We use manipulative field and laboratory experiments to investigate positive, negative, and indirect species interactions in a range of ecological communities from tropical rainforest to temperate agroecosystems. Our lab addresses theory by empirical studies of complex interactions  has focused on the consequences of trophic interactions for plant fitness and arthropod populations. We use techniques associated with manipulative field experiments, comparative biology, and chemical ecology. The work in the is currently funded by a five year NSF grant to study the community and evolutionary ecology of specialized insects on milkweed.  CLICK HERE for slide presentations on our past work.

Ongoing projects and collaborations in the lab (click for more info):

1. Community organization of herbivores on milkweed

2. Specificity in the chemically-mediated interactions between milkweed and its herbivores

3. The macroevolution of defensive traits in the genus Asclepias

4. Elicitation of plant defenses as an alternative to pesticides on potato

5. Community genetics: plant genetics & arthropod community structure

6. A phylogenetic analysis of host range evolution in diverse parasites

7. Consequences of generalist vertebrate grazers (deer) on the success of native and exotic plants

8. Direct and indirect defense of plant roots

In addition to these main areas of research we have many areas other side projects (see publications) and also a general interest in community ecology, species interactions, and evolutionary ecology.