Effects of Defaunation in Central Africa
How does interaction incompleteness influence the effects of mammal defaunation on aboveground biomass (ABG) in Central African forests? Combining a meta-network approach with link prediction and landscape-scale plot data, I investigate how defaunation of five mammal groups (elephants, apes, monkeys, duikers, and rodents) affects AGB in Gabon, quantify how interaction incompleteness influences the effect of defaunation AGB, identify the effects of compensation via dietary redundancy on AGB change, and analyze geographic patterns in AGB change by defaunation.
Collaborators: John Poulsen, Jennifer Kampe, Vincent Medjibe, David Duncan, Halina Malinowski, Ankita Gupta |
Lemur Seed Dispersal
What are the effects of lemur gut-passage on plant germination and how do animal and plant traits mediate these effects? I assess the impacts of lemur extirpation on plant germination by examining how lemur-mediated seed dispersal affects germination outcomes. Combining captive-animal research at the Duke Lemur Center with field-based studies of wild animals, I quantify the effects of lemur gut-passage on germination rates and time-to-germination and predict how plant and lemur functional traits mediate the effects of lemur gut-passage on germination. I work in the COMATSA corridor in the SAVA region of Madagascar, in close collaboration with local partners and colleagues from the Duke Lemur Center SAVA Conservation Program.
Collaborators: John Poulsen, James Herrera, Edgar Rabevao, Edouard Mahazandry, Zico Zandry, Telessy Feno, Jeantauné Njakandrina, Jeremia Andrianajaona, Eric Jean Tsilanizara, Jean Ranohianasy, Jean Tiamanana, William Ramalanjaona, George Raveloson, Emerancine, Raharizafinirina Mamy Omega, Dedriek Whitaker, Allie Monahan, Borna Zareiesafandabadi |
Lemur-Plant Ecological Networks
How does disturbance affect lemur-plant multilayer (seed dispersal, seed predation, herbivory) network structure? I examine how habitat type (indicator of disturbance) and changes to lemur populations (consequence of disturbance) affect lemur-plant network structure in the COMATSA. Specifically, my colleagues and I combine diverse data sources — including local ecological knowledge — to identify how habitat type affects plant-lemur network organization, simulate how reduction in lemur populations affects network structure and, consequently, ecosystem functioning, and quantify the role of tree and lemur species in the interaction network and assess the factors influencing these roles.
Collaborators: John Poulsen, James Herrera, Edgar Rabevao, Edouard Mahazandry, Zico Zandry, Telessy Feno, Jeantauné Njakandrina, Jeremia Andrianajaona, Eric Jean Tsilanizara, Jean Ranohianasy, Jean Tiamanana, William Ramalanjaona, George Raveloson, Emerancine, Raharizafinirina Mamy Omega, Candidier Dimbiarijaonina, Marie Rolande Soa, Roméo Bezaralahy |
Lemur Distributions
What are the effects of habitat disturbance on lemur occupancy? I quantify the effects of disturbance on lemur distributions throughout the COMATSA using field surveys, occupancy models, and GIS techniques.
Collaborators: James Herrera, Edgar Rabevao, Elise Boos, Tristan Frappier-Brinton, Zico Zandry, Telessy Feno, Jeantauné Njakandrina, Eric Jean Tsilanizara, Jean Ranohianasy, Jean Tiamanana, George Raveloson, Emerancine, Raharizafinirina Mamy Omega |
Forests and Human Health
How does human health affect forest structure and composition throughout time? In collaboration with Health in Harmony, Missouri Botanical Gardens, and several other institutions, I research the relationships between human and forest health in Manombo Special Reserve, Madagascar. We established and monitor long-term forest plots throughout the protected area, coinciding with parallel projects related to human and wildlife heath.
Collaborators: John Poulsen, Christopher Golden, Sedraniaina Rasolomihaja, Sandratra Andrianarivelo, Richard Randrianaivo, Laurent Raveloson, Nina Finley, Elise Paietta, Rachel Johnston, Eric Baitchman |