Current Projects:
Potential Effects of Invasive Emerald Ash Borer on Wetland Communities in Black Ash Forests

Emerald ash borers (EAB) are invasive insects that are killing ash trees and dramatically altering ash forests across the Great Lakes region of North America. Changes in forest composition and structure can affect aquatic communities by altering light, nutrients, and hydrology.

Changing Leaf Litter Affects Ecosystem Function: As black ash die, forests will regress to sedge and alder dominated swamps. Alternatively, forest managers could plant alternative canopy trees as ecological replacements (assisted replacement) to maintain forest structure and function. Regardless, changes in leaf litter could alter nutrient flux. We used a caddisfly bio-assay to asses how changes in leaf litter type could affect shredder invertebrates; we also examined decomposition rates of differ species. 

Response of Aquatic Community to the Loss of Ash: As ash wetlands regress to sedge-dominated wetlands, the composition of the aquatic community could change. We are surveying amphibians and aquatic invertebrates within control and clear-cut black ash wetlands on the Chippewa National Forest. 

The Importance of Black Ash Wetlands for Amphibian Communities in Northern Minnesota: Black ash wetlands are the main type of forested wetland in northern Minnesota. Our goal is to determine which amphibian species utilize these wetlands and the relative importance of ash wetlands to amphibians overall. We are surveying adult frogs in ash and non-ash emergent wetlands as well as for larval amphibians in different types of ash wetlands (e.g., large flat swamps vs small depressional wetlands) across northern Minnesota. 

Effects of Land Use on Species Distributions

Using a combination of species distribution models (SDM), surveys, population genetics, and behavioral experiments I have investigated how land use and landscape connectivity affect the distribution of cricket frogs in Ohio across multiple spatial scales.

This map of Ohio highlights areas of suitable habitat (warmer colors), as predicted by an SDM, and the black dots are where cricket frogs were observed during surveys in 2014-2015.

Effects of Habitat Quality on Amphibian Larvae

Using mesocosms, to create artificial ponds, and in situ enclosures, I have been able to study how abiotic and biotic factors affect the growth and survival of tadpoles. These types of experiments allow researchers to study the effects of pesticides, fertilizers, shade, litter type, competitors, predators, land use and more, on amphibian larvae.