As an ecologist, I am interested in the evolution and maintenance of biodiversity (the variety of life), and in particular, what determines species diversity at different spatial scales (local to global). Local communities lend themselves to experimental manipulation and my research in this area includes experimental studies in Michigan lakes on fish and invertebrate diversity, a long-term experiment on the drivers of species richness in Michigan grasslands, and studies of behavioral variation ("animal personalities") in sunfish. At broad spatial scales, I work collaboratively with ecologists, evolutionary biologists, and paleontologists to understand the causes of geographical gradients in species diversity.

 

Research interests focus on parasitology and ichthyology, with a special interest in aquatic parasitology. It involves parasite taxonomy, host-parasite relationships, community diversity, and pathology of the ectotherm hosts caused by the parasites. Undergraduate students encouraged to become involved.