We study interactions between plants and animals, with the goals of quantifying links, protecting those links, and restoring them in damaged ecosystems. We believe that characterization of these links, or interactions, between organisms is essential for understanding how to preserve biodiversity for the future. Current projects focus on the ecology of shelter-building caterpillars, plant chemistry and community structure of associated herbivores, ant-extrafloral nectary interactions, forest restoration and woody debris decomposition, fire and ground ants, and experimental restoration of prairie and woodland habitats.