1. people

Ruby Harris-Gavin

Ph.D. Candidate

(she/her/hers)

Research

I am interested in how humans affect ecosystems by managing large domestic herbivores. Specifically, I am interested in how herbivore identity, richness, and density alter plant biodiversity and broader ecosystem dynamics. My research began at Tejon Ranch in California, focusing on the diet differences between cattle and elk, but has expanded into a meta-analysis that will synthesize large herbivore diet research on a global scale to understand how select functional traits of large herbivores affect plant biodiversity. Lastly, I am working on a collaborative effort with farmers to study the impacts of domestic versus imported cattle breeds on plant richness and soil impaction in western Ireland.

 

I am a Ph.D. student of Dr. Schimel's but remain an active colleague and collaborator with the Young Lab.