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TEACHING AND RESEARCH INTERESTS:
• GISscience & Spatial Modeling
• Landscape Ecology
• Biological Invasions & Disease Ecology
• Human-Environment Interactions
• Land Change Modeling
DEGREES:
Ph.D. (2000) Geography, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
B.S. (1993) Physical Geography, University of Georgia
PROFILE:
I have a broad interest in ecological processes underlying spatial
and temporal dynamics of native species distributions and spread
of destructive biological invasions. I am particularly interested
in the emerging discipline of Landscape Ecology, which seeks to
understand how the spatial arrangement and scale of habitat conditions
influence the dispersal and survival of organisms. In pursuit of
these spatially-oriented questions, the conceptual framework of
GIScience and application of its spatial-analytical technologies
have played a pivotal role in my teaching and research.
Much of my recent research has focused on the intersection of landscape
ecology and epidemiology, where I have been collaboratively studying
the spread and impacts of an invasive forest disease causing the
death of potentially millions of native oak trees in California
forests and managed landscapes across Europe. We are using
GIS and remote sensing technologies in combination with intensive
fieldwork and DNA analysis to understand spatial patterns of disease
factors such as forest connectivity and host density, microclimate
conditions, genetic susceptibility of host species, and human land
use practices. Results from our research are being integrated in
GIS-based epidemiological models to forecast future spread and impacts
of the disease. In this work as well as other projects, I have pursued
research at multiple spatial scales through the integration of field
and laboratory data, interviews, remote sensing, spatial analysis,
and predictive modeling.
Locally, I am very interested in understanding the impact of rising
human populations and land use practices on the environment, especially
regarding the ecological consequences of forest fragmentation, poor
air and water quality, and harmful invasive species. In the Center
for Applied GIScience (www.gis.uncc.edu)
we are researching the use of cellular automata modeling and spatial
decision support systems to examine interactions between future
trajectories of urban growth and potential environmental impacts,
with the goal of providing practical analytical tools and data for
environmentally conscious urban and regional planning.
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