| Education:
M.S.,
Michigan State University, 2004
B.S., Michigan State University, 2001
- 2006
Bertha Morton Scholarship
¨ 2006
NASA-MSU Professional Enhancement Award
¨ 2002-2003
Department of Zoology Fellowship – MSU
¨ 2003
Graduate Student Research Enhancement Award – MSU
¨ 2003
Lauff Research Award – Kellogg Biological Station
¨ 2002
Ecology-Evolutionary Biology, & Behavior Program Fellowship–MSU
Determinants
of avian community structure in managed forests
Understanding
factors influencing species distributions and abundances
is a fundamental question in ecology. This understanding
has important applications in habitat management, specifically
related to the conservation of species. Despite the significance
of this question, our understanding of the relationships
between management and wildlife remains inadequate. One hindrance
may be the continued use of concepts of questionable merit,
specifically the "biodiversity" and "indicator
species" concepts. Both of these concepts are based
on the assumption that different species respond similarly
to the same environmental factors. While this assumption
is questionable, the concepts are still commonly used. It
remains unclear as to whether or not these concepts are appropriate
tools to guide research and management. Likewise, our understanding
of wildlife-habitat relationships has been limited by our
lack of knowledge as to how biotic (e.g., competition and
predation) and abiotic (e.g., disturbance) factors collectively
influence wildlife populations. Understanding factors that
affect wildlife communities requires a consideration of both
biotic and abiotic factors, as well as their relative influence,
yet few studies examine these factors simultaneously. Similarly,
we must also carefully consider the issue of scale, as the
scale of a study can affect our inferences. Previous studies
focused on fine spatial scales; however, fine-scale studies
may not capture the relevant patterns and processes driving
wildlife-habitat associations at broader spatial scales.
Examining the major factors influencing wildlife populations
with a multi-scale approach will allow me to develop a broad-scale
understanding of wildlife-habitat relationships. Ultimately,
this knowledge will inform managers of the predicted effects
of management practices on wildlife.
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