Research
My research program applies evolutionary thinking towards understanding the ecological dynamics of populations, communities, and ecosystems. This places my work within the general theme of eco-evolutionary dynamics – the study of feedbacks between ecological and evolutionary processes. To explore this theme, I use a series of model systems including wild populations of Bahamian mosquitofish (Gambusia spp.), spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum), and anole lizards (Anolis spp.).
Phenotypic Diversification
An emerging part of my research program investigates the evolutionary origins and ecological consequences of intrapopulation phenotypic diversity. Active research questions include: how does intrapopulation variation arise, how variable is intrapopulation diversity, and what are the ecological effects of diversity?
Sexual Selection
My sexual selection research focuses on understanding how ecological variation drives the evolution of sexual selection systems in Bahamas mosquitofish. This research tends to embraces an ecological perspective on how sexually selected traits evolve, diversify, and influence female preference.
Global Change Ecology
Much of my work is framed in the context of anthropogenic change. My collaborators and I ask how ecosystem fragmentation, climate change, invasive species, and even urbanization influences the ecology and evolution of wild populations subject to novel, rapidly shifting ecological regimes.
Food Web Ecology
I merge diet analysis, stoichiometry, and stable isotopes to understand the structure of aquatic and terrestrial food webs. This combination of approaches helps illustrate cryptic species interactions and quantifies energy flow through ecosystems.
Natural History
Sometimes, my research is simply about building a better understanding of the distribution and natural history of reptiles and amphibians. These incremental contributions record ongoing biotic invasions in the Greater Caribbean, set the stage for future research, and raise awareness of future conservation issues.
Species Conservation
Invasive species, urbanization, habitat loss, and overexploitation are widespread and intensifying existential threats to many wild species. This work focuses on identifying the causes of population declines in critically endangered species, and raising awareness of these threats.