Erica Smithwick
Professor of Geography

-
323 Walker
University Park, PA - She/Her
- eus17@psu.edu
- 814-865-6693
Research Summary
Understanding how a wide range of disturbances, especially fire, affect ecosystem function at landscape scales.
Huck Affiliations
Publication Tags
These publication tags are generated from the output of this researcher. Click any tag below to view other Huck researchers working on the same topic.
Nitrogen Climate Change Carbon Climate Sulfur Planning Ecosystem Water Ecosystems Turnover Phenology Deer Biofuels Grazing Quercus Basalt Greenhouse Gases Oak Forests Prescribed Burning Forage Herbivores Effect Rate BiodiversityMost Recent Publications
Quantifying spatial patterns of grass response to nutrient additions using empirical and neutral semivariogram models
Erica Smithwick, Douglas Baldwin, K Naithani,
Estimating Root Zone Soil Moisture Across the Eastern United States with Passive Microwave Satellite Data and a Simple Hydrologic Model
Douglas Baldwin, Salvatore Manfreda, Henry Lin, Erica Smithwick, Remote Sensing on p. 2013
Public and manager perceptions about prescribed fire in the Mid-Atlantic, United States
Hong Wu, Zachary D. Miller, Rui Wang, Katherine Y. Zipp, Peter Newman, Yau Huo Shr, Cody L. Dems, Alan Taylor, Margot W. Kaye, Erica A.H. Smithwick, 2022, Journal of Environmental Management
Interactions between landscape and local factors inform spatial action planning in post-fire forest environments
Jamie L. Peeler, Erica A.H. Smithwick, 2021, Landscape Ecology on p. 3523-3537
Landscape-Scale Forest Reorganization Following Insect Invasion and Harvest Under Future Climate Change Scenarios
Stacey K. Olson, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Melissa S. Lucash, Robert M. Scheller, Robert E. Nicholas, Kelsey L. Ruckert, Christopher M. Caldwell, 2021, Ecosystems on p. 1756-1774
Simulated fire regimes favor oak and pine but affect carbon stocks in mixed oak forests in Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Anthony Zhao, Alan H. Taylor, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Margot Kaye, Lucas B. Harris, 2021, Forest Ecology and Management
Prescribed fire alters structure and composition of a mid-Atlantic oak forest up to eight years after burning
Cody L. Dems, Alan H. Taylor, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Jesse K. Kreye, Margot W. Kaye, 2021, Fire Ecology on p. 1-13
Robust paths to net greenhouse gas mitigation and negative emissions via advanced biofuels
John L. Field, Tom L. Richard, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Hao Cai, Mark S. Laser, David S. LeBauer, Stephen P. Long, Keith Paustian, Zhangcai Qin, John J. Sheehan, Pete Smith, Michael Q. Wang, Lee R. Lynd, 2020, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America on p. 21968-21977
Seed source pattern and terrain have scale-dependent effects on post-fire tree recovery
Jamie L. Peeler, Erica A.H. Smithwick, 2020, Landscape Ecology on p. 1945-1959
Patch-scale selection patterns of grazing herbivores in the central basalt plains of Kruger National Park
Cyanne Young, Hervé Fritz, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Jan A. Venter, 2020, African Journal of Range and Forage Science on p. 199-213
Most-Cited Papers
Variability in root production, phenology, and turnover rate among 12 temperate tree species
M. Luke McCormack, Thomas S. Adams, Erica A.H. Smithwick, David M. Eissenstat, 2014, Ecology on p. 2224-2235
Improving the representation of roots in terrestrial models
Erica A.H. Smithwick, Melissa S. Lucash, M. Luke McCormack, Gajan Sivandran, 2014, Ecological Modelling on p. 193-204
Representing climate, disturbance, and vegetation interactions in landscape models
Robert E. Keane, Donald McKenzie, Donald A. Falk, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Carol Miller, Lara Karena B. Kellogg, 2015, Ecological Modelling on p. 33-47
Robust paths to net greenhouse gas mitigation and negative emissions via advanced biofuels
John L. Field, Tom L. Richard, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Hao Cai, Mark S. Laser, David S. LeBauer, Stephen P. Long, Keith Paustian, Zhangcai Qin, John J. Sheehan, Pete Smith, Michael Q. Wang, Lee R. Lynd, 2020, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America on p. 21968-21977
Root stress and nitrogen deposition: Consequences and research priorities
Erica A.H. Smithwick, David M. Eissenstat, Gary M. Lovett, Richard D. Bowden, Lindsey E. Rustad, Charles T. Driscoll, 2013, New Phytologist on p. 712-719
Regional scale patterns of fine root lifespan and turnover under current and future climate
