The major goals of my research are to elucidate the roles of spatial and temporal variation in population and community ecology and to link theoretical and empi rical approaches. Making connections between theory and data requires a mathematical background, knowledge of experimental design and statistical analysis, and an understanding of natural history. I am excited about all three of these areas and use this breadth of interest to encourage the testing of ecological and e volutionary theory, the development of appropriate theory for conservation biology, and an understanding of complex patterns observed in the field.

My current projects include studies of (1) the effects of spatial variation in host-parasitoid interactions, using models and field-work with an agricultural pe st (Lygus hesperus) and its specialist egg-parasitoid (Anaphes iole); (2) the community ecology of cynipid gall-wasps on oak trees and their paras itoids; and (3) the role of edaphic spatial variation in patterns of plant and insect biodiversity at four nested spatial scales, from 1 m up to several kilomet ers, in the central coast range of California.