and time, depend on the identities of the invaders and attributes of recipient communities. Understanding these dynamics of invasive species impacts is critical to global change ecology, and to conservation planning and policy.