Research Interests: I am a plant physiological ecologist with interests in arid plant ecophysiology, arid community interactions, fire ecology in oak/hickory forests and plant/animal interactions. My research addresses questions related to species diversity and plant productivity in arid regions affected by allochthonous inputs (e.g., seabird guano, algae, seaspray), how resource supply (e.g., CO₂, nitrogen) affects arthropod damage via changes in plant chemistry and leaf development, and how prescribed burns in oak/hickory forests affect soil respiration, plant gas exchange, and feeding by herbivores. This research addresses questions related to the conservation of island systems and oak/hickory savannahs, and how changes in resource supply and ratios affect amounts of herbivore damage in natural,  managed and agricultural systems.

Openings for Graduate Students: Research opportunities exist for students interested in plant ecology, plant/animal interactions, plant responses to environmental variability and other related areas (see below for past and present graduate projects). Funding for the school year (including tuition waiver) is provided through teaching assistantships or research assistantships. Summer funding is generally available. Contact me at AlexanderWait@Missouristate.edu or (417) 836-5802.