Research
Our lab works at the interface of ecology, behavior, evolution and conservation biology, in both animal and plant systems. The common theme uniting our diverse research projects is how environmental conditions – including the social, ecological, and anthropogenic environment - impact behavioral, ecological, and evolutionary processes. Another common theme is that our research is related to natural systems in and around northwest Ecuador, where our partners at FCAT are based. We are fortunate to conduct this research collaboratively with FCAT team members, as well as with valued international and local researchers from a range of disciplines.
Examples of current research projects in our lab...
Understanding how ecological, anthropogenic, and genetic factors shape local and regional abundances of Neotropical palm trees
Experimentally testing how competing tropical forest restoration strategies influence ecological processes and patterns of diversity;
Exploring how differing levels of fruit availability shape sexual selection and mating dynamics of frugivorous lek-breeding birds;
Documenting the basic biology of poorly known and endangered species
Linking phenology with animal-mediated seed and pollen dispersal
Anthropogenic and environmental drivers of diversity & abundance
Frugivory, seed dispersal, and plant-animal interactions
Interdisciplinary environmental studies
Natural history of poorly known, threatened species
Sexual selection, mating systems, & signal evolution
Landscape ecology