Dr. Ray studies and models the dynamics of plant and animal populations, focusing especially on threatened species with fragmented populations. Her projects have included hierarchical modeling of point count data on birds in western National Parks, analyzing the role of metacommunity dynamics in the assembly of vernal pool plant communities, and modeling the spatial and temporal dynamics of plague in prairie ecosystems. Her long-term project involves research on the American pika, aimed at understanding climatic influences on local extinctions of this species throughout western North America.
ENVS 4850 - ENVS Honors Thesis Research
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2021
To be taken in final academic year prior to graduation. Consists of honors research and thesis preparation under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Department enforced restriction: Requires a minimum 3.3 GPA and a declared ENVS major and approval by departmental honors committee.