Dissertation Research
My overall research was investigating the factors that mediate interactions between plants and consumers. In particular, I focused on the foraging choices of consumers. In my study system I used the parasitic plant, Cuscuta indecora, as an herbivore. Like herbivores, parasitic plants are able to choose among potential hosts. Cuscuta is a devastating crop pest that occurs all over the world and is on the USDA Top 10 Noxious Weeds list. Cuscuta is commonly found in Texas in highly disturbed and stressful habitats such as salt marshes. In order to control parasitic plants it is important understand the factors that influence host use. For 6 years I examined some of these factors using greenhouse and field experiments. Specifically, I looked at how 4 factors: 1) abiotic stress 2) host constraints 3) a mixed diet and 4) interactions with multiple symbionts influence the foraging of Cuscuta.