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I am broadly interested in nutrient dynamics in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, particularly in “hotspots” of soil carbon storage. As such, research has focused on belowground changes in northern peatlands, boreal ecosystems, and temperate forests, and the corresponding changes in dissolved chemistry. Ecosystem change is a pretty relative concept, but study designs incorporating experimental manipulation or natural disturbances can be particularly persuasive in learning an ecosystem’s secrets.

"If trees could run away from their place of establishment, believe me many of them probably would! This is why what is going on at the interface of soil/soil water/and plants across changing environments can be so telling of how ecosystems might behave in an altered climate."

Natural disturbances offer great opportunities to determine how ecosystems reorganize, and wildfires in particular can dramatically alter how long carbon can stay in above and belowground components of an ecosystem. Besides, getting outside and seeing first-hand how disturbances such as flooding or wildfire have altered the functioning of an ecosystem is just really exciting!

Specific Interests:

Soil carbon
Plant/soil relationships
Decomposition
Dissolved organic carbon
Wildfire
Black Carbon