My research focuses on the effects of disturbance on plant structure and function, plant population dynamics, community composition, and ecosystem processes. I am particularly interested in the effects of fire and anthropogenic disturbances on plants and ecosystems. Many fire-prone ecosystems have experienced fire suppression or increases in fire frequency, and changes in disturbance regimes may alter community structure and ecosystem function and threaten species persistence. Research on the effects of disturbance is necessary to understand how plants persist in disturbance prone ecosystems, to make predictions about the consequences of changing disturbance regimes, and to inform conservation and management decisions.