4181 VLSB
UC Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720
510 643 5782
Research in the Sousa Lab
Wayne's current research examines the role of disturbance-generated light gaps in the regeneration of canopy trees in a mangrove forest on the Caribbean coast of Panama. The roles of interspecific competition, herbivory by insects and crabs, propagule dispersal and various edaphic factors in gap regeneration are being investigated. He employs a blend of detailed sampling to document spatial and temporal variation and controlled field experiments to test alternative hypotheses for the observed patterns of variation. more . . .
Host-Parasite Interactions
For about 10 years, Wayne studied the interactions between the salt marsh snail Cerithidea californica and a diverse assemblage of larval trematodes that exploit it as first intermediate host in their life cycles. Most of the work was conducted in Bolinas Lagoon, just north of San Francisco. The two major questions this research addressed were (1) do parasites compete for snail hosts?, and (2) do parasites regulate host population size? more . . .
Rocky Seashore Communities
Wayne's dissertation research and initial research at Berkeley focused on the role of disturbance in structuring rocky intertidal communities. The dissertation demonstrated that intermediate levels of disturbance could maintain the diversity of algal assemblages, and tested several alternative models of successional species replacement. Shortly after joining the Berkeley faculty, he conducted a study of the interaction between the effects of disturbance patch size and herbivory on successional dynamics within intertidal mussel beds and also investigated the influence of propagule availability on successional patterns. more . . .
Ecology and Distribution of an Intertidal Alga
Jen's research seeks to determine the potential effects of climate change on a common species of algae, Pelvetiopsis limitata , a key component of the marine rocky intertidal community along the west coast of North America. She uses detailed studies of this species' demography, geographic distribution, and morphological and physiological variation in order to understand the mechanisms by which this species could respond to the pressures of climate change.
Grassland Restoration
Brody is examing the effect of of several grassland restoration treatments on patterns of plant diversity across multiple spatial scales. The research seeks to understand community-level consequences of restoration treatments. It also addresses basic questions about the relationship between scale and diversity, and how this relationship depends on features of the environment and on interactions between species.
Mid-domain Effect
Brody is using computer simulations and data on the ranges of birds and mammals to compare several competing models related to the mid-domain effect. His first paper argues for one model, on the basis of comparison to bioclimate models. Now, Brody is examining which of the models best predicts patterns of range size and shape, in addition to diversity. more . . .
