Dr. Amy Dunham
Welcome to our group at Rice University!
Department of Biosciences, Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Department of Biosciences, Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Collectively we are a group of ecologists interested in tropical ecology and conservation biology. Our work focuses on evolutionary, population, and community ecology and is often applied to conservation issues in tropical rainforests.
Much of our current research is conducted in Madagascar, but team members have also worked in Central Africa, Ecuador and Peru.
As a tropical community ecologist, my interests have focused primarily on the interactions of species in complex tropical forests and especially in relation to anthropogenic disturbances. A large focus in recent work has been understanding the ecosystem processes influenced by vertebrates in hyperdiverse tree communities including seed dispersal, disturbance, trophic cascades, carbon storage, and soil processes.
We welcome community members from diverse backgrounds and experiences including different socioeconomic backgrounds, races, ethnicities, countries of origin, gender identities and sexualities, religions, and disabilities.
Much of our current research is conducted in Madagascar, but team members have also worked in Central Africa, Ecuador and Peru.
As a tropical community ecologist, my interests have focused primarily on the interactions of species in complex tropical forests and especially in relation to anthropogenic disturbances. A large focus in recent work has been understanding the ecosystem processes influenced by vertebrates in hyperdiverse tree communities including seed dispersal, disturbance, trophic cascades, carbon storage, and soil processes.
We welcome community members from diverse backgrounds and experiences including different socioeconomic backgrounds, races, ethnicities, countries of origin, gender identities and sexualities, religions, and disabilities.
DUNHAM LAB NEWS
June 2023 Julieanne Montaquila was awarded a Primate Conservation Inc Research Grant for her work on Lemur- mistletoe interactions in the Southeastern rainforest of Madagascar. Congrats Julieanne!
May 2023 Eric Wuesthoff was awarded a Sigma Xi research award for his work on lemurs use of intact and restored rainforest habitat in eastern rainforests of Madagascar! Yay Eric!
February 2023 Research group members host a virtual learning exchange between Rice University and University of Antananarivo through the Environmental Sciences Capstone Class co-taught by Amy Dunham and Carrie Masiello.
January 2023 Research group collaborator, Lova RATOLOJANAHARY, successfully defended his Masters research at University of Antananarivo! Congrats Lova!
January 2023 Kristin Brandon defends her Masters degree exploring patterns of primate diversity across the tropics. Congratulations Kristin!
December 2022 Julieanne Montaquila was awarded a Wagoner Foreign Study Scholarship for her work on Mistletoe seed dispersal in Madagascar!
August-October 2023 Zo Fenosoa joins the lab as a Rice Visiting Scholar and to work on her dissertation research on Mistletoe ecology in Madagascar.
NEWS ARCHIVES
May 2023 Eric Wuesthoff was awarded a Sigma Xi research award for his work on lemurs use of intact and restored rainforest habitat in eastern rainforests of Madagascar! Yay Eric!
February 2023 Research group members host a virtual learning exchange between Rice University and University of Antananarivo through the Environmental Sciences Capstone Class co-taught by Amy Dunham and Carrie Masiello.
January 2023 Research group collaborator, Lova RATOLOJANAHARY, successfully defended his Masters research at University of Antananarivo! Congrats Lova!
January 2023 Kristin Brandon defends her Masters degree exploring patterns of primate diversity across the tropics. Congratulations Kristin!
December 2022 Julieanne Montaquila was awarded a Wagoner Foreign Study Scholarship for her work on Mistletoe seed dispersal in Madagascar!
August-October 2023 Zo Fenosoa joins the lab as a Rice Visiting Scholar and to work on her dissertation research on Mistletoe ecology in Madagascar.
NEWS ARCHIVES
