Research

Understories are a vital component of forest ecosystems, as they host a majority of plant species found in forests. Bracken Fern, commonly known as Pteridium aquilinum, is the dominant species in the understories of the forests in Northern Michigan. Dominant species, such as bracken fern, can have effects on ecosystems that are proportional to their high biomass. I was interested in understanding how the removal of Bracken fern could affect microclimate across understories at the University of Michigan Biological Station, and how those microclimatic changes could, in turn, affect seedling traits and, consequently, seedling success. You can read my M.S. thesis to learn more about the cool findings of this project!

I will be continuing some of this work during my PhD, as the first chapter of my dissertation will focus on  how the removal of bracken fern impacts microbial activty and function.