RESEARCH
I am broadly interested in how wildlife populations, particularly reptiles, respond to natural and human-mediated disturbances. Both natural (e.g., wildfires, heatwaves, floods) and human-induced disturbances (e.g., agriculture, urbanization, habitat fragmentation) have impacts on wildlife communities. In addition to disturbance ecology, I’m also interested in community ecology and natural history studies focusing on predator – prey dynamics, competition, and resource use. These basic natural history studies, although often under-valued, provide the backbone to which our understanding of community dynamics are built.
Land-sharing and Renewable Energy
Land-use conflicts and the ever-expanding development of natural areas for human needs is a constant problem. I'm interested in identifying 'win-win' management stratgeies that allow the same land to be useful and beneficial for multiple pruposes. I'm especially interested in identifying if/how large-scale solar farms can also support suitable wildlife habitat. My research aims to identify management strategies and landscape designs to improve wildlife habitat on solar farms.
Thermal Ecology of Reptiles
Because reptiles are dependent on their environment for body temperature regulation, changes to environmental conditions can drastically alter activity times, behaviours, and physiological functions. I'm interested in the behavioural adaptions that many reptiles use to exploit optimal temperatures in their environment. My recent work explores the mechanisms driving thermoregulation in tropical freshwater turtles, geckos, lizards, and snakes.
Conservation in Agricultural Landscapes
Agricultural landscapes dominate the Earths land surface, but if strategicaly managed, they can still provide ecological benefits for many species. I'm interested in the ecology, conservation, and management strategies for species that co-exist (or are threatened) by agricultural activities. My recent work involves movement patterns of Timber rattlesnakes and Long-neck turtles through farmlands, and conservation of endangered Western Saw-shelled turtles.
The REED lab conducts research projects on a variety of organisms and systems, ranging from applied ecology and management to conservation driven projects. Click on Student Projects below to see what the REED labbers are up to...