Overview
As a physiological ecologist, my primary interests are to understand how environmental stresses on leaf gas exchange and plant carbon allocation control carbon gain, plant growth and reproduction. My research focuses on environmental factors likely to be affected by global change, particularly direct effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) and tropospheric ozone (O3) on physiology, and indirect effects on species interactions and distribution. My current research addresses two topics: i) the effects of environmental stress, including elevated CO2, on stomatal function, plant growth, and carbon allocation, and ii) controls on establishment of an invading species.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Emerita Assistant Professor of the Practice in the Division of Environmental Sciences and Policy
·
2019 - Present
Environmental Sciences and Policy,
Nicholas School of the Environment
Recent Publications
The Relationship Between Maturation Size and Maximum Tree Size From Tropical to Boreal Climates.
Journal Article Ecology letters · September 2024 The fundamental trade-off between current and future reproduction has long been considered to result in a tendency for species that can grow large to begin reproduction at a larger size. Due to the prolonged time required to reach maturity, estimates of tr ... Full text CiteUsing TAPE to assess agroecology on women-led farms in the U.S.: Support for environmental and social practices
Journal Article Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development · September 1, 2023 Agriculture models predicated upon producing monocultures for export have proven unsustainable. In response, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has called for nations to produce food agroecologically in alignment with natural ... Full text CiteMasting is uncommon in trees that depend on mutualist dispersers in the context of global climate and fertility gradients.
Journal Article Nature plants · July 2023 The benefits of masting (volatile, quasi-synchronous seed production at lagged intervals) include satiation of seed predators, but these benefits come with a cost to mutualist pollen and seed dispersers. If the evolution of masting represents a balance bet ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Identifying Barriers to Sustainable Food Production by Low Resource Producers and Purchase by Low Income Consumers in Washington and Hyde Counties, North Carolina
FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of Georgia · 2013 - 2014Radionuclide Imaging Technologies for Biological Systems
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Department of Energy · 2010 - 2014View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Duke University ·
1990
Ph.D.
San Diego State University ·
1985
M.S.
McGill University (Canada) ·
1981
B.S.