Research in our lab is primarily focused on questions in community ecology and the ecology and evolution of species interactions, with long-term field studies in East African savannas and on Caribbean islands. If you are an interested potential graduate student, click here.
Recent press from work in the lab is here.
Todd Palmer is a Research Foundation Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Florida and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His research interests include the community ecology of mutualism and the effects of human-driven change (extinction, invasion, climate change) on ecological communities. A summary of ongoing projects is on the research page; see also his cv (opens in a new tab), publications and Google Scholar profile (opens in a new tab). Some fun pictures from Africa are here. Todd is a handling editor for Ecology.
Postdocs
We are thrilled to have Dr. Patrick Milligan back in the lab as a postdoc! Pat came up through the lab as a UF undergrad, field school student, and field school TA, and did his PhD here (2020) on how big-headed ant invasion changes carbon storage and allocation in Acacia (Vachellia) drepanolobium. After a postdoc at the University of Nevada, Reno, he has returned as a postdoc and co-PI on our NSF project on recovery of the mutualism after the invader is removed. You can find more about Pat's work on his website, savannaecology.com (opens in a new tab).
Graduate students
We are so excited to welcome the fantastic Kaya Frawley to the lab for her PhD! Kaya is studying how browser communities shape the consequences of mutualism loss in invaded savannas.
Research associates
John Surumai Lemboi has been a research associate on the acacia-ant project for more than two decades, and is a phenom when it comes to East African natural history, research design, land rover driving, and generally being an amazing guy.
James Lengingiro has been with us since 2010, and has long since earned a place among the lab's MVPs. James keeps us on track with his field skills and easy laugh, while keeping us safe with his uncanny elephant- and buffalo-spotting abilities. We are lucky to work with this guy!
Lab emeriti
Postdocs: Dr. Alejandro Pietrek (2016–2018; now a Research Scientist at CONICET, Argentina), Dr. Kirsten Prior (2013–2014; Binghamton University), Dr. Michael Stastny (2010–2011; Canadian Forest Service), Dr. John Poulsen (2009; Duke University), and Dr. Jacob Goheen (2006–2007; now Professor of Zoology at the University of Wyoming).
Graduate students: Sarah Johnson (M.S. 2024; wildebeest river crossings in the Maasai Mara), Harrison Jones (Ph.D. 2020; Institute for Bird Populations), Travis Guy (M.S. 2017; NSF GRFP fellow, now at McMurdo Station, Antarctica), Dr. Megan Gittinger (Ph.D. 2013; NSF GRFP fellow, plant defense in African acacias), and Dr. Kathleen Rudolph (Ph.D. 2012; NSF GRFP fellow and the lab's inaugural graduate student, ecology and energetics of African ants).
Todd has also co-advised Kenyan graduate students and postdocs John Kagori Mugo (M.Sc., University of Nairobi), Dr. Simon Kuria Kamande (Ph.D., Rhodes University), Dr. Charles Warui (National Museums of Kenya) and Esther Abonyo (M.Sc., ICIPE).
Collaborators
Our amazing outside collaborators include Jacob Goheen (University of Wyoming), Rob Pringle (Princeton University), Corinna Riginos, Elizabeth Pringle (University of Nevada, Reno), Truman Young (UC Davis), Dan Doak (University of Colorado), Alison Brody (University of Vermont), Maureen Stanton (UC Davis), Tyler Kartzinel (Brown University), Rowan Barrett (McGill University) and Toby Kiers (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam).