Alpine environments
I've been drawn to alpine environments since childhood, and now I’m lucky to research how these ecosystems respond to climate change.
1) Recruitment of alpine plants. Using field, lab, and greenhouse experiments, I explore how early life stages of alpine plants are affected by climate change and extreme events. Some key questions include: How will early life-history stages respond to a changing climate? What impact will bushfires or thaw/freeze cycles have on the soil seed bank? How will a warmer, drier future influence seed development, germination strategies, and seedling establishment?
2) Climate Change & Alpine vegetation. As part of my Master’s research (2012), I established permanent monitoring plots in alpine and treeline vegetationon Cofre de Perote (Mexico). Repeated measurements of plant structure, diversity, and reproductive phenology provide insights into how Mexico’s sub-tropical alpine vegetation is adapting to climate change.
