two thousand nine

Presidential Fellow Biology I am interested in vegetation patterns and how these patterns change as we shift from a local to a global perspective. At the landscape scale, we know that vegetation patterns are controlled by a combination of environment, historical events, and population dynamics, but the relative importance of these three elements is hotly debated. Using emerging airborne remote sensing technologies I am working to identify and measure how plant structure and species composition vary within and between ecosystems and to develop models that quantify this variation. My doctoral research is based in California, where our distinctly “patchy” vegetation is ideal for addressing these questions. Although there are theoretical aspects to my work, I am most interested in the implications for environmental restoration and climate change adaptation. In a rapidly changing world, understanding today’s ecosystems will help us better prepare for the future.