Ecology research
Climate change, natural disturbances, and human land use patterns shape ecosystems at multiple spatial scales. A detailed understanding of these socio-ecological dynamics is crucial for sustainably managing forests, grasslands, and coastal habitats in the face of changing climatic conditions and evolving land use goals. My research focuses on understanding the complex, interactive effects of these factors on forested, coastal, and grassland ecosystems in western North America. I use a multidisciplinary suite of dendrochronological, ecological, statistical, and geospatial methods to examine ecosystem dynamics at a variety of spatial and temporal scales.
My current research projects are focused on the influence of drought, fire, and insect outbreaks on nutrient availability dynamics and tree establishment patterns in the Pacific Northwest; alpine tree line advancement in the North Cascades; climate controls on the endemic seaside juniper in the Salish Sea region; GIS-based spatial analysis of insect outbreak patterns in western North America; and analyses of historical trends in the distribution of kelp, grasslands, coastal wetlands, and other key ecosystem types in the Salish Sea region.
Spatial data and maps
I am in the ongoing process of writing and designing the Salish Sea Atlas, an award-winning open access digital book containing maps, illustrations, interpretive text, and downloadable geospatial datasets addressing cultural and environmental themes across the Salish Sea Bioregion.
The concept of a cohesive Salish Sea region has become a critical focal point for local education, research, restoration, conservation, and policy development. The scarcity of accurate, cohesive, and easily available spatial data and thematic maps covering the entire bioregion is a critical impediment to the efforts. The Atlas of the Salish Sea aims to address this need.
I am also currently working on the first ever transboundary Climate Change Assessment for the Salish Sea.
My labs
I am the Director of the Spatial Institute at Western Washington University. I am a member of the Tree-Ring Lab and run the Biogeography Research Group.
I will be accepting graduate students and undergraduate lab assistants for the 2024-2025 academic year. I am particularly interested in recruiting a graduate student to conduct GIS-based spatial analyses of endemic species distributions and historical land cover change in the Salish Sea region. Funding may be available. Please contact me if you are interested in applying to work with me.
My publications
View selected publications here.