Plant Community Ecology

Our research is driven by an interest in understanding species coexistence,
particularly the processes that maintain high forest diversity.
Our projects are field-based and long-term, in temperate and tropical forests,
and we address our research questions with a wide variety of rigorous, quantitative tools.

Tropical Seedling dynamics

Many of the most prominent hypotheses about the maintenance of tropical forest diversity describe processes that occur early in a plant’s life history. Since 2002, we have been monitoring regeneration within the long-term forest dynamics plot in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador. ...more

Endemic forest Pathogens

We know groups like the oomycetes to be destructive agricultural pests or the causes of widespread tree mortality when introduced to new systems. But we know very little about the roles these pathogens play when endemic. In Summer 2016, we started investigating regeneration dynamics and potential roles for ooymcetes in determining tree diversity in an old growth forest near Portland. This study is funded by NSF's Dimensions of Biodiversity program and is in collaboration with Oregon State University, Southern Oregon University, and Utah State University. ...more

Disturbance Interactions

Coastal California forests have experienced extensive mortality from Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of sudden oak death (SOD). The effects of this mortality cascade through the system to alter forest structure and interact with disturbances like wildfire. ...more

Latest News

August 2024 - our 3rd IRES cohort is home sweet home after an incredible 6 months doing independent research at the Yasuní Scientific Station in Ecuador.
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November 2023 - Congratulations to Metz Labber and IRES mentee Gabi Kuglen-Alvarez!!  She won a poster prize at the Murdock College Science Research Program for her NSF IRES-funded research in Ecuador on leaf area variation! Felicidades!!

July 2023 - Woohoo!  Renewal LTREB grant awarded to continue seed and seedling dynamics work in Ecuador and Puerto Rico!

November 2022 - Deeply honored to have been nominated by Lewis & Clark and chosen by the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust for the Swanson Research Promise Award.  I love working with our students.
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October 2022 - Applications now open for a summer research experience in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.

Recent Lab adventures

More photo fun here....