In January 2011, I began my Master’s research at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Forestry.  I’m working under the supervision of Sandy Smith, Dean of the Faculty.

The topic of my research is one of Ontario’s emerging invasive plant threats:  Dog-Strangling Vine, also known as Pale Swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum rossicum) and Black Swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum nigrum).

In the summer of 2010, I began my research at the Centre for Agriculture BioScience International (CABI) and was able learn more about the process of biological control.  While in Europe, I was able to stop in at the 

European Biological Control Laboratory as well.  Both centres have been working hard to find biological ways of limiting the spread of Dog-Strangling Vine in North America.

During the summer research season of 2011, I plan to learn more about the vine’s relationships with arthropods native to Ontario - and study whether the amount and types of relationships may change over time.

In addition, I’d like to explore whether native insect herbivory of Dog-Strangling Vine could be encouraged, giving hope to a ‘native’ biological control agent for this invasive vine.