S. Luke Flory » Ecologist, Indiana University

A primary goal in ecology is to understand the factors that control the diversity and distribution of species in communities and across landscapes, and how diversity mediates ecosystem functions. Biological invasions have recently come to the forefront as an important cause of biodiversity loss and a driver of global environmental change. My research program is focused broadly on understanding the ecology of biological invasions and their effects on native systems. In much of my current work I use the invasive grass Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass) as a model system to investigate the community and ecosystem consequences of invasions, interactions between invasions and fire, evolution of introduced species, and accumulation of pathogens. I seek to advance ecological knowledge of community assembly, structure, and succession, and to answer applied questions relevant to natural areas management.

Relevant links:

• The Joint Fire Science Program
  
• Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge (fire and invasions research site)
  
• Dr. Keith Clay's Lab
  
• Indiana University Department of Biology