M. Luke McCormack, David M. Eissenstat, Anantha M. Prasad, Erica A.H. Smithwick, 2013, Global Change Biology on p. 1697-1708
Reconstructing disturbances and their biogeochemical consequences over multiple timescales
Kendra K. McLauchlan, Philip E. Higuera, Daniel G. Gavin, Steven S. Perakis, Michelle C. Mack, Heather Alexander, John Battles, Franco Biondi, Brian Buma, Daniele Colombaroli, Sara K. Enders, Daniel R. Engstrom, Feng Sheng Hu, Jennifer R. Marlon, John Marshall, Matt McGlone, Jesse L. Morris, Lucas E. Nave, Bryan Shuman, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Dunia H. Urrego, David A. Wardle, Christopher J. Williams, Joseph J. Williams, 2014, BioScience on p. 105-116
Predicting root zone soil moisture with soil properties and satellite near-surface moisture data across the conterminous United States
D. Baldwin, S. Manfreda, K. Keller, E. A.H. Smithwick, 2017, Journal of Hydrology on p. 393-404
Deer feeding selectivity for invasive plants
Kristine M. Averill, David A. Mortensen, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Eric Post, 2016, Biological Invasions on p. 1247-1263
Growth and survival relationships of 71 tree species with nitrogen and sulfur deposition across the conterminous U.S.
Kevin J. Horn, R. Quinn Thomas, Christopher M. Clark, Linda H. Pardo, Mark E. Fenn, Gregory B. Lawrence, Steven S. Perakis, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Douglas Baldwin, Sabine Braun, Annika Nordin, Charles H. Perry, Jennifer N. Phelan, Paul G. Schaberg, Samuel B.St Clair, Richard Warby, Shaun Watmough, 2018, PLoS One
News Articles Featuring Erica Smithwick
May 02, 2023
Energy, environmental seed grants awarded to interdisciplinary research teams
Nineteen interdisciplinary research teams received funding through the Institutes of Energy and the Environment’s (IEE) Seed Grant Program for 2023.
Full Article
Mar 23, 2023
Climate Solutions Symposium to take place at Penn State on May 22 and 23
Penn State will host the Climate Solutions Symposium on May 22 and 23 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.
Full Article
Jan 31, 2023
Eissenstat retires from College of Ag Sciences after three decades at Penn State
David Eissenstat, professor of woody plant physiology, retired recently after a distinguished 28-year career on the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences faculty, including a two-year stint as interim head of the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management.
Full Article
Jan 26, 2023
Smithwick appointed new director of Earth and Environmental Systems Institute
Erica Smithwick, distinguished professor of geography, has been named director of the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute at Penn State, effective Jan. 1.
Full Article
Dec 30, 2022
This group of ‘science moms’ is working to make a cleaner, better future for their children: ‘Moms have superpowers’
As everyone is aware, moms always know best. And now, one group of climate scientist moms is sharing their expert knowledge to help parents and kids understand our planet’s warming temperatures.
Full Article
Nov 01, 2022
Fighting fire with fire: Study gauges public perception of prescribed burns
Setting planned, controlled fires — or prescribed burns — on landscapes can reduce wildfire risks and support habitat restoration, but to be successful these policies also require public support.
Full Article
Jul 13, 2021
Macalady named Ecology Institute director
Microbe expert Jennifer Macalady replaces outgoing director Erica Smithwick, who oversaw the research unit for the past five years.
Full Article
Aug 25, 2020
Advanced biofuels show promise for replacing some fossil fuels
Plant-based biofuels can play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and growing these crops in certain landscapes offers net climate benefits compared to other land use options, according to a team of international scientists.
Full Article
Jul 15, 2020
Ecology Institute announces grant recipients
The Ecology Institute has awarded 11 proposals from across the University as part of its Flower Grant program, including five projects submitted by faculty at Commonwealth Campuses.
Full Article
Jun 05, 2020
The Penn State Ecology Community is Committed to Combatting Racism and Injustice
The leadership of the Penn State Ecology community wishes to express solidarity with marginalized members of our society, and has prepared the following statement of support to all those who struggle against systemic injustices. We can and must do better.
Full Article