RESEARCH

My research interest spans population and community ecology of plants, landscape ecology and the ecology and evolution of animal-plant interactions.
I am interested in the interactions of land use history, landscape configuration, dispersal, management practices and local environmental conditions in shaping plant biodiversity patterns in natural and human-modified ecosystems. In my research, I combine observational and experimental field work with advanced statistical models and various analytic and simulations models. A common theme in most of my research is the treatment of spatial aspects, spatial patterns and spatial processes as important components in the investigation of ecological patterns, ecological processes and ecological theories.
I am also interested in the ecology and evolution of seed dispersal in general, and seed dispersal traits in particular. Specifically, I am interested in studying the different means by which geographical, environmental and spatial contexts affect the expression of dispersal traits in wind- and ant-dispersed plants.  In addition, I am fascinated by the idea that the physical, cultural and educational contexts shape the ways by which scientists formulate, test and evaluate hypotheses and theories in evolutionary ecology and conservation biology.