Research themes

Forest ecology and management - I believe that some of the most important questions in forest ecology today are to what degree the tree community can overcome global climatic change, and how can we best intervene in managed forests to make these systems more effective at safeguarding biodiversity.

Tree regeneration - I work with the tree community because it plays a central role in the structure, function and resilience of forest ecosystems. In particular, I am fascinated by tree regeneration because a strong selection pressure operates in this phase, reflected in the high mortality rates of seedlings, which can have a profound influence on future forest composition and diversity.

Epiphytes - Epiphytes of the cloud forests are a group that is particularly vulnerable to land use and climatic change due to their restricted niche and because the forest canopy forms the interface between vegetation and the atmosphere. I have researched this group using a diversity of approaches, including plant population dynamics and community ecology.