Community and Network Ecology

We study the network connections and interactions between bees and plant species in various landscapes to aid in conservation planning.  A key component of this work is deriving an understanding of keystone species and specialist relationships, which can help reestablish functioning pollination networks by replanting specific plant species, removal or control of non-native plants, and monitoring populations and distributions of plants and pollinators over time.

We are investigating pollinator communities and network connections in several systems including restored longleaf pine systems, upland hardwoods, power line rights-of-way, and commercial forests. 

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We are developing methods for utilizing DNA meta barcoding from pollen collected by wild bees to understand and analyze network connections.