The Starzomski Lab
Ian McTaggart-Cowan
1910-2010
Science and art have in common intense seeing, the wide-eyed observing that generates empirical information.
-Edward Tufte
We conduct research in community ecology, restoration ecology, and conservation biology in the School of Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. Broadly, this research takes three forms, but focuses on the determinants of local diversity in light of climate change. In particular, we work in the field, conducting experiments and observational studies to look at changes in community pattern and structure of alpine plant communities in the Coast Mountains of southwestern British Columbia, and the blanket bog ecosystems of the Central Coast. Much of the latter research is graciously funded by the Hakai Beach Institute. We also do lab and field-based microcosm experiments to test the effects of warming and landscape change on speciose communities. Finally, we conduct meta-analyses of large data sets, especially with regard to trophic structure and diversity sampling issues. One of our main goals is to have interesting experimental field work balanced with rigorous analysis of available datasets. We are located in the Social Sciences and Mathematics building on the UVic campus.
Science and art have in common intense seeing, the wide-eyed observing that generates empirical information.
-Edward Tufte
We conduct research in community ecology, restoration ecology, and conservation biology in the School of Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. Broadly, this research takes three forms, but focuses on the determinants of local diversity in light of climate change. In particular, we work in the field, conducting experiments and observational studies to look at changes in community pattern and structure of alpine plant communities in the Coast Mountains of southwestern British Columbia, and the blanket bog ecosystems of the Central Coast. Much of the latter research is graciously funded by the Hakai Beach Institute. We also do lab and field-based microcosm experiments to test the effects of warming and landscape change on speciose communities. Finally, we conduct meta-analyses of large data sets, especially with regard to trophic structure and diversity sampling issues. One of our main goals is to have interesting experimental field work balanced with rigorous analysis of available datasets. We are located in the Social Sciences and Mathematics building on the UVic campus.
