I am interested in the biotic interactions that occur between humans and natural communities. I am working on a project studying how birds in patches of coastal sage scrub habitat are affected by different types of adjacent land-use. I am studying the effect of edge on nest predation, bird community, and habitat, and comparing these among several land-use treatments. Relative nest predation pressure and potential nest predator community are being determined by an artificial nest experiment. Bird community differences are being determined by point count surveys. I hope to better understand the processes by which human development impacts birds.