Research Interests
Carbon Sequestration in Bottomland Hardwood Forests
One of my current research interests includes monitoring COâ‚‚ flux in the Russell Sage Wildlife Management area. This facility will broaden the horizons of the students not only at 51ÂÜÀò but also in the region, as facilities for **carbon monitoring in accordance with AmeriFlux** do not exist in the state of Louisiana.
I am working with my graduate student and a few undergraduates to collect continuous observations of **ecosystem-level exchanges of COâ‚‚, water, energy, and momentum** spanning diurnal, synoptic, seasonal, and inter-annual time scales. Our contributions to **AmeriFlux** will enhance local, regional, national, and global climate data analysis.
Pit-Mound Micro-topography in Bottomland Hardwood Forests
Currently, I am working on **pit-mound micro-topography** with my graduate student and two undergraduates in my lab. Our primary goal is to understand the **impacts of canopy openings** due to tree-falls and closely monitor how **pit-mounds affect bottomland ecology**.
Additionally, we aim to evaluate how micro-topography in otherwise flat bottomlands **contributes to structural heterogeneity in forests**, shaping their long-term resilience and biodiversity.
Restoration Ecology
Our research focuses on **habitat heterogeneity and stand quality improvement** through experimental **tree thinning** in planted bottomland hardwood forests in north-east Louisiana. Bottomland hardwoods are critical **wildlife habitats** and **biodiversity hotspots**.
Working with a **graduate student and an undergraduate researcher**, we are evaluating the impact of different **tree thinning treatments** in a **28-year-old planted forest** at the **Ouachita Wildlife Management Area (WMA)**. The study analyzes how tree removal influences **stand quality** and **structural heterogeneity**, helping to inform **future restoration strategies**.