Jennifer Dunne

Ecological network research provides a powerful framework for exploring the coexistence of species and the robustness, resilience and persistence of ecosystems. Jennifer’s research interests are in analysis, modeling, and theory related to the organization and dynamics of ecological networks, in particular food webs, which specify the complex feeding interactions among species in a given habitat. Food webs provide a way to track and quantify the flows of energy and resources in ecosystems and thus are important for understanding ecological and evolutionary dynamics.

Drawing on cross-system analysis and computational modeling, Jennifer and her collaborators seek to identify fundamental patterns and principles of ecological network structure and dynamics at multiple spatial and temporal scales. This includes research on ancient food webs from ecosystems many millions of years old, across the Phanerozoic and in relation to major and minor extinction events. Jennifer also works on ‘archaeoecological’ timescales to understand how pre-industrial humans fit into, impacted, and benefited from ecosystems through their myriad types of interactions with other species. Studying the complex interdependencies of organisms including humans in the past provides important context for, and insights into, the present and future of a world facing serious anthropogenic challenges.