Courtney R
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at Brown University
Expertise
ecology, animal behavior, African savannas, animal foraging, predation, biodiversity
Bio
Hello! My name is Courtney, and I am an ecologist studying animal behavior and nutrient cycling on African savannas. I earned my PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Brown University, where I researched the impacts of elephant population declines on savanna plant and animal diversity in Kenya. My current research focuses on how nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus cycle through savannas in South Africa and how animal behavior affects those cycles. I use a variety of research methods, including plant surveys, camera traps, diet analyses, and hands-on animal behavior experiments in my research. I love mentoring students and am excited about the potential to work with you!Project ideas
Ecology of native and invasive plants in your area
Whenever humans move into a new part of the world, they introduce plant species to the area that weren't there before. These "invasive" species may be introduced for food, aesthetic enjoyment, or totally by accident! Invasive species may have important impacts on native plant species as they compete for resources such as light, nutrients, and pollinators. This project would involve using tools like iNaturalist to identify plants in your area and performing literature reviews to determine which ones are native and which are invasive. From there, students can work on answering whichever ecological questions most interest them -- Which are more diverse, native or invasive plants? Do native or invasive flowers get more visits from pollinators? Do human-dominated landscapes in your area (backyards, city parks, college campuses) have more invasive species than "wild" areas (local forests, prairies, rural parks)? The exact questions are up to you, and I'm excited to work with you as you answer them!