Life on a Changing Planet

Our planet is filled with plants, algae and bacteria that photosynthesize. Together, they provide us with oxygen, food, and drive the global carbon cycle. But how did photosynthetic organisms evolve? Who is the best at doing photosynthesis and why? Can we learn from the best to improve our crops?

Human societies across the world use lunar calendars to time cultural events and activities such as planting and fishing. I collaborate with Kanaka 'Ōiwi in Hawaiʻi, who maintain Indigenous knowledge of how lunar cycles affect fish migrations and spawning—knowledge that is crucial for stewardship. But what about places where lunar calendars are not used, or where that knowledge has been lost? Can we recreate or rediscover a lunar calendar for fish? And how can we continue to update these calendars and monitor changes to animal life in our changing climate and coastlines?

Just like people, frogs have personalities. I study how some treefrogs are daring explorers while others play it safe—and how those differences affect where they go and whether they survive. Using experiments in both the lab and the Amazon rainforest, I uncover how behavior shapes life in the treetops.