Thermal physiology and ecoimmunology

Recent anthropogenic environmental change has had important negative effects on population demographics across taxa. The combined effects of anthropogenic environmental change have been termed global change, which includes climate change, habitat loss and degradation, and the human-mediated spread of invasive species. To this end, reptiles serve as my experimental models to assess how proximate mechanisms of global change drive ultimate demographic responses.

Much of my research is focused on understanding rapid- verses gradual temperature change on reptile immunity. I have ongoing studies looking at temperature- and season-dependent immunity in gopher tortoises and common musk turtles.