I research how climate and land-use change impact tropical species via field surveys and passive acoustic monitoring. I also focus on natural history and animal behavior, which can both be crucial for informing conservation decision-making.
I currently conduct research in Panama, at the long-term research sites of the Smithsonian Bird Friendly® coffee program.
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Some of my research questions:
Can agroforests like shade-grown coffee or cacao be beneficial for frogs? How does the soundscape change as habitats become more degraded? How do land-use and climate change affect animals that rely on vocalizations to attract mates? What types of working landscapes discourage movement? Disease susceptibility? How do local species provide ecosystem services in working landscapes? How can agroforests provide a win-win for biodiversity and local livelihoods through certifications like Bird Friendly®? |
I often pursue answers to these questions with frogs in mind. Why?
1) Frogs are understudied in conservation (historical focus on birds & mammals)
2) Frogs are essential for ecosystem health (e.g. indicator species, role in food webs)
3) Frogs do not learn their calls (which makes studying their communication easier)
4) I love frogs. Especially glass frogs:
2) Frogs are essential for ecosystem health (e.g. indicator species, role in food webs)
3) Frogs do not learn their calls (which makes studying their communication easier)
4) I love frogs. Especially glass frogs:
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This is Hyalinobatracium mashpi, a new glass frog species that I helped discover with a team of amazing biologists in Ecuador.
This little guy is sitting on a piece of glass–and yes, that's his heart beating! Read about it here! |
Since I work in remote places, I often come across behaviors
(and sometimes even new species!) that haven't been recorded before.
(and sometimes even new species!) that haven't been recorded before.
Despite centuries of research, nature is still largely a mystery--which is part of what makes it so wonderful. However, to make informed conservation decisions, we need to know as much as possible! So, whenever I can, I also try to describe new insights into the natural history of species: behaviors, breeding biology, vocalizations, diet–you name it.
My favorite discovery thus far...
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Sachatamia orejuela is an elusive glass frog species that is only found near roaring waterfalls in Ecuador and Colombia. I recently discovered that because their habitats are so noisy, they use TWO forms of communication to attract a mate: calling and waving their arms & legs. Their call (which I described for the first time in the same paper) is the highest-pitched of any known glass frog, which likely evolved to combat the white noise of the waterfall. Read the paper here!