Area(s) of Specialization Ecosystem ecology and terrestrial biogeochemistry; Grasslands and global change; Soil ecology, including decomposition, soil nutrient cycling, litter/soil/plant nutrient dynamics; Effects of climate change and other disturbances on ecosystem processes; Restoration ecology; Ecology of soil invertebrates. Research Focus I am a terrestrial ecosystem ecologist with broad interests in grasslands. The Konza Prairie LTER program supports short- and long-term research aimed at understanding the biological and physical factors that affect populations, communities and ecosystem processes in grasslands. The Konza Prairie LTER program supports short- and long-term research aimed at understanding the biological and physical factors that affect populations, communities and ecosystem processes in grasslands. Because human activities are altering the key drivers of ecological processes in grasslands directly -- by managing fire and grazers -- and indirectly -- by changing atmospheric chemistry and climate – our research also focuses on issues related to grassland management and responses to global change.