Degrees
M.Math Statistics, 2005, University of Waterloo
M.Sc. Ecology and Environmental Biology, 2004, University of Alberta
B.Sc. Biology (hons., co-op), 1997, University of Victoria, with a minor in Statistics
Current Research
My dissertation research is determining whether American Redstarts wintering in southwest Puerto Rico are forced to compete for food with endemic Adelaide's Warblers. Although previous work and my observations suggest that they do compete, I am also attempting to eliminate alternative non-competitive strategies that redstarts could use be using in this community. Thus, my study examines foraging niches of both species, aggressive behaviours between species, and food supply. Hopefully I'll also be able to include anole lizards in my research this year. I work in a dry deciduous forest ecosystem at the Guánica Commonwealth Forest Reserve, an UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve.
Past Research
Urban ecology of Wood Thrush: Wood Thrush are thought to be a species of interior forests and sensitive to forest fragmentation. At the University of Waterloo, I used nest data collected in several woodlots bordering the city to identify habitat characteristics associated with Wood Thrush nests, and determine whether breeding Wood Thrus prefer the interior of woodlots. We are also studying how subsequent urbanization of the surrounding landscape influences Wood Thrush nest-site selection. This is joint work with Jock Mackay, Lyle Friesen and Virgil Martin.
Spatial scale and temporal variation in boreal birds: Most populations exhibit fluctuations in abundance across a range of spatial and temporal scales. My M.Sc. thesis developed a theoretical framework and empirical techniques for estimating the appropriate spatial scales to use in studies of population dynamics. Such scales were then estimated for 25 species of boreal songbirds. I then attempted to determine what mechanisms might be responsible for synchronizing their population dynamics over the spatial scales observed. This was joint work with Susan Hannon and Fiona Schmiegelow.
Edge effects in understory plant communities: Edge effects occur at the edges of forest patches, when the matrix influences the forest near the patch edge and the forest influences the matrix near the patch edge. My undergraduate thesis examined plant communities along a gradient from matrix interior to forest interior to determine if differences in composition occurred. Using piecewise regression, I was able to estimate that edge effects penetrated approximately 42 m into the forest patch. Later work with Mary Lesperance further developed the estimation procedures and confidence intervals for piecewise regression.
Other projects I’ve worked on: Baseline monitoring of forest structure under partial forest harvesting regimes (for Glen Dunsworth); plant community, forest structure, and commercial tree ecology in managed forest ecosystems (for Bill Beese and Glen Dunsworth); habitat use of Pileated Woodpeckers (for Carol Hartwig); ocean distribution patterns of Coho and Chinook salmon, patterns of survival in salmon populations along the west coast of North America (for David Welch).