RESEARCH INTERESTS
I am broadly interested in the ecology, evolution, and biogeography of birds. I study the mechanisms that shape species distributions and genetic diversity across space and time.
Species distributions are determined by the Abiotic (A) and Biotic (B) environments, as well as the species' history (H), or ability to disperse. I study each of these components of species distributions in boreal birds:
Additionally, I am interested in how these abiotic and biotic interactions change on an evolutionary time scale within and across species, and how species distribution models can be applied to conservation or the study of evolution.
Click here for a list of my publications.
Below you can see some of my ongoing and past research projects related to my broader interests.
Click a project heading to learn more.
Species distributions are determined by the Abiotic (A) and Biotic (B) environments, as well as the species' history (H), or ability to disperse. I study each of these components of species distributions in boreal birds:
- (A) I study how ongoing climate change is predicted to shift boreal birds northward and influence genetic diversity.
- (B) I quantify forest structure, habitat selection, and nest predator abundance to determine the influence of biotic interactions on bird occurrence.
- (H) I use genetic data to unravel species' historic distributions and determine whether species within a community share a common history.
Additionally, I am interested in how these abiotic and biotic interactions change on an evolutionary time scale within and across species, and how species distribution models can be applied to conservation or the study of evolution.
Click here for a list of my publications.
Below you can see some of my ongoing and past research projects related to my broader interests.
Click a project heading to learn more.
Ecology and Conservation of Spruce-Fir Forest Birds Trends in abundance, habitat selection, and identification of climate change refugia for spruce-fir forest birds. Modeling occupancy of a nest predator, red squirrel, across time and elevational gradients Taxonomy and status of endangered Gray-cheeked Thrush in Newfoundland and Labrador. |
Phylogeography of North American Boreal Birds
Using multilocus genetic markers to unravel the biogeographic history of North American boreal birds. Determining whether biogeographic responses to Pleistocene climate change were similar across species within a community. Predicting the effects of current climate change on genetic diversity in Blackpoll Warblers (Setophaga striata ). |
Highlighting Student Research: Discovery of a new wood-warbler hybrid Genetic and Morphometric analysis of a new Oreothlypis hybrid discovered in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Read More. Click here to see more Student Research in action! |