Modeling Invasion Dynamics across Scales (MIDAS)

Description:

This NSF funded project (Macrosystems Biology Award #1638702) seeks to understand how the underlying biological, geophysical and socioeconomic factors lead to the emergence of large scale invasion patterns. Our overarching hypothesis is that macroscale invasion patterns are the result of complex, non-linear, and cross-scale interactions among invader, recipient system, and invasion drivers. Our short-term goal is to determine the underlying mechanisms contributing to macroscale invasion patterns for two important taxa of invaders (plants and insect pests) in forests across the continental United States, by using our trait-based, scale-dependent theoretical framework.

Research Topics