My research program addresses how ecological processes at the population and community level impact how ecosystems function. I am particularly interested in how animal movement patterns and behavior can influence food web structure and ecosystem function. My research currently addresses three central questions: 1) What role do animals play in nutrient cycling and translocation within and across ecosystems? 2) How do the quantity and quality of resource subsidies interact with ecosystem characteristics to influence food web structure and ecosystem function? 3) How do ecosystems respond to the loss or replacement of animal populations? To answer these questions, I use both field observations and field and mesocosm experiments, and I employ a range of methodological approaches, from radio telemetry on animals to estimates of whole ecosystem production. I typically work in wetland and river ecosystems and at the interface of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. I am particularly interested in linking fundamental ecological questions with applied conservation and management approaches. I am currently working as a Postdoctoral Scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, conducting research in the Mara River of East Africa.
