Ecology Institute

Accelerating Research, Inspiring Solutions

The Penn State Ecology Institute brings together faculty, students, postdoctoral scholars, and stakeholders to foster innovation in ecology-based research and training. Our approach is deliberately interdisciplinary, drawing on diverse skills and perspectives. We also engage with other disciplines, including geosciences, geography, sociology, ethics, policy, decision analysis, economics, landscape architecture, and anthropology. Together, we are working to address the most defining challenges in contemporary ecology. Come see, come learn, come explore with us.

Provisions of Ecosystem Goods and Services

News

Extremely dry, hot conditions this fall causing early, muted foliage display

With last year being the wettest year on record in Pennsylvania, and this year starting out wet again, 2019 was set up to be the mother of all fall foliage displays. Trees in most areas were in great condition going into late summer.

New AI app predicts climate change stress for farmers in Africa

A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool available for free in a smartphone app can predict near-term crop productivity for farmers in Africa and may help them protect their staple crops — such as maize, cassava and beans — in the face of climate warming, according to Penn State researchers.

Forest carbon still plentiful post-wildfire after century of fire exclusion

Forests in Yosemite National Park hold more carbon today than they did 120 years ago despite burning in a severe wildfire in 2013, according to a Penn State-led team of researchers.