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Ecology
M.S., M.P.S. & Ph.D.

This integrative study area allows students to investigate the relationships of organisms to their environment and those factors that affect their distribution and abundance. Both the practical and theoretical applications of ecology are emphasized through courses and research. There are four major areas in ecology: organismal ecology, population-evolutionary ecology, community ecology and systems ecology. In consultation with the student’s steering committee, courses are chosen from these areas, as well as other disciplines. Specific research may encompass any of the four major areas of ecology and entail the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms, community structure including trophic relationships, diversity, succession and ecosystem properties, such as patterns of energy transfer and biogeochemical cycling.

Participating Faculty

Guy Baldassarre; gabaldas@esf.edu
Wetlands, Waterfowl
Martin Doviak; mdovciak@esf.edu
Forest Ecology, Ecosystem Management and Restoration
Danilo Fernando; fernando@esf.edu
Plant Reproductive Biology
Melissa Fierke; mkfierke@esf.edu
Forest Insects, Tree Defenses

Learn More

Jacqueline Frair; jfrair@esf.edu
Vertebrate and Landscape Ecology
James Gibbs; jpgibbs@syr.edu
Vertebrate Conservation Biology, Genetic Considerations, Reptiles and Amphibians
Charles Hall; chall@esf.edu
Systems Ecology
Thomas Horton; trhorton@esf.edu
Ecology, Fungal Communities, Mycorrhizal Relationships
Robin Kimmerer; rwkimmer@esf.edu
Bryoecology, Restoration Ecology
Donald Leopold; djleopold@esf.edu
Forest and Wetland Ecology, Restoration Ecology
Karin Limburg; klimburg@esf.edu
Fish Ecology
Mark Lomolino; island@esf.edu
Mammalian Diversity, Biogeography
Gregory McGee; ggmcgee@esf.edu
Plant Ecology
Stacy McNulty; smcnulty@esf.edu
Forest Ecology, Wildlife Ecology, GIS and Landscape Ecology, Phenology
Myron Mitchell; mitchell@syr.edu
Biogeochemistry
James Nakas; jpnakas@syr.edu
Microbiology
Dylan Parry; dparry@esf.edu
Forest Insects, Biological Control
Neil Ringler; neilringler@esf.edu
Aquatic Ecology, Fish Behavior
Sadie J Ryan; sjryan@esf.edu
Disease and Landscape Ecology, Wildlife Conservation
Biology, Public Health, Climate Change
Kimberly Schulz; kschulz@syr.edu
Limnology
William Shields; wms1@syr.edu
Vertebrate Behavior
Donald Stewart; djstewart@esf.edu
Aquatic Ecology
Scott Turner; jsturner@syr.edu
Physiological Ecology
Alexander Weir; alexw@esf.edu
Mycology

Current Graduate Students in Ecology

Current Students

Only currently registered students appear—new student names are added at the start of the academic year.

