Contributions by role
Contributions by subject area
Thomas P Rooney
Summary
My research focused on both basic and applied problems in population ecology, community ecology, and conservation biology. Research in my lab addresses these questions: (1) How do deer shape community composition and structure? By foraging selectively, deer affect the growth and survival of many herb, shrub, and tree species. Knock-on effects extend through vegetation, potentially altering the distribution and abundance of herbivore and carnivore guilds. Because white-tailed deer occupy a broad range of habitats and can reproduce rapidly, their populations have increased sharply in recent decades. (2) How do we sustainably manage and restore forest ecosystems? Land use legacies, management history, emerging pathogens, invasive species, ecological complexity, and inadequate inventory and monitoring contribute to the challenge of sustainable and resilient management of forest landscapes and wildlife.
Biodiversity Biogeography Conservation Biology Ecology Ecosystem Science Plant Science