Dr. Emily J. Rollinson

My research interests span the breadth of plant ecology, with a particular focus on community ecology and invasive species. I am interested in questions about the maintenance of species diversity in a community and the mechanisms that influence species co-existence - what determines how many species can share the same space, and whether a newly introduced species can establish there?  I examine this through several lenses, including ongoing studies of insects in common milkweed populations and student-led course-based studies of successional processes in local meadow preserves. I additionally contribute to a number of other ongoing collaborative research projects focused on Pennsylvania plants and wildlife, including the ecology of ticks and tick-borne diseases in the region, timber rattlesnake populaiton ecology, and the influence of prescribed fires on PA fauna and flora.
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Curriculum vitae

Lab members
  • Alexander Kidd (MS Biology student): spatial variation in invasive oleander aphid populations on common milkweed​

Past lab members

Graduate Students
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  • Weston Strubert (MS Biology 2020): effects of invasive riparian plants on stream macroinvertebrate communities; development of campus arboretum guide
  • Benjamin Hawes (MS Biology 2021): mark-recapture survey of winter fireflies in Northampton County, PA

Undergraduates

  • Peter Kaires (BS Environmental Studies): study of long-term changes in phenology in Erythronium americanum using herbaria and iNaturalist
  • Caroline Seseri (BS Environmental Studies): study of long-term changes in phenology in Aster sp. using herbaria and iNaturalist
  • Megan Maloy (BS Environmental Studies): comparison of flood tolerance in multiple species of rye grass (Elymus​)
  • Angela Pappas (BS Environmental Studies): comparison of flood tolerance in multiple species of rye grass (Elymus​)
  • Johanny Przybyla (BS Biology 2022): comparison of flood tolerance in multiple species of rye grass (Elymus)
  • Jessica VanWhy (BS Biology): development of science communication materials for common weedy urban plants
  • Davyd Sharp (BS Environmental Studies 2021): comparison of woody plant community structure across a gradient of human landscape alteration; survey of oleander aphids on common milkweed iNaturalist records
  • Kayleigh Karpowicz (BS Environmental Studies 2022): comparison of woody plant community structure across a gradient of human landscape alteration
  • Brittney O'Connor (BS Environmental Studies & BS Biology 2021): survey of monarch caterpillars and invasive oleander aphids on common milkweed; comparison of woody plant community structure across a gradient of human landscape alteration
  • Chris Haines (BS Biology): survey of plant communities along trails in New Jersey parks
  • Danielle Saar (BS Environmental Studies 2021): systematic review of ecological restoration in metal-contaminated sites
  • Nijmih Siryani (BS Biology 2020): flooding tolerance in multiple species of Persicaria​​
  • George Schubert (BS Environmental Studies 2020): effect of invasive riparian plants on stream macroinvertebrates
  • Sean Gift (BS Environmental Studies 2019): mapping the tree species of Stony Acres and establishing EREN PFPP forest plots
  • Dan Rinkenberg: (BS Environmental Studies 2019): effect of invasive riparian plants on stream macroinvertebrates
  • Cole Davis (BS Environmental Studies 2019): abundance of invasive plants in riparian zones
  • Liz Deecher (BS Environmental Studies 2019): survey of monarch caterpillars and invasive oleander aphids on common milkweed