Joseph Milanovich

My primary research interests focus on understanding the effect of land use and climate change on, and the ecological role of, communities – in both natural and urban ecosystems.  My primary goal is to help understand the importance of biotic communities to ecosystem function and service.  I have worked with a variety of taxa, but the majority of my research endeavors focus on amphibians in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.  My research is primarily field based; however, I utilize a number of computer-based and laboratory techniques, such as species distribution models, ecological stoichiometry, and stable isotope analysis to study community and landscape-level interactions.

Previous research projects have included:  (1) investigating nutrient recycling and storage of stream salamanders in headwater streams, (2) using species distribution models to predict the impact of climate and land use change on amphibians, (3) examining the influence of urbanization on amphibians and macroinvertebrates in wetlands, and (4) investigating the use of stable isotopes in herpetological research.

Amphibians and reptiles are diverse and abundant groups of organisms with ecological links to a number of biota and ecosystem processes; however, they are currently under significant threats worldwide.  Therefore, my research program uses a variety of methods to continue to investigate the importance of herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles) to ecosystem function.