RESEARCH INTERESTS & BACKGROUND:
I received a B. S. from the University of the South in May, 2016. While at Sewanee, I was able to participate in a number of different research projects, ranging from cave community studies to understanding how habitat heterogeneity and deer browse interact. My senior thesis work examined occupancy patterns of stream salamander communities of the southern Cumberland Plateau. The aim of this project was to determine what patterns exist and how these may inform the management of these systems. Out of this work we have been able to describe occupancy patterns, patterns in body conditions across the landscape, and help expand the range of the Cumberland dusky salamander (Desmognathus abditus), a species of interest in that region. My research interests broadly include landscape patterns in species distribution and abundance, ecosystem function, and conservation biology. I seek to answer questions related to these topics through studying salamander communities, particularly in headwater systems. I am interested in informing management decisions regarding these systems. I also have a commitment to understanding how science education affects public perception of the environment, and seek to develop those interests in tandem with my field work. I am excited for the opportunity to learn more about conservation and management, and hope to make significant contributions to these fields in the future. |