Research in the Burkepile Lab
Widespread anthropogenic alterations of biotic and abiotic forces endanger the integrity of ecosystems worldwide. We study the ecological implications of altering these ecological drivers on community organization and ecosystem function and place particular emphasis on the cascading effects of altering trophic interactions and ecosystem productivity. Our main emphasis is on coastal marine ecosystems, particularly coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea, but we have ongoing research in terrestrial ecosystems in both North American and South African savanna grasslands as well as past research in freshwater ecosystems in the Southeastern US. Integrating across many ecosystems and taxa allow us to make robust conclusions about the ecological processes that drive communities and ecosystems. Some of the recent and ongoing research projects in our lab include (click on the links below for more information):
Impact of Herbivores and Eutrophication on Coral Reef Communities
Herbivore Size, Fire, and Ecosystem Productivity as Drivers in African Savannas
Chemical-mediation of Consumer-prey Interactions
Herbivory and Exotic Plant Invasions