Biological invasions are a major component of global change, altering the biosphere at genetic, population, community, and ecosystem levels. In the most dramatic cases, a single non-native species can dominate an entire community in numbers or biomass, producing widespread changes in physical habitat structure and the resident species assemblage. Studies of ecological state changes caused by introduced species not only offer insight into processes such as predation, competition and habitat modification, but also provide avenues to understand and mitigate invasion impacts and restore invaded ecosystems.
My research focuses on the impacts of invasive species in estuarine systems, where food webs have been extensively altered by shellfish aquaculture and other human activities. One major project deals with interactions between an introduced predatory snail, the Japanese oyster drill (Ocinebrellus inornatus), and native and commercially cultivated oysters. I am conducting experiments and comparative sampling at several scales to explore how nonlinear predator-prey dynamics and indirect effects influence drill impacts and optimal control strategies. In a second project, I am studying the community-level effects of non-native Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) as a dominant foundation species on intertidal mudflats. Specifically, my work combines observations and experimental removals to test the hypothesis that oyster reefs and native seagrass beds represent alternative stable community states.
Check back soon for more details on these projects!
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