Research Themes
Invasion Biogeography
Translational Ecology
Climate Change & Mitigation
Invasion Biogeography
Biological invasions result from the introduction, rapid spread, and negative impacts of introduced species*. The invasion process plays out differently across species, time, and space. What are the ecological and anthropogenic factors that contribute to this variation? How can the spatial ecology of invasions help us understand fundamental ecological processes, such as competition and communtiy assembly? How can our understanding of the invasion process help us develop more proactive environmental management strategies?
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*These terms are used in an ecological context and are not intended to be applied in social contexts.
Selected publications:
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Beaury, E.M., Finn, J.T., Corbin, J.D., Barr, V. and Bradley, B.A. (2020), Biotic resistance to invasion is ubiquitous across ecosystems of the United States. Ecology Letters, 23: 476-482. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13446
Garbowski, M., Laughlin, D. C., Blumenthal, D. M., Sofaer, H. R., Barnett, D. T., Beaury, E. M., ... & Pearse, I. S. (2024). Naturalized species drive functional trait shifts in plant communities. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(40), e2403120121.​ www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2403120121.
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Beaury, E. M., Sofaer, H. R., Early, R., Pearse, I. S., Blumenthal, D. M., Corbin, J. D., ... & Bradley, B. A. (2023). Macroscale analyses suggest invasive plant impacts depend more on the composition of invading plants than on environmental context. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 32(11), 1964-1976. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13749
Translational Ecology
One-way transfer of information, from research to practice, is the norm in many scientific disciplines. But this approach often results in a 'knowing-doing gap', characterizing a disconnect between knowledge production and implementation. The 'knowing-doing gap' can be a major barrier to successful invasive species research and management. How can researchers and practitioners work together to produce knowledge and novel invasive species management approaches? How can we be more proactive in addressing invasive species issues in light of climate change? What data, policies, and other tools are needed to prevent the next wave of invasions?
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Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Management Networks:
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Selected publications:
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Beaury, E. M., Allen, J. M., Evans, A. E., Fertakos, M. E., Pfadenhauer, W. G., & Bradley, B. A. (2023). Horticulture could facilitate invasive plant range infilling and range expansion with climate change. BioScience, 73(9), 635-642.
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Morelli, T. L., Brown-Lima, C. J., Allen, J. M., Beaury, E. M., Fusco, E. J., Barker-Plotkin, A., ... & Bradley, B. A. (2021). Translational invasion ecology: bridging research and practice to address one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. Biological Invasions, 23, 3323-3335.
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Beaury, E. M., Fusco, E. J., Jackson, M. R., Laginhas, B. B., Morelli, T. L., Allen, J. M., ... & Bradley, B. A. (2020). Incorporating climate change into invasive species management: insights from managers. Biological Invasions, 22, 233-252.
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Beaury, E. M., Fusco, E. J., Allen, J. M., & Bradley, B. A. (2021). Plant regulatory lists in the United States are reactive and inconsistent. Journal of Applied Ecology, 58(9), 1957-1966.
Climate Change & Climate Mitigation
Mitigating global climate change is essential to protecting biodiversity and sustaining human livelihoods. Global plans for mitigating climate change (e.g., net zero emissions policies) require technological advancements as well as changes in land-use and land-management sectors. These plans often involve a high degree of land-use change, with both positive and negative consequences for humans and biodiversity. How and where should we dedicate land to technology-based advancements (e.g., wind and solar energy deployment) vs. nature-based efforts to mitigate climate change (e.g., ecosystem restoration)? How can plant processes and vegetation structures contribute to greenhouse gas emissions reductions and removals? What are the biodiversity outcomes of efforts to mitigate climate change?
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Selected publications:
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Beaury, E. M., Smith, J., & Levine, J. M. (2024). Global suitability and spatial overlap of land-based climate mitigation strategies. Global Change Biology, 30, e17515. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17515
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Smith, J. R., Beaury, E. M., Cook-Patton, S. C., Levine, J. M. Impacts of land-based climate mitigation on area of habitat for vertebrate diversity. In review (text available on request)
