Research Interests

I’m interested in the impacts of climate change on plant communities. A changing climate can impact plants directly, through changes in the abiotic environment, as well indirectly, by interfering with inter-species relationships. I examine both of these, focusing on two factors that are well-known drivers of plant fitness: changes in soil water availability (‘direct effect’ of climate change) and changes in plant-pollinator relationships (an ‘indirect effect’). My research also extends to other anthropogenic forces that shape natural communities, including land-use change and biological invasions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Miljanic, A. S., Loy, X., Gruenewald, D. L., Dobbs, E. K., Gottlieb, I. G. W., Fletcher, Jr. R. J., Brosi, B. J. (2018). Bee communities in forestry production landscapes: interactive effects of local-level management and landscape context. Landscape Ecol.

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.

Teaching Experience​

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