Garcia Lab

Forecasts of the impacts of climate change have traditionally focused on individual species and their phenotypes, phenology, or distribution. Presently, the suite of niche models (e.g. bioclimatic envelope models, habitat suitability models, etc.) used to examine species response to climate change assumes that species ability to track suitable climate space is unconstrained. However, the reorganization of ecological communities and potential shifts in species interactions represent an important violation to this assumption. Whereas species may respond individualistically to climate change, the manifestations of their responses will be largely influenced by interactions with other organisms. Tractably dealing with complex interaction networks in the face of climate change will require an understanding of community dynamics and the degree to which species interactions influence adaptability and, ultimately, biogeography.

To improve the accuracy of niche models used in projecting species' response to climate change, Lindsey is interested in incorporating biotic interactions quantified over a series of experiments.  

For more information check out Lindsey's website