Senior Lecturer and Senior Research Scientist; Musser Director, Tropical Resources Institute, Yale School of the Environment
Dr. Simon Queenborough is a botanical ecologist whose work focuses on how individuals, species, and communities (including humans) interact over ecological and evolutionary time. Over the past 20 years, he has spent extended periods in the field in Latin America and Europe, carrying out long-term research on plant population dynamics in old-growth tropical forests and managed arable farming communities, as well as working on theoretical models of population dynamics.
Current research interests include understanding mechanisms of diversity, breeding systems and resource allocation, and quantitative methods in population dynamics. His long-term research in Yasuní National Park, one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, examines individual-level reproduction as a function of climate and local environment in a variety of tree species, from long-lived shade-tolerant trees to fast-growing pioneers. Results will help us understand the effects of climate change on tropical forests.
Professor of Tropical Forest Ecology, Yale School of the Environment
Dr. Comita’s research addresses both fundamental and applied questions in the field of plant community ecology, with an emphasis on understanding the drivers of biodiversity in both intact and human-altered tropical forests. Much of her research focuses on processes influencing dynamics of seedlings and saplings, because these early life stages act as a bottleneck in the life cycle of trees and serve as a strong filter on the composition of future plant communities. In addition, spatial and temporal patterns of juvenile survival play a major role in the maintenance of tree species diversity and shape the response of forests to disturbance. Liza use a variety of approaches to address her research questions, including long-term observational studies, field and greenhouse experiments, and computer simulations.
Thomas G Siccama Lecturer; Associate Research Scientist; Director of Research, Yale Forests; Yale School of the Environment
Dr. Duguid is a plant community ecologist, forester, field botanist, and horticulturist. Dr. Duguid’s research addresses questions with applied conservation relevance. Much of her current work is focused on understanding patterns of plant diversity and composition in temperate understory plant communities, especially in managed landscapes. Current projects examine how acute (e.g., forest harvesting) and chronic (e.g., global change, biological invasions) anthropogenic disturbances affect plant communities and other non-targert organisms. She is also interested in how “success” is evaluated following ecological restoration. A primary consideration of Dr. Duguid’s research is how data can be effectively communicated and applied to on-the-ground conservation actions. Along these lines she partners with local, regional, and national organizations to address conservation and restoration questions.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Yale School of the Environment
Dr. Spicer’s research focuses on understanding the development and maintenance of diversity, using large-scale field experiments and observational studies to parse apart the drivers of community assembly in both old-growth and heavily disturbed forest ecosystems. By highlighting diverse, yet understudied, groups of plants, epiphytes, and understory herbs, her research expands ecological theory and provides strategies to sustain high-diversity ecosystems in the future. There’s a lot more to the forest than just the trees!
PhD, Yale School of the Environment
Dr. Radhamoni conducts research on how the diversity of herbaceous
plants varies along gradients of moisture and light in the forests of Western Ghats in India. He has a Bachelor’s degree in
Agriculture, a Master’s degree in Environmental Science, and a diploma in Journalism. Hari previously spent many years working with
wildlife conservation projects in the tropics. Currently, he is excited about finding new, efficient methods and protocols to study
herbaceous plants and their traits, including field surveys, nursery experiments, and herbarium-based research.
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