I am an ecologist broadly interested in evaluating how freshwater ecosystems respond and are transformed by climate change and human activities. Specifically, I study the effects of hurricanes, droughts, and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on aquatic communities (e.g., fish, shrimp, macroinvertebrates, algae), food webs, aquatic-terrestrial linkages, and leaf litter decomposition in urban and forested streams. I combine short-term experiments and long-term datasets to understand potential changes on the structure and function of stream ecosystems. My research also includes monitoring impacts of human activities on water quality and ecosystem health, using aquatic organisms as bioindicators. My study sites include a variety of stream types (e.g., lowland, montane, urban, perennial, and intermittent), mostly located in Costa Rica and Puerto Rico.
I collaborate with regional networks, such as the Freshwater Biodiversity Observation Network (FWBON) and Macrolatinos@, which seek to connect researchers, students, and consultants that are dedicated to the protection and conservation of freshwater ecosystems. I am also a member of the DEI Committee of the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Program (LTER) in Puerto Rico, which aims to improve support and provide equal opportunity for scientists of historically excluded backgrounds at the LTER.
