My research examines the fundamental drivers and constraints of soil biodiversity, specifically how diversity relates to food web dynamics, community and ecosystem responses to environmental disturbances, and the feedback loops between food webs and ecosystem functioning. There are three major questions I investigate: (1) how do invasive species change soil biodiversity and associated ecosystem health? (2) What are the impacts of urbanization on ecosystem and community processes? (3) How does ecosystem structure affect food web responses to changes in resource availability? To address these questions, I use an integrative approach that includes observational and experimental studies, ecological modeling, and molecular techniques.
WEBSITE(S)| Google Scholar Publication List | McCary Lab
Research Areas
ecosystem ecology, ecological modeling, foodwebs, soil biodiversity
Education
B.A. Biology (2010) North Central College
Ph.D. Biology (2016) University of Illinois-Chicago