Broadly
speaking my research interests encompass how biotic interactions affect the
distribution and abundance of species. I am particularly interested in how
parasites affect the demographics of their hosts and how community structure
is altered by the presence of parasites. Although parasites are often common
in many systems, their roles are poorly understood, particularly in marine
and estuarine environments. I seek to understand the complex ways parasites
interact with free-living species and the extent to which they influence the
structure of host populations and the communities in which they live.
Much of my research focuses on biological invasions. Introduced species provide a way to test predictions about the ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions as well as the effect of parasites in natural communities. I am interested in the understanding the extent to which parasites affect the demographic success of introduced species as well as exploring the impact of introduced parasites on native communities. Because the impacts of introduced species are a direct function of their demographic success, understanding factors explaining their success will help manage exotic species.