About Jennifer
The loss of biodiversity is a global issue – often labeled as a ‘crisis’ – and rare species are especially susceptible to extinction. The question of why some species are rare while others are common is enduring and has important implications for ecological theory and the conservation of rare species and overall biodiversity. The natural world is dynamic and anthropogentic activities add a new dimension to these dynamics that comprise unprecedented rates of global change. To persist in the face of environmental change, species will need to migrate to locations with more suitable conditions and establish, adapt to novel selection, and/or acclimate to altered conditions. The ability of rare species relative to common species to persist via these alternatives to extinction is the overarching question that drives my scientific curiosity.
Interests
- Plant Ecology and Conservation
- Species Rarity
- Endangered and Threatened Species
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Change
- Stakeholder Collaborations
Education
Ph.D., Earth and Environmental Sciences - Columbia University
New York, NY, 2003
M.A., Earth and Environmental Sciences - Columbia University
New York, NY, 2001
B.S., Environmental Science and English (double major) - Allegheny College
Meadville, PA, 1997