I am an applied ecologist working at the interface of design and science. My research spans the urban-rural continuum and addresses two primary questions: 1) How do urban ecosystem conditions impact ecological function, from population and community dynamics to landscape processes and interactions; and 2) How can we adapt planning, design, and management practices to address urban ecosystem and climate associated impacts to improve the long-term sustainability of urban landscapes? I address these theoretical and applied questions at multiple scales and through innovative methods that range from field experiments, to meta-analyses, and modeling. I specialize in topics related to plant community ecology, applied forest ecology, and urban biodiversity.
The benefits of green roofs are derived from their existence as functional, living ecosystems. While the architectural elements of a green roof assembly can be thought of as fixed, the biological components of a roof, its vegetation and growing media, are dynamic. This research monitors more than 10 years of green roof plant community dynamics on green roofs located on university buildings throughout the northeast. These building/roofs were designed by, and the research conducted in partnership with, KieranTimberlake, an innovative architecture firm located in Philadelphia, and where I worked as a member of the research group from 2012-2014.
Related publications:
Coming soon…
Hutcheson Memorial Forest is a Rutgers research and teaching facility. Designated as a National Natural Landmark, HMF boasts one of the last uncut forests in the Mid-Atlantic. With more than 200 hectares of land under conservation, the HMF Center is devoted to protection of the old forest and research aimed at advancing ecological understanding. As the land manager of the forest I am involved in several research projects on site including long-term observations of community change in the old growth forest, recruitment dynamics in invaded forest gaps, and restoration/management strategies following the exclusion of deer.
