Hello!
I am a PhD graduate of the Department of Environmental Biology at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the current terrestrial ecologist for the Appalachian Mountain Club.
As a forest and climate scientist, I have an interest in understanding interactions between global change and plant ecology. I am also fascinated by relationships between plants and other organisms (herbivores and mutualists), particularly in montane systems.
To date, my work has focused on two major themes: 1) tree species range shifts under current and future climate change, and 2) biotic interactions that influence tree seedling establishment. To address both I use a combination of observational and manipulative experimental field studies, distribution modelling, and spatial data analysis. Using well defined elevation, climatic, and edaphic gradients I ask: how do changes in temperature and precipitation alter individual tree species distributions? I also study how mycorrhizal fungi and their networks either facilitate or inhibit seedling establishment beyond range boundaries.
Ultimately, I am personally motivated to use my basic and applied research to promote better forest management and help protect the places I love! If you are interested in learning more about my work or in collaborating on a worthwhile project, please send me an email.
This is my personal website. You can find a link to the Dovciak Lab at SUNY-ESF here. Please also check out the Appalachian Mountain Club here.
