From microbes to biomes

From soil microbes in perennial grasslands to sustainable management in agroecosystems, we investigate a variety of questions within drylands. We use tools ranging from field and greenhouse experiments, to ecological modeling, meta-analysis, and remote sensing.

All of the questions we approach in our lab have a foot in both basic and applied research. Our ultimate goals are to support agricultural producers, facilitate restoration, and increase the resiliency of dryland ecosystems.

Global Change

We investigate how drylands respond to global change. Our goal is to develop a predictive understanding of how and when drylands will respond and apply this understanding to support adaptive land management of drylands.

Restoration

We explore what factors control dryland restoration outcomes. Our goal is to find creative, cost-effective restoration practices that can be used to recover dryland vegetation, soil health, and biodiversity following disturbance.

Soil Ecology

We explore how soil and soil microbial communities interact with plants and influence ecosystem functioning, and use this knowledge to improve on-the-ground natural resource management in drylands.