Research interests
My research seeks to define how biotic and abiotic factors impact plant interactions and performance, and how climate change could invoke shifts in community assembly. I am particularly interested in the interaction of trees with other less conventional growth forms that push the limits of plant physiological theory (i.e., palm trees, climbers, epiphytes, bamboo, saprophytes, etc.). The study of these organisms and their interactions can provide insights on several fundamental ecological concepts such as competition, invasion, and stress resilience. My research focuses on elucidating how these growth forms compete with trees and other species, invade new communities, impact the overall forest ecosystem function and structure, and how these interactions may change under environmental shifts induced by climate change or human encroachment. I approach such questions by merging vegetation models and theory with qualitative empirical data collected using established and emerging technologies.
Current research pursuits
Liana Infestation strategies
Together with Matteo Detto, PhD, I began a journey to deepen our understanding of what drives liana infestation strategies and vigor and how this is impacted by forest structure and climate conditions. We developed a new theoretical framework which will be tested using a vast empirical dataset obtained by Helene Muller-Landau, PhD, covering many Panamenian forest sites.
The importance of temperate climbers
I am reviewing the literature on temperate climbers in order to make a substantiated case advocating for the research needs and the vast opportunities available in studying temperate lianas and vines . Here you see the beautiful fruits of one of the most undesirable and highly invasive liana species in North America: the Porcelain berry (Ampelopsis glandulosa).
North-American leaf traits and fluxes
In collaboration with the Sack lab at UCLA, my colleague Matteo Detto, PhD (see picture) and I collected leaf gas exchange measurements of the dominant tree species at various research forest sites (i.e., Harvard Forest, SERC, etc). In parallel, various leaf hydraulic and morphological traits were measured by the Sack lab. Together, this vast dataset will improve our understanding of how North American trees will respond to climate change.
Abscisic acid dynamics in North American trees and lianas
Together with my colleague Cade Kane, PhD, I am characterizing diurnal patterns and drivers of abscisic acid (a drought stress hormone) responses. During the summer, we monitored leaf gas exchange (using the Licor6800) and hormone levels in several woody plant species, including the iconic local liana 'Boston Ivy' (Parthenocissus tricuspidata).
Global impact of lianas on forest dynamics and fluxes
I am eager to translate all new insights and observations into a global liana model, covering both the temperate and tropical ecosystems, to assess how lianas affect global and local forest functioning, dynamics, and composition.