Publications

Bee Research
Native bee species are extremely important pollinators to many wild flowering plants and agricultural crops. However, very little is know about the ecology and health of many native bee species. Beginning in 2007, I have been actively involved with improving our understanding of the native bee fauna in Massachusetts, investigating the bee fauna on the Boston Harbor Islands and on three Elizabeth Islands, Cuttyhunk, Penikese, and Naushon Island. Click here to learn more about it. 

Plant-pollinator interactions
I'm interested how co-flowering exotic plant species can influence the way pollinators interact with co-flowering native plant species. I conduct a large field experiment that examined the effect of floral similarity between co-flowering native and exotic plants on pollinator visitation to a native forb (Achillea millefolium). Click here to learn more about it.

Plant-herbivore interactions
I'm interested in how the presence of exotic plant species can influence the way native plants and herbivores interact with one another. I conducted a large field experiment that examined how the identity and diversity of co-occurring exotic plant species influence consumption of the native forb Asclepias syriaca by monarch butterfly larvae. Click here to learn more about it.

Competition and Herbivory
I'm interested how white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginanus) can influence how exotic plant species compete with native plant species. I conducted a large field experiment to examine the independent and combined effect of consumption and competition with exotic plants on native plant growth and herbivory. Click here to learn more about it.

Experimental plot showing almost complete defoliation of red clover and consumption of milkweed by a browsing herbivore, likely a white tailed deer

Monarch butterfly caterpillar consuming its obligate host plant, common milkweed