I have finished my PhD in the Dartmouth college Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program. I have continued to work with Dr. Matt Ayres studying Dendroctonus frontalis, southern pine beetles. I am interested in the population dynamics of these animals, and I foresee many future directions with this research system. In general, I have studied tree defenses against beetle attacks, as well as beetle competition for tree resources. I use empirical data that I collect from populations in the southeastern US to create models of the population dynamics of this system, in order to better understand the processes involved in these populations. My research is primarily based on theoretical frameworks, but I strive to answer questions with applicability to current forest management issues. Although I am moving on to work on addition research questions involving climate change and plant population dynamics, I will continue to work with bark beetles, and I foresee that being a permanently fruitful field of research.
Monteverde, Costa Rica 2004