Our laboratory includes a community ecology laboratory and a green roofs ecology center. Over the next few years, our planned research projects are as follows:
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Continue to study theoretical and applied aspects of oviposition habitat selection in temporary pools for mosquito control and for amphibians and for understanding the role of this behavior on population regulation and community dynamics. We study habitat preference regarding risk of predation, risk of competition, resource quality, and habitat size. Collaborators have included Marc Mangel (UC Santa Cruz), Joel E. Cohen (Rockefeller University), and Matthew Spencer (Liverpool University).
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Advance our understanding about how food web manipulations affect mosquitoes. We intend to develop theory, and test empirically, the notion of manipulating an ecosystem such that mosquito problems are minimized while simultaneously maximizing biodiversity. Conversely, we intend to study how species diversity and community simplification affect mosquito dynamics. Collaborators and Consultants have been Peter Morin (Rutgers University), Rick Ostfeld (Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies), Phil Lounibos (Florida Medical Entomology Lab), Marc Mangel (UC Santa Cruz).
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Continue to study life-history strategies, population dynamics, population genetics and ecological genomics and gene expression of the endangered fire salamander, Salamandra infraimmaculata. Alan R. Templeton (Washington University and Haifa University) Juha Merilä (Helsinki University), Lior Blank (Volcani Institute), Arne Nolte (Oldenburg University) and Sebastian Steinfartz (Braunschweig University) are involved.
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Epidemiology of vector-borne diseases. In particular, we are interested in how community interactions affect disease dynamics. Rick Ostfeld (Cary Institute) and Arik Kershenbaum (University of Cambridge) and Lewi Stone (Tel Aviv University) have been involved.
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Marine population and community ecology studies. We have studied ecology and conservation of sharks with Adi Barash (graduate student), and Gil Rilov (Institute of Oceanography and Limology) and coastal rock pool ecology with Sahar Rosenfeld (MSc student), Eyal Rahav (Institute of Oceanography and Limnology), and Daniele Porretta (Sapienza University of Rome).
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Green roofs ecology. Beginning April 2012, a new green roofs center was created with various consultants/collaborators including Dr. Gyongyver Kadas (Barcelona) and Merav Seifan (Blaustein Institute, Sde Boker). Major goals include the roles of green roofs as conservation habitats in urban environments, and the integration of solar panel systems with green roofs. We also now branching out into use of gray water for irrigation, pollution abatement, and physico-chemical properties of storm water percolating through green roof plots.