I’m a 5th year PhD candidate in Alex Flecker’s lab. I combine observational and experimental approaches to study how communities respond to disturbance. My dissertation work has taken me to Colorado’s Rocky Mountains and the Ecuadorian Andes, where I work with collaborators to understand how the functional and taxonomic composition of stream insect communities changes following extreme flooding and landslides. In some respects, my research is the ecological equivalent of being an ambulance-chaser, as I take advantage of natural disturbance events as opportunities to understand mechanisms driving community responses. In addition to my research, I am passionate about teaching and outreach and co-host a podcast called “Making Waves” for the Society for Freshwater Science.
When I’m not in the field, lab, classroom or office, you can most often find me out on the trails running, mountain biking, or cross-country skiing. I tweet at @ernlarson
