Michael Fischella is a departmental scholar, and senior majoring in Geography whose research interests are dryland ecosystems, modeling, GIS, and remote sensing. Michael is finishing a thesis for departmental honors that is exploring belowground competition in arid savanna ecosystems and how it impacts regional biogeochemical cycles. Working with UCLA Professor of Geography Gregory Okin, Michael is researching belowground competition between trees and grasses in savannas. Michael’s research is focused on developing a numerical model that will accurately represent belowground competition of arid savannas. Following graduation Michael hopes to pursue graduate studies in Geography to continue his research into spatial interactions in dryland ecosystems