Research Interests

One of the ways we conserve wild plant diversity is by protecting the land they live on – think nature reserves or sanctuaries. But some threats, like climate change or global pollinator declines, cannot be kept at bay by fences and artificial boundaries. Using empirical data, I study how the consequences of human activities can impact wild plants in seemingly pristine or protected habitats. I’m interested in how we can mitigate the impacts of such omnipresent threats to plant diversity in our world’s remaining wild places.

I’m currently in the 5th year of my PhD with Dr. Berry Brosi. I also work closely with the Southeastern Center for Conservation at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

For more info, check out my website.

Updated May 2020

Peer-reviewed Publications

Loy, X., Wainwright, C. E. and Mayfield, M. M. (2015). Asteraceae invaders have limited impacts on the pollination of common native annual species in SW Western Australia’s open woodland wildflower communities. Plant Ecology 216 8: 1103-1115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-015-0495-3

Staples, T. J., Dwyer, J. M., Loy, X. and Mayfield. M. M. (2016). Potential mechanisms of coexistence in closely related forbs. Oikos 125(12): 1812-1823. https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.03180

Reynolds, V. A., Anderegg, L. D. L., Loy, X., HilleRisLambers, J., Mayfield, M. M. (2017) Unexpected drought resistance strategies in seedlings of four Brachychiton species. Tree Physiology 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpx143

Wainwright, C. E., Staples, T. L., Charles, L. S., Flanagan, T. C., Lai, H. R., Loy, X., Reynolds, V. A. and Mayfield, M. M. (2018), Links between community ecology theory and ecological restoration are on the rise. J Appl Ecol. 55:570–581. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12975

Wainwright, C. E., HilleRisLambers, J.,  Lai, H. R., Loy, X., Mayfield, M. M. (2019). Distinct responses of niche and fitness differences to water availability underlie variable coexistence outcomes in semi-arid annual plant communities.  J Ecol. 107: 293–306. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13056

Miljanic, A. S., Loy, X., Gruenewald, D. L., Dobbs, E. K., Gottlieb, I. G. W., Fletcher, Jr. R. J., Brosi, B. J. (2019). Bee communities in forestry production landscapes: interactive effects of local-level management and landscape context. Landscape Ecol. 34: 1015–1032. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-018-0651-y

Loy, X., Gruenewald, D., Gottlieb, I. G. W., Dobbs, E. K., Miljanic, A. S., Botsch, J., Lawley, B., Ober, H. K., Smith, L., Fletcher Jr., R. J., Brosi, B. J. (2020). The impacts of bioenergy pine plantation management practices on bee communities. J Appl Ecol. 2020; 57: 952– 962. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13586

Anderegg, L.D., Loy, X., Markham, I.P., Elmer, C.M., Hovenden, M.J., Hille Ris Lambers, J. and Mayfield, M.M. (2020), Aridity drives coordinated trait shifts but not decreased trait variance across the geographic range of eight Australian trees. New Phytol. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi:10.1111/nph.16795

Grants & Awards

NSF INTERN Supplemental Funding for graduate students (2019)
In collaboration with Atlanta Botanical Gardens Conservation & Research

TATTO Teaching Award (2019)
Emory University – Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Lewis and Clark Fund of Exploration and Field Research (2018)
American Philosophical Society

Teaching Experience​

IBS-796R-1: Advanced Topics in PBEE – Applied Biostatistics (Spring 2019)
Course coordinator and instructor, with Connor Morozumi, Emory University

BIOL/ENVS 247 – Ecology (Fall 2018)
Teaching assistant – undergrad course, Emory University

BIOL/ENVS 241 – Evolutionary Biology (Fall 2017)
Teaching assistant – undergrad course, Emory University

BIOL/ENVS 241 – Evolutionary Biology (Fall 2017)
Guest lecturer – undergrad course, Emory University

ENVS 131 – Intro to ENVS Field Studies (2018, 2017, 2016)
Guest lecturer – undergrad course, Emory University

STEM school workshops and family events (2018, 2017, 2016)
Kittredge Magnet School Science Night, Barack and Michelle Obama Elementary School, Toomer Elementary School, Fernbank Museum of Natural History Adventures in Science day, Freedom Middle School Career Week organised by New American Pathways, Mary Lin Elementary Science & Technology Night, Oak Grove Elementary School Grade 5 plant identification workshop.

Work and Volunteering​

Emory University Herbarium (2017 – 2019)
Volunteer curatorial assistant, illustrator, social media manager

Mayfield Community Ecology Lab, University of Queensland (2014 – 2016)
Lab manager/research assistant, social media manager

‘Bee Aware Brisbane’ non-profit (2014 – 2016)
Volunteer infographic designer

Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens (2009)
Infographic designer

Singapore National Parks Board (2009)
Intern at SBG and nature guide for Southern Ridges Park