Ecosystems and landscapes ecology explores ecological processes at broad spatial scales, from whole ecosystems to regional landscapes. Researchers in this area investigate how energy and nutrients move through systems, how ecosystems respond to disturbance, and how large-scale patterns shape ecological outcomes.
Studies may examine the ecological effects of events such as forest fires, the movement of nutrients across connected systems, or the ways land use and environmental change influence species and habitats. Because this work often addresses complex questions across large areas, it frequently relies on spatial data, modeling, and interdisciplinary approaches. This emphasis area is especially important for advancing research on conservation, climate change, and the sustainable management of natural systems.
Related Faculty
Daniel Allen
- Assistant Professor of Aquatic Ecology
The relationship between community structure and ecosystem processes in rivers and streams, and factors which influence this. . .
Douglas Bird
- Professor of Anthropology
Livelihood decisions and habitats, exploring the dynamics of human subsistence practices, their role in ecosystem function,. . .
Rebecca Bird
- Professor of Anthropology
Gender division of labor in hunting and gathering, cooperation, costly signaling, indigenous conservation/land management,. . .
Hayden Bock
- Assistant Professor of Agricultural Sciences
The ecology of belowground ecosystems and how humans impact them
Elizabeth Boyer
- Professor of Environmental Science
Hydrology, Biogeochemistry, Environmental Systems, Water Quality.
Charles Andrew Cole
- Professor of Landscape Architecture
Ecosystem ecology: wetlands, hydrology, restoration, seed banks, plant communities, historical ecology.
Duane Diefenbach
- Adjunct Professor of Wildlife Ecology
Wildlife ecology, estimation of population parameters, and harvest management of game populations.
Patrick Drohan
- Professor of Pedology
Soil formation and biogeochemistry due to land use and ecosystem change; soil and water degradation, and the remediation of. . .
Sarah Goslee
- Adjunct Associate Professor of Agronomy, USDA-ARS
Landscape diversity in agricultural areas; Taxonomic and functional diversity and grassland management; Multivariate and. . .
Heather Grab
- Assistant Professor of Applied Systems Ecology
The ecological drivers of insect populations on working lands and application of those principles to reduce conflicts between. . .
Jill Hamilton
- Director of the Schatz Center for Tree Molecular Genetics
- Associate Director, Plant Institute
Genomic basis of climate adaptation, conservation, and restoration genetics.
Jason Kaye
- Chair, Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology
- Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry
Ecosystem ecology; global change biology; biogeochemistry of nitrogen and carbon cycling in managed and unmanaged ecosystems.
Margot Kaye
- Professor of Forest Ecology
Vegetation dynamics; global change ecology; interactions among vegetation, climate and human land use; dendrochronology;. . .
Jason Keagy
- Assistant Research Professor of Wildlife Behavioral Ecology
Cognitive ecology (with studies at genome, individual, and species levels). I am particularly interested in applications for. . .
Armen Kemanian
- Professor of Production Systems and Modeling
Agricultural Systems, Agricultural and Natural Systems Modeling, Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling, Bioenergy Systems, Coupled. . .
Jennifer Macalady
- Director of the Ecology Institute
- Professor of Geosciences
Microbial interactions with earth materials: soils, sediments, solutes, atmospheric gases, minerals, and rocks. Early. . .
David Miller
- Professor of Wildlife Population Ecology
Population ecology, quantitative ecology, avian and amphibian ecology, conservation decision analysis, life-history. . .
Erica Smithwick
- Professor of Geography
Understanding how a wide range of disturbances, especially fire, affect ecosystem function at landscape scales.
