Most of my work takes place in the tallgrass prairies of North America and savannas of South Africa and Kenya. I am particularly interested in plant physiological responses to disturbance such as fire, drought, and herbivory. Changes in disturbance regimes can cause large-scale shifts in vegetation structure and composition and, in turn, shift community-level patterns of carbon assimilation and water-use strategies. Linking plant physiology with community change can deepen our understanding of ecosystem responses to climate and land-use change.