About My Work

I investigate how herbivores, fire, and climate shape landscapes over time. My research integrates rangeland ecology, paleoecology, and biomolecular methods to understand long-term disturbance dynamics and ecosystem adaptation.

I develop and apply paleoenvironmental proxies, especially fecal steroids preserved in lake sediments, to reconstruct past herbivore identity and abundance. This work opens new possibilities for understanding variability in open ecosystems and informing adaptive management strategies.

Why It Matters

Understanding the deep past helps us anticipate and navigate uncertain futures. My work supports efforts to sustain ecological function, cultural memory, and land-based livelihoods, particularly in the working landscapes of the American West.

At New Mexico State University, I am launching a research program focused on interactions among herbivores, fire, climate, and humans across ancient and contemporary cultural landscapes. I am developing lab capacity for analysis of biomarkers and other paleoenvironmental proxies.

Highlights

• Fecal steroids reveal 2,000 years of herbivore presence in Yellowstone

• Paleo records of fire and bison reveal ancient consumer domains of North America

• Bison responses to climate since the Last Glacial Maximum