Research
Cross-ecosystem interactions
Ecological systems are comprised of diverse ecosystem types, which differ in the species assemblages they encompass and in their functioning. Different types of ecosystems do not exist in isolation but are connected through the movement of organisms and spatial flow of non-living resources (e.g., dead leaves, inorganic nutrients) between them. For example, seabirds forage in the ocean but roost in terrestrial ecosystems, and leaf litter and insects seasonally flow between forests and freshwater ecosystems. A primary goal of our research is to develop a mechanistic understanding of how these cross-ecosystem interactions influence biodiversity and ecosystem functions at local to global scales. In addition, we aim to understand how global change is influencing spatial flows connecting ecosystems and consequently, cross-ecosystem interactions.
Animal movement as a cause and consequence of ecosystem dynamics
Organism movement is ubiquitous in nature and can take on many forms, including dispersal, migration, and feeding movements. Different forms of movement are expected to have different impacts on ecosystems. Yet, ecological theory focuses primarily on the role of dispersal. Our research aims to develop a mechanistic understanding of the role of non-dispersal movements in food-web and ecosystem dynamics across time and space. As organism movement is typically an individual-level behaviour not shared by all individuals of a population, the lab also studies the significance of individual variation in movement for food-web and ecosystem dynamics. This research recognizes a bidirectional relationship between movement behaviour and ecosystem dynamics: movement behaviour can influence ecosystem dynamics, just as ecosystem dynamics can influence movement behaviour.
Temporal variability
Figure from our recent Current Biology paper by Eva Cereghetti
Ecosystems change over time in response to both intrinsic fluctuations (e.g., predator-prey cycles), and environmental fluctuations (e.g., tidal cycles or seasons). As conditions fluctuate, species experience varying levels of stress and opportunity, which can influence their success and shape overall community composition and ecosystem functions. The lab studies how communities and ecosystems respond to these changing conditions, aiming to understand the patterns and processes that drive biodiversity and long-term ecosystem dynamics.