Welcome to the Young Lab

Research in our lab lies at the intersection of community ecology, ecosystem ecology, and conservation biology. Specifically, we focus on understanding the effects of wildlife loss and human disturbance on community structure and ecosystem function. Recent work has focused mainly on the effects of wildlife loss on human health and well-being. We work at local and global scales and use a range of observational, experimental, and meta-analytical approaches. For opportunities in our lab, please look under the Join Us tab.

Lab meetings

Lab meetings for the Winter quarter are on Tuesdays from 10am to 11am in Noble Hall, room 1231. All are welcome to attend.

News

Click on images below for more information or go to our News tab for more Young Lab related news.

Recent Publications

View recent publications of Young Lab Members here or go to our Publications tabs for more.

Rethinking atoll futures: local resilience to global challenges

Sea level rise poses a risk to atolls due to their loss of island building capacity. In this study, PI Hillary Young examines ways to mitigate long-term climate change effects on atolls.

Cattle aggregations at shared resources create potential parasite exposure hotspots for wildlife

Previous lab member Georgia Titcomb and PI Hillary Young investigate the dynamics between rising livestock populations and declining wildlife numbers. When untreated for parasites, cattle can significantly alter the level and distribution of parasite exposure in wildlife.

Consistent foraging on marine resources by coyotes (Canis latrans) on the Southern California coast

PI Hillary Young and lab members Zoe Zilz and Steph Copeland find that coyotes consume marine resources more consistently than previously thought. This study emphasizes the need to further research the role coyotes play in intertidal ecosystems.

Nothing lasts forever: Dominant species decline under rapid environmental change in global grasslands

PI Hillary Young explores the effect of of environmental change on dominant species. Using various methods to track and evaluate dominant species across the globe, researchers are able to quantify the persistence of dominance.