Jennifer Williams, Professor, Department of Geography & Biodiversity Research Centre
I am interested in the eco-evolutionary dynamics that shape population abundance in one location through time and that drive population distributions in space. I incorporate a demographic perspective in much of the research that I do to better understand the underlying drivers of patterns we observe using a variety of simulation and mathematical models. I continue to be fascinated by questions about invasive species, with a more recent focus on understanding variability in speed during range expansion. [Google Scholar profile]
Contact info:
By email: jennifer (dot) williams (at) geog (dot) ubc (dot) ca
By mail: Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, 217-1984 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2
By phone: +1 (604) 827-1592
Contact info:
By email: jennifer (dot) williams (at) geog (dot) ubc (dot) ca
By mail: Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, 217-1984 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2
By phone: +1 (604) 827-1592
Jenna Loesberg (Ph.D. student)
I'm interested in understanding the demographic processes underlying how populations respond to changes in climate. My PhD examines how climate drivers interact with life-history trade-offs, density, and invasive plants to influence native plant demography and population persistence. I look at these processes in native perennial and annual forbs within our lab's rainfall manipulation experiment on Vancouver Island. Read more about my research on my website.
Carla Urquhart (Ph.D. student)
My research focuses on how rapid evolutionary processes during range expansions shape, and are shaped by, ecological dynamics. Using both experimental expansions in the greenhouse and simulation models I am investigating the role of evolution in determining how well we can predict expansion speed, as well as the influence of mating systems, Allee effects, and interspecific competition on the eco-evolutionary dynamics of range expansion.
Robin Bradley (M.Sc. student)
I am investigating the long-term effects of drought on Garry oak savanna plant community composition and beta diversity. I am interested in how climate change impacts plant species dynamics and shifts in plant community structure.
Lucky Barahebuza (Ph.D. student) - co-supervised with Naomi Schwartz
My research focuses on the impact of anthropogenic activities (such as hunting, global warming) on the regeneration and spatial structure of tropical forest ecosystems and the implications for key ecosystem services. Before beginning doctoral studies, I earned a master’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut, USA. As a fun fact, I enjoy the outdoors, mainly hiking, running, and socializing with family and friends.
Navneet Goraya (undergraduate student)
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I have been responsible for growing and maintaining duckweeds (Lemna minor) as a model system for understanding species range dynamics. I also help quantify changes in plant species composition and community traits of a field site on Vancouver Island!
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Nehal Bhushan (undergraduate student)
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I am extracting DNA and genotyping tissue samples from range expansion experiments in duckweeds and in Arabidopsis thaliana. We want to know which genotypes are at the leading edge and core at the end of the experiments, and the way to do that is to use DNA to identify the lineage (or genotype) of individuals.
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Lab alumni
Jian Zheng, UBC Work Learn International Award and undergraduate assistant
Currently, MSc student, U Toronto
Currently, MSc student, U Toronto
Ryan Ng, undergraduate student (2023-2024)
Currently: 2nd year MSc student, UBC Geography
Currently: 2nd year MSc student, UBC Geography
Teagan Machlachlan, undergraduate student (2023-2024), currently 4th year BSc student, UBC Biology
Scott Nordstrom, Postdoctoral Associate (2023-2024)
(website)
Currently: postdoctoral associate, Portland State University
(website)
Currently: postdoctoral associate, Portland State University
Bellie Zhu, UBC International Work Learn Award & undergraduate assistant (2022 - 2023)
Undergraduate student: Assisted with Arabidopisis experimental expansions. Investigated the effects of simulated herbivory on the fitness of the native annual plant, Plectritis congesta
Currently: Masters of Env Management student, Duke University
Undergraduate student: Assisted with Arabidopisis experimental expansions. Investigated the effects of simulated herbivory on the fitness of the native annual plant, Plectritis congesta
Currently: Masters of Env Management student, Duke University
Erin McHugh, URSA & undergraduate assistant (2021 - 2023)
Undergraduate Thesis: Effects of competition on range expansion in Arabidopsis thaliana
Currently: PhD student, UToronto
Undergraduate Thesis: Effects of competition on range expansion in Arabidopsis thaliana
Currently: PhD student, UToronto
Ria Raut, NSERC USRA (2022)
Undergraduate student: investigated species interaction and resilience in the face of climate change.
Currently: PhD student, UC Berkeley
Undergraduate student: investigated species interaction and resilience in the face of climate change.
Currently: PhD student, UC Berkeley
Emma Nikkel, M.Sc. (2022)
Thesis: Effects of climate change on the habitat suitability of 4 relatively new invasive plant species in the Pacific Northwest
Currently: Outreach coordinator, Invasive Species Council of British Columbia
Thesis: Effects of climate change on the habitat suitability of 4 relatively new invasive plant species in the Pacific Northwest
Currently: Outreach coordinator, Invasive Species Council of British Columbia
Lauren Smith, M.Sc. (2021)
Thesis: Herbivorous insect and plant communities respond in complex ways to rainfall manipulation in an oak savanna grassland
Currently: Environmental Consultant, Portland, Oregon
Thesis: Herbivorous insect and plant communities respond in complex ways to rainfall manipulation in an oak savanna grassland
Currently: Environmental Consultant, Portland, Oregon
Sophie Duncan, M.Sc. (2019)
Thesis: Intraspecific life history variation in the introduced range of Cynoglossum officinale
Currently: Conservation Practitioner, The Nature Conservancy, Connecticut office
Thesis: Intraspecific life history variation in the introduced range of Cynoglossum officinale
Currently: Conservation Practitioner, The Nature Conservancy, Connecticut office
Olivia Tabares Mendoza (Ph.D. Student, 2017 - 2019)
Research interests: invasion biology and range expansions
Research interests: invasion biology and range expansions
Jens Johnson, M.Sc. (2018)
Thesis: Mechanisms of coexistence between native and exotic plant species
Currently: Ph.D. student in Risa Sargent's lab, UBC Land and Food Systems
Thesis: Mechanisms of coexistence between native and exotic plant species
Currently: Ph.D. student in Risa Sargent's lab, UBC Land and Food Systems
Emily West, M.Sc. (2018)
Thesis: Across intermediate spatial scales, a specialist insect herbivore responds to climate and host plant size, not host density
Currently: Consultant (Junior Biologist), Keystone Environmental Ltd., Vancouver BC
Danielle Main, NSERC USRA (2018)
Currently: M.Sc. student, Sustainable Forestry Management
Currently: M.Sc. student, Sustainable Forestry Management
Hailey Bloom, NSERC USRA (2017)
Currently: Senior Pollination Research Assistant, U. of Calgary Contact via LinkedIn
Currently: Senior Pollination Research Assistant, U. of Calgary Contact via LinkedIn
Deirdre Loughnan, M.Sc. (2016)
Thesis: "Identifying the context dependencies of plant-herbivore interactions across a species’ range"
Currently: Ph.D. student in Lizzie Wolkovich's lab, UBC Forest & Conservation Sciences
Thesis: "Identifying the context dependencies of plant-herbivore interactions across a species’ range"
Currently: Ph.D. student in Lizzie Wolkovich's lab, UBC Forest & Conservation Sciences
Charlotte Trowbridge, M.Sc. (2015)
Thesis: "Long-term effects of prairie restoration: community structure and native plant population dynamics 6 years after experimental management"
Currently: Conservation Education Program Manager, Tualatin Soil & Water District, Oregon
Thesis: "Long-term effects of prairie restoration: community structure and native plant population dynamics 6 years after experimental management"
Currently: Conservation Education Program Manager, Tualatin Soil & Water District, Oregon
