I study Sierra Nevada aquatic communities and ecosystems, with a focus on the amphibians in alpine lakes. As the lead PI for the Mountain Lakes Research Group (MLRG; a name we gave ourselves), my current focus is on understanding the ecology and biology that underlie the decline and recovery of the mountain yellow-legged frogs (Rana muscosa and R. sierrae). This research unites population biology, disease ecology, and community ecology, and leverages collaborations with colleagues studying limnology, ecophysiology, immunology, statistics and mathematical biology, and more. In addition, I work hard to create and maintain relationships with the National Park Service, USFWS, CDFW, and the Oakland and San Francisco Zoos. These partnerships allow MLRG to lead many frog recovery actions (reintroductions) each year.
Although I currently focus on amphibian ecology and conservation, I have also studied and remain keenly interested in communities and species interactions. Some of my previous research areas include mountain yellow-legged frog/gartersnake interactions (especially how predation impacts frog reintroductions), how mountain yellow-legged frog declines impact aquatic insect communities, how tadpoles create resource subsidies and their effect on alpine lake diatom communities, and avian, lizard and human malaria.
I grew up in Vermont, and earned my B.S. in Environmental Science at the University of Vermont. After an initial short and humbling rock climbing trip to Tuolumne in 2003, I spent my first summer studying Sierra Nevada lakes and mountain yellow-legged frogs in 2004. Since then, I have spent all but two (when writing a dissertation) summers conducting field work here. I received my Ph.D. from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2014.