EcoInvaders: Electronic Field Trip

Dr. Luke Flory: Luke Flory’s research focuses on the mechanisms and impacts of non-native species invasions with the goal of understanding mechanisms and impacts of invasions, and the long-term consequences of interactions between invasive species and other global change drivers such as climate change, emerging pathogens, and urbanization. The Flory Lab explores basic and applied questions in natural and managed ecosystems such as the highlands of Galápagos, urban sites in Zagreb, Croatia, eastern deciduous forests in the US, and pine forests and managed systems in Florida. Luke has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar, Florida Climate Institute Distinguished Faculty Fellow, UF Research Foundation Professor, and UF International Educator of the Year. He holds a M.Sc. in Applied Ecology and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Indiana University

Dr. Seokmin Kim: Dr. Kim oversees literature-based assessments of non-native species, proposed introductions, and new agricultural and horticultural cultivars to evaluate their invasion risk in Florida. His broader research interests focus on understanding how human-driven disturbances affect ecosystems and evaluating the effectiveness of conservation and management strategies. His Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Miami examined mutualistic relationships between frugivorous animals and plants, with an emphasis on seed dispersal and recruitment in the Lesser Antilles. He has also studied the effects of megafauna exclusion on arthropod communities in Kenya and helped assess the seed dispersal potential of African forest elephants in Gabon. As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Fiji), Dr. Kim is a strong advocate for collaborating directly with local communities to address environmental challenges.

Dr. Eli Russell: Dr. Russell is an Assistant Professor for aquatic plant management at the UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (CAIP). Dr. Russell’s research program will focus on developing integrated weed management tactics for addressing problematic aquatic plants. His extension program will focus on providing vital control and management information to key and affected stakeholders.

Dr. Russell grew up just north of the Florida panhandle in Opp, Alabama. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Crop and Soil Science from Auburn University, where he became fascinated with weed science. Eli went on to earn a master’s in turfgrass weed science from Auburn University and a PhD in crop weed science from Virginia Tech. Dr. Russell loves studying weeds and can often be found looking for them everywhere he goes.