Although I have interests in all areas of ecology and evolution, research in my lab primarily centers on the interactions between plants, herbivores and their natural enemies in spatially heterogeneous landscapes. In particular, I am interested in how habitat fragmentation and features of the landscape influence the movement behavior, spatial distributions, and temporal dynamics of herbivore and natural enemy populations. My research in this area has led to important insights regarding predator foraging theory, the stability and persistence of predator-prey interactions, and the development of effective corridors for threatened and endangered species.

Bagworm and Ichneumonid Parasitoid		My Master's Research on Spatial Density Dependence in Bagworm Parasitism (Cronin 1989).

Additional related research interests include

• the effects of invasive exotic plant species on native communities
  
• the landscape ecology of plant resistance to and tolerance of herbivory
  
• the effect of forest management practices (e.g., prescribed burns) on the distribution and dynamics of deadwood inhabiting arthropod (meta)communities, and host choice (diet breadth) by herbivorous insects.

For more information regarding ongoing or recently completed research projects, please see the box above entitled "Research Projects".

	Host-Parasitoid Spatial/Landscape Ecology
	The Tall Grass Prairie System Mainland-Island Metapopulation Structure Matrix Composition Affects Dispersal and Population Dynamics The Matrix Affects Connectivity of Corridors and Stepping Stones Behaviorally Based Landscape-Level Modeling
	Impact of Invasive Plants
	Management Effects on Dead-Wood Arthropods
	Plant Resistance and Tolerance at the Landscape Level
	Southern Pine Beetle Spatial Dynamics and Control
	Host-Plant Choice by Herbivores and Their Enemies