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My research focuses on understanding complex, multi-scale dynamics of natural and coupled human-natural systems, particularly focused on impacts of disturbance (climate changes, wildfires, insect outbreaks, erosion and sedimentation, invasive species) on landscapes, ecological communities, and natural and cultural resources.
Research summary
My projects integrate field studies, in-situ instrumentation and monitoring, ecosystem and fire models, geospatial and statistical modeling and analysis, and ecological theory to provide new insights into changing climates, disturbance regimes, and landscapes. Applications include development of strategies for restoration of forests and fire regimes, assessments of landscape resilience and vulnerability, reconstruction of long-term human-environment interactions, predictive models of climate-vegetation-disturbance interactions, quantification of fire impacts on above- and belowground cultural and natural resources, and development of new tools and techniques for quantifying and managing shifting environments. I work in coastal, boreal, and tundra ecosystems in Alaska as well as forest and woodland ecosystems in the interior west and southwestern U.S.
Pre- and post-fire measurements of fire effects can help archaeologists and fire scientists determine how wildfires and prescribed fires impact cultural resources, and how management actions may reduce likelihood of damage
Pre- and post-fire measurements of fire effects can help archaeologists and fire scientists determine how wildfires and prescribed fires impact cultural resources, and how management actions may reduce likelihood of damage
Fire behavior instruments are deployed during wildfires and prescribed fires to provide data on the types of fire environments that damage archaeological resources
Fire behavior instruments are deployed during wildfires and prescribed fires to provide data on the types of fire environments that damage archaeological resources
Archaeologists and fire scientists collaborate to assess impacts of wildfires on archaeological sites in the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico
Archaeologists and fire scientists collaborate to assess impacts of wildfires on archaeological sites in the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico
A managed wildfire in New Mexico demonstrates application of wildland fire
science for forest restoration and risk reduction
A managed wildfire in New Mexico demonstrates application of wildland fire
science for forest restoration and risk reduction
A convective smoke plume from a managed wildfire rises above Ponderosa pine trees, New Mexico
A convective smoke plume from a managed wildfire rises above Ponderosa pine trees, New Mexico
Flames from a managed wildfire consume surface fuels, New Mexico
Flames from a managed wildfire consume surface fuels, New Mexico
Flames consume woody fuels in a managed wildfire, New Mexico
Flames consume woody fuels in a managed wildfire, New Mexico
Controlled experiments that simulate fire environments provide critical information for understanding how fire intensity and duration impact archaeological resources
Controlled experiments that simulate fire environments provide critical information for understanding how fire intensity and duration impact archaeological resources
Pre- and post-fire measurements of fire effects can help archaeologists and fire scientists determine how wildfires and prescribed fires impact cultural resources, and how management actions may reduce likelihood of damage
Pre- and post-fire measurements of fire effects can help archaeologists and fire scientists determine how wildfires and prescribed fires impact cultural resources, and how management actions may reduce likelihood of damage
Fire behavior instruments are deployed during wildfires and prescribed fires to provide data on the types of fire environments that damage archaeological resources
Fire behavior instruments are deployed during wildfires and prescribed fires to provide data on the types of fire environments that damage archaeological resources
Archaeologists and fire scientists collaborate to assess impacts of wildfires on archaeological sites in the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico
Archaeologists and fire scientists collaborate to assess impacts of wildfires on archaeological sites in the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico
A managed wildfire in New Mexico demonstrates application of wildland fire
science for forest restoration and risk reduction
A managed wildfire in New Mexico demonstrates application of wildland fire
science for forest restoration and risk reduction
A convective smoke plume from a managed wildfire rises above Ponderosa pine trees, New Mexico
A convective smoke plume from a managed wildfire rises above Ponderosa pine trees, New Mexico
Flames from a managed wildfire consume surface fuels, New Mexico
Flames from a managed wildfire consume surface fuels, New Mexico
Flames consume woody fuels in a managed wildfire, New Mexico
Flames consume woody fuels in a managed wildfire, New Mexico
Controlled experiments that simulate fire environments provide critical information for understanding how fire intensity and duration impact archaeological resources
Controlled experiments that simulate fire environments provide critical information for understanding how fire intensity and duration impact archaeological resources
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government