Research Interests

Disruption of Communication:  My current research along urban gradients has mainly focused on obvious human disturbances, but I am hoping to explore interference that may not be as easily perceived by humans.  Particularly, I am interested in the effects of light and noise pollution on both acoustic and non-vocal communication of breeding birds.  Alterations in timing and method of singing could have serious implications for birds seeking to establish and maintain territories, attract and defend mates, listen for predatory intruders, and maintain communication with family members.  If birds are able to adjust to human light/noise pollution over the short term, there may be physiological and energetic consequences; if their adaptations are heritable, there could also be consequences for subsequent generations and the metapopulation as a whole.

Sustainable Development: To me, the most interesting areas of research today are those that look explore the intersection between humans and other wildlife. Human land use—both current levels and those that we anticipate as populations continue to rise—cannot continue unchecked without severe consequences for a variety of other species, as well as ecological processes. Indeed, we are already observing the impacts of human activities in countless ways: the behavioral adjustments of many animal species, alterations in the distribution and dispersal patterns of plants and animals, changing in cycling processes, local and global species extinction, and glacial melting, just to name a few. Long-term predictions are both alarming and disheartening. However, there are numerous ways to minimize the human impact, even while continuing to harvest natural products and make use of natural spaces. I am interested in exploring these methods, whether they focus on organic farming practices, permaculture, timber harvesting, guidelines for recreational activities, nontraditional medical practices, alternative energies, or any of the many other ways in which humans can minimize their ecological footprints.

Science writing: One of the main reasons I began a career in science was to put myself in a position where I could educate others about science-related topics so that they might make appropriate decisions, both in the voting booth and in their everyday lives. I enjoy public communication in a variety of formats—poems, essays, posters, webpages, seminars—and have tried to use all of them to make knowledge about my researches and natural experiences available to the public. I hope that my research and my personal experiences can influence others to be more interested, more involved, and more discriminating about their own choices. In my own life, I have been influenced by authors such as E.O. Wilson and David Quammen, and it would be more than an honor to follow in their footsteps.