We research how plant-plant, plant-soil, plant-herbivore, and plant-people interactions affect plant species composition and abundance, and thus overall plant community diversity. We run experiments in both the greenhouse and the field. Some of our projects involve social surveys.
Ongoing Research Areas:
Restoration ecology of urban and peri-urban woodland understory
Woodlands in and around cities are often dominated by invasive plants. We work with land managers to understand the causes and effects of these invasive plants and how to restore diverse native understory vegetation. Current projects examine factors such as herbivore pressure (deer, rabbit), burning frequency, native plant recruitment limitation, and soil legacy effects.
Prairie & woodland nativar ecology
Nativars are cultivars (i.e., varieties) of native plant species, popular for showy colors, compact form, or other traits. We research whether nativars are similar to native wild types (i.e., naturally common phenotypes) in their value to wildlife, plant-soil interactions, or other aspects of ecology. We seek to understand whether and how nativars can be used to support urban biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Cover cropping in organic vegetable production
Cover crop mulches (e.g., white clover, winter rye) can suppress weeds while supporting soil health. We are interested in whether cover cropping can be effective for small organic vegetable growers and in cover crop/cash crop plant-soil interactions.