Scientific interests

I am fascinated by animal behavior but am particularly interested in how organisms’ biased perceptions of the world impact their ecology and evolution. This has led me to explore questions rooted in sensory ecology, animal communication and predator-prey interactions. My research links behavioral observations and natural history with theoretical and empirical tools to address a variety of questions, including:

1) How does perceptual uncertainty shape the foraging and defensive strategies of predators and their prey?

2) What are the effects of eavesdropping enemies on the communication systems of their prey?

3) To what extent does variation across sensory systems shape interspecific competition and higher-order ecological processes such as community assembly?

Growing up within the dry landscapes of Southern California and Idaho, I was keenly aware of the magnitude and quickness in which wildfires affect natural systems. So too was I aware of the role of humans in driving these large-scale disturbances. From these experiences, I have developed a broad interest in understanding how ecological communities respond to wildfires. When do species disperse and where do they go? Who comes back and when? What is the relationship between post-fire food webs and community assembly processes through time?