RESEARCH
This page showcases the research projects I am currently leading or collaborating on. Each project is presented with a brief description and an image—clicking on any of them opens a dedicated page with detailed information, including extended summaries, photos, team members, publications, and related materials.
Ambodimarohita Forest Fragments
Biodiversity and ecological assessments to direct locally grounded conservation efforts across this highly biodiverse lowland rainforest fragment in southeastern Madagascar.
Hippopotamus spp. in Ranomafana National Park
Excavating and documenting subfossil remains of extinct Hippopotamus spp. from a recently identified cave system in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. This work aims to reconstruct past ecosystems and determine the timing and drivers of extinction, offering insights that can inform the conservation of extant species.
Noninvasive Techniques and Technologies
Using noninvasive techniques to advance primate research and conservation. Project 1 utilizes portable DNA sequencing technologies to identify individuals noninvasively, enhancing the utility of wildlife research and monitoring efforts for endangered species. Project 2 investigates hormonal development in Ateline primates to understand the socio-environmental conditions that shaped K-selected life history traits—such as extended lifespan and larger brain size—while also applying methodologies for stress hormone monitoring to assess physiological responses and adrenal function, informing conservation strategies for vulnerable populations.
Lemur Biodiversity across Madagascar’s COFAV Corridor
We conducted an eight-month survey across 227 km² of Madagascar’s COFAV rainforest corridor to update lemur distribution records. Using line-transects and opportunistic encounters, we documented 11 species and one putative hybrid, with range expansions for golden bamboo lemurs and sifakas, but a reduced historic range for black-and-white ruffed lemurs. Connecting multiple protected areas and supporting gene flow and dispersal, this unprotected yet vital corridor remains a priority for future conservation efforts.
Informing Management Strategies in Tetiaroa, French Polynesia
Working with PIs Michael Burnett and Charlie Braman (University of California, Santa Barbara) to quantify the groundwater consumption of native versus invasive tree species using sapflow probes to enhance the management of groundwater resources, assess the influence of terrestrial crabs on forest nutrient cycles through exclosures equipped with ‘fluxbot’ sensors to monitor soil nutrients, and capture Birgus latro (coconut crabs) population densities across motu to study the effects of forest types on crab communities.