Area(s) of Specialization
- Grassland ecophysiology, grass/tree ecological dynamics, ecosystem responses to global change, stable isotope ecology.
Our laboratory focuses on the physiological responses of plants to environmental variability and water availability.
Our research identifies mechanisms of plant competition for resources, consequences of drought on plant function, and impacts of climate change on natural ecosystems.
A few examples of current research projects include:
- We are examining the physiological and growth responses of tallgrass prairie plant species to changes in microclimate/soil moisture. Our results contribute to the general ecological understanding of tallgrass prairie dynamics and provide data for ecosystem models to forecast responses to future climate events.
- We are measuring the local drivers and consequences of woody encroachment occurring at the Konza Prairie. Combining our measurements with long-term data provides insight into the pattern and process of woody encroachment in mesic grasslands.
- We are investigating the physiological processes that underlie grass/tree coexistence in grasslands in the central US as well as savannas in South Africa. This data is used in dynamic community and ecosystem models and to forecast trajectories under novel climate scenarios.
Research:
- Woody encroachment of grasslands
- Source-water use and grass roots
- Riparian forests of Mapungubwe
- Drought responses among congeneric grass species
- Mechanisms delimiting Mopane savanna in South Africa
My research focus is on plant eco-physiological responses to changes in water availability (spatially, temporally, or driven by climate changes). Particularly, I'm interested in the mechanims of drought tolerance by grassland and savanna species (structure / function) as well as the theory of competition/ facilitation for water between trees and grasses.
Subject areas: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Expertise: Studies anatomical and physiological mechanisms of drought tolerance in grassland plant species.
