Jocelyn E. Behm
Assistant Professor
Publications (Scholar) | Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Education
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Vrije Universiteit – Amsterdam (2012-2017)
- Ph.D. Zoology, University of Wisconsin Madison (2012)
- M.S. Zoology, University of Wisconsin Madison (2007)
- B.S. Environmental Science, Drexel University (2001)
Research Interests
I research community assembly in human-dominated landscapes with the ultimate goal of informing sustainable landscape design. My research focuses on understanding how human activities, specifically habitat development and introduced species, affect species dispersal, habitat selection and species interactions. In addition, I research how the composition of species in a community affects ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services. I use a combination of field surveys, experiments, genetic techniques, and modeling to address these research questions in a variety of taxonomic groups mainly in southeastern PA and the Caribbean region.
Current Research
Spotted Lanternfly Invasion
The invasive spotted lanternfly was first introduced to the US from China in Berks County, PA in 2014 and has since spread to the surrounding states in the mid-Atlantic region. We study lanternfly dispersal and habitat use across the heterogeneous landscapes of its invaded range to ideally inform spotted lanternfly management and control.
- Ramirez, VA, SD Bona, MR Helmus, JE Behm. 2023. Multiscale assessment of oviposition habitat associations and implications for management in the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), an emerging invasive pest. Journal of Applied Ecology.
- Belouard, N & JE Behm. 2023. Spotted! Computer-aided individual photo-identification allows for mark-recapture of invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). Frontiers in Insect Science. 3:9
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Multiple factors – both natural and anthropogenic – influence the biodiversity that comprises communities in specific locations which in turn influences the strength of ecosystem functions and services. We study how local and regional habitat and landscape variables, economic pressures and species interactions influence the composition of species communities. In addition, we investigate how this biodiversity contributes to varying ecosystem functions. Currently, we are exploring these questions along a gradient of habitat development in Philadelphia and surrounding areas.
- Swartz, TM, JM Gleditsch, JE Behm. 2023. A functional trait approach reveals the effects of landscape context on ecosystem services provided by urban birds. Landscape and Urban Planning. 234
- Tran, TJ, MR Helmus, JE Behm. 2020. Green infrastructure space and traits (GIST) model: Integrating green infrastructure spatial placement and plant traits to maximize multifunctionality. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening.
Biodiversity and Sustainability
Sustainability is an emerging societal trend. At its core, sustainability emerges from the services ecosystems provide with respect to the efficient production of resources and elimination of waste. Although biodiversity is necessary for the efficient provisioning of ecosystem services, biodiversity has receives little attention in discussions on sustainability. We study how biodiversity is involved in ecosystem services and ultimately sustainability with the goal of informing sustainable landscape design.
- Behm, JE, N Bélouard, JM Gleditsch, PM Phillips, TM Swartz. 2022. Trait-based approaches for understanding how biodiversity generates sustainable benefits in urban vegetated green infrastructure. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability.
- Behm, JE. 2020. Is biodiversity needed for sustainability? A spotlight on urban landscapes. American Journal of Botany.
Invasion and Habitat Development in the Caribbean
The Caribbean islands are a hotspot for biodiversity. They are also a hotspot for the introductions of non-native species and habitat development. We study how the combination of species introductions and habitat development are reshaping the patterns of biodiversity at the community and biogeographic scales.
- Behm, JE, J Ellers, WAM Jesse, TJ Tran, MR Helmus. 2023. Predicting and quantifying coexistence outcomes between resident and invading species using trait and abundance data. bioRxiv. 2023.01.12.523647.
- Perella, CD and JE Behm. 2020. Understanding the spread and impact of exotic geckos in the greater Caribbean region. Biodiversity and Conservation.
- Behm, JE, G van Buurt, BM DiMarco, J Ellers, CG Irian, KE Langhans, K McGrath, TJ Tran, MR Helmus 2019. First records of the mourning gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris Duméril and Bibron, 1836), common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus Schlegel, 1836), and Tokay gecko (Gecko gecko Linnaeus, 1758) on the island of Curaçao, Dutch Antilles, and remarks on their distributions in the Caribbean region. BioInvasion Records.
- Behm, JE, GM Busala, MR Helmus. 2022. First records of three new lizard species and a range expansion of a fourth lizard species introduced to Aruba. BioInvasions Records 11(1): 296–306.
215-204-3241
215-204-2121
