Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET)
University of Maryland Baltimore County
University of Maryland Baltimore
Welcome!
I am a community ecologist studying the impact of the environment on species interactions. I'm especially interested in the ecology and evolution of disease, spatial ecology, and the role of habitat-forming "foundation species" in ecosystems.
My research focuses on marine health and disease, with a focus on Chesapeake Bay organisms and ecosystems. I study the ecology of the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, including the reef habitat they form, the impact of restoration and management, and species interactions. Chesapeake Bay oysters are a well-studied system for understanding marine disease, which serves as a strong foundation for my work on host-parasite interactions. The other branch of my research focuses on co-infection, immunity, and environmental drivers on corals reefs in Puerto Rico. Understanding and conserving foundation species is a uniting theme of my work.
Prior to starting at IMET in the fall of 2022, I conducted research as part of the Fisheries Conservation Lab with Dr. Matthew Ogburn at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
In addition to my research on corals, I've also worked on lobsters, cattle, sea stars and eelgrass. I'm interested in understanding species interactions and their impact on ecosystem health and function in many different systems!
Dr. Allison M. Tracy
amtracy[at]umbc.edu
I am a community ecologist studying the impact of the environment on species interactions. I'm especially interested in the ecology and evolution of disease, spatial ecology, and the role of habitat-forming "foundation species" in ecosystems.
My research focuses on marine health and disease, with a focus on Chesapeake Bay organisms and ecosystems. I study the ecology of the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, including the reef habitat they form, the impact of restoration and management, and species interactions. Chesapeake Bay oysters are a well-studied system for understanding marine disease, which serves as a strong foundation for my work on host-parasite interactions. The other branch of my research focuses on co-infection, immunity, and environmental drivers on corals reefs in Puerto Rico. Understanding and conserving foundation species is a uniting theme of my work.
Prior to starting at IMET in the fall of 2022, I conducted research as part of the Fisheries Conservation Lab with Dr. Matthew Ogburn at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
In addition to my research on corals, I've also worked on lobsters, cattle, sea stars and eelgrass. I'm interested in understanding species interactions and their impact on ecosystem health and function in many different systems!
Dr. Allison M. Tracy
amtracy[at]umbc.edu
