Research Interests
Carbon Sequestration in Bottomland Hardwood Forests
One of my current research interests includes monitoring CO₂ flux in the Russell Sage Wildlife Management area. This facility will broaden the horizons of the students not only at ULM but also in the region, as facilities for **carbon monitoring in accordance with AmeriFlux** do not exist in the state of Louisiana.
I am working with my graduate student and a few undergraduates to collect continuous observations of **ecosystem-level exchanges of CO₂, water, energy, and momentum** spanning diurnal, synoptic, seasonal, and inter-annual time scales. Our contributions to **AmeriFlux** will enhance local, regional, national, and global climate data analysis.
Pit-Mound Micro-topography in Bottomland Hardwood Forests
Currently, I am working on **pit-mound micro-topography** with my graduate student and two undergraduates in my lab. Our primary goal is to understand the **impacts of canopy openings** due to tree-falls and closely monitor how **pit-mounds affect bottomland ecology**.
Additionally, we aim to evaluate how micro-topography in otherwise flat bottomlands **contributes to structural heterogeneity in forests**, shaping their long-term resilience and biodiversity.
Restoration Ecology
Our research focuses on **habitat heterogeneity and stand quality improvement** through experimental **tree thinning** in planted bottomland hardwood forests in north-east Louisiana. Bottomland hardwoods are critical **wildlife habitats** and **biodiversity hotspots**.
Working with a **graduate student and an undergraduate researcher**, we are evaluating the impact of different **tree thinning treatments** in a **28-year-old planted forest** at the **Ouachita Wildlife Management Area (WMA)**. The study analyzes how tree removal influences **stand quality** and **structural heterogeneity**, helping to inform **future restoration strategies**.