My research focuses on the effects of disturbances and resources on the structure and dynamics of plant populations and communities. I use responses of plants to "measure" the impacts of disturbances and resource additions and their relevance to the conservation and restoration of threatened or degraded plant communities in the southeastern coastal plain of the United States. Of particular interest to me is the ecological role of fire. I am also investigating eutrophication in salt marshes. Some of my current research includes:
1) the effects of fire and competition from invasive shrubs on the maintenance of plant species diversity in pitcher plant bogs (Savanna Biodiversity),
2) the community-level consequences of morphological plasticity in plants (Plasticity and Adaptation to Fire).
3) the effect of fire suppression in the 20th century on the structure of oak and oak-pine forest communities (Fire History and Ecological Restoration), and
4) the effect of anthropogenic nutrient loading on salt marsh plant community structure (Salt Marsh Ecology).
See also:
Little Tallahatchie Experimental Forest Research
Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Program Research