General Philosophy and Approach

Although my research has been rather broad, in the systems studied, approaches taken, and questions asked, there are several recurrent themes.  I ask questions that center around patterns of species diversity, composition, and relative abundance, and the processes that create them.  I maintain empirical research programs in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.  In addition, I collate data from previously published studies in a variety of synthetic works.  Finally, I develop analytical models and computer simulations to ask a variety of ecological questions. 

I am particularly interested in having students and collaborators who broaden my research foci, rather than deepen it.  As such, I prefer to advise students whose research is related, but rather independent from mine.