Aquatic & Riparian Ecology/Conservation Biology
My research addresses the ecology and restoration of rivers and streams. The flow of water is the driving force that organizes and maintains the biota associated with these systems. A principal objective of my work is the examination of how alterations of this flow, both of natural and anthropogenic origin, affect the structure and functioning of these ecosystems. In particular, I am interested in how flooding, or the lack thereof, affects the productivity of riparian forests along dryland rivers. I am currently studying river-floodplain interactions and the ecological significance of floods along rivers in New Mexico and Namibia. My research program combines approaches from limnology, hydrology, geology and dendrochronology (tree ring analysis) to provide an integrated perspective on how these systems respond to hydrologic alteration. In addition, I am also interested in issues relating to natural resource management and development in sub-Saharan Africa.