Juan Carlos Alvarez Yepiz jualvare@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Dovciak	Graduate Research Topic “Mechanisms of persistence and coexistence of the rare cycad Dioon sonorense in Mexico” Home Page https://sites.google.com/site/jualvare10/ Sample publication Álvarez-Yépiz, J.C., Dovčiak, M., and Búrquez, A. 2011. Persistence of a rare ancient cycad: effects of environment and demography. Biological Conservation 144:122-130.
Ceili Bachman cebachma@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Mitchell and Schulz
Daniele Baker dmbake01@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Mitchell and Schulz	Home Page http://www.esf.edu/efb/grad/Baker.htm
Keith Bowman kcbowman@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Kimmerer	Previous Graduate Study: University of Tennessee Knoxville* (Botany ) Home Page http://www.esf.edu/efb/grad/Bowman.htm
Julia Braunmueller jbbraunm@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MPS Advisor(s): Shields	Undergraduate Institute: SUNY ESF (Environmental Science)
Thomas Brumbelow trbrumbe@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Leopold	Undergraduate Institute: SUNY College Oswego (Biology)
Shannon Buckley shbuckle@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Mitchell	Previous Graduate Study: Columbia U Sch General Studies (Climate and Society ) Graduate Research Topic Spatial and temporal variations of urban carbon dioxide concentrations Home Page http://www.esf.edu/efb/grad/Buckley.htm
Matthew Buff mfbuff@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Leopold
Keith Cardinali kwcardin@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MPS Advisor(s): Dovciak	Undergraduate Institute: SUNY College Oswego Graduate Research Topic Wetlands Ecology Favorite Quote “Hope and the future for me are not in lawns and cultivated fields, not in towns and cities, but in the impervious and quaking swamps” - Henry David Thoreau
Kean Clifford kmcliffo@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Stewart
Derek Crane dpcrane@syr.edu	EFB Fish & Wildlife Biology & Mgt Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Farrell	Undergraduate Institute: Lycoming College (Biology) Previous Graduate Study: University of Michigan Graduate Research Topic My research at SUNY-ESF focuses on ecology and restoration of critical spawning habitat for coolwater fish. Specifically, I am investigating; 1) how substrate size and shape influence walleye egg retention under different flow regimes in a laboratory setting; 2) how siltation of spawning substrates influences walleye egg adhesiveness; 3) biological and physical habitat characteristics at muskellunge spawning sites in the Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor. Peer-Reviewed Publications Crane, D.P., Johengen, T.H. & J.D. Allan, 2011. Assessment of quantitative food web metrics for investigating the influence of land use on warm water fish diets. Hydrobiologia. 664: 1-15.
Allison Devlin aldevlin@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Frair	Undergraduate Institute: Cornell University (Animal Sciences) Previous Graduate Study: Columbia U Sch General Studies (Cons Bio ) My Background I grew up watching documentaries on big cats, and cultivated my passion by reading any felid books I could find. I was first attracted to their form and, as my perception of the world matured, so too did my understanding of the ecological and cultural importance of predators. I'm thrilled to begin my first long-term project on felids. Jaguar Population Biology Conduct demographic and genetic data collection on jaguar (Panthera onca) in the Brazilian Pantanal. Collaborations include: SUNY ESF; Panthera; and ICMBio (Chico Mendez Institute of the Conservation of Biodiversity). Specifically within ICMBio, close collaboration with CENAP (National Center for the Conservation of Natural Predators).
Stephanie Figary sefigary@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Schulz	Undergraduate Institute: SUNY College Brockport (Environmental Science) Graduate Research Topic Investigating the impacts of an invasive zooplankton, Cercopagis pengoi, on the food webs of all of the New York Finger Lakes. Home Page http://www.esf.edu/efb/grad/Figary.htm Concurrent Degree Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship, Master of Public Administration
David Geliebter dmgelieb@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Leopold
Kalie Gerenser kagerens@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Fierke	Undergraduate Institute: Rochester Institute of Technol (Environmental Science) Graduate Research Topic I am working on assessing the potential impacts of the invasive emerald ash borer beetle on plant community and biomass dynamics in mid-successional ash forests in NY great lakes basin state parks.
Jacob Gillette jpgillet@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Schulz	Graduate Research Topic My thesis research is focused on quantifying the role that mixotrophic algae play in freshwater pelagic food webs. Mixotrophs, which are algae that combine photosynthetic production with heterotrophic consumption, are currently well identified in the literature, but their effects on both primary production and trophic transfer rate estimations are largely unknown. Utilizing stable isotopic tracers in conjunction with lab and field experimentation, I am developing a framework with which to address these questions for the first time. Home Page Web Link
Suzanne Greenlaw segreenl@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Kimmerer	Undergraduate Institute: University of Maine Presque Isle (Environmental Science)
Lewis Grove legrove@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Underwood	Undergraduate Institute: Pennsylvania St University of University of Park (Ecology) Graduate Research Topic Inter-specific communication, information exchange and implications for bioacoustic monitoring of nocturnal songbird migration Home Page Web Link
Daniel Gurdak djgurdak@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Stewart	Undergraduate Institute: Herbert H Lehman College (Biology) Previous Graduate Study: University of Oxford (Environmental Sci ) Links: -Personal Web Page -Connect: LinkedIn -Friend: Facebook -Follow Blog: A Walk in the Várzea Doctoral Research Brief: My research focuses on the ecology, conservation, and management of Amazonian arapaima, among the largest freshwater fish species in the world (More Information). Research Key Words: conservation biology, tropics, freshwater fish ecology, protected areas [and beyond], carbon, flagship, diversity
Alison Halpern adhalper@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Leopold and Farrell	Undergraduate Institute: Indiana University of Bloomington* (ORGANISMAL BIO) Previous Graduate Study: ( )
Jason Hamidi jhamidi@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): McGrath	Undergraduate Institute: Rollins College Winter Park (Biology) Graduate Research Topic hyporheic macroinvertebrates associated with stream restoration structures Favorite Quote Wow, look at the grass stains on my skin. I say, if your knees aren’t green by the end of the day, you ought to seriously re-examine your life. - Calvin and Hobbes Home Page http://www.esf.edu/efb/grad/Hamidi.htm
John Hartigan jjhartig@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Shields	Undergraduate Institute: SUNY ESF (Biology)
Jeremy Hayward jhayward@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Horton	Undergraduate Institute: Carleton College (Biology)
Kyle Hodgson khhodgso@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): McGrath
Elisabeth Holmes egholmes@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MPS Advisor(s): Horton	Undergraduate Institute: Alfred University (Fine Arts)
Bettyjo Jivoff bjivoff@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Leopold
Stephanie Johnson sljohn06@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Ringler	Undergraduate Institute: Russell Sage College (Environ Sci) Previous Graduate Study: SUNY ESF (Ecology ) Graduate Research Topic Freshwater ecology, with a focus on aquatic macroinvertebrate community structure and food web dynamics in the Onondaga Lake Watershed.
James Johnson jkjohn03@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Leopold	Favorite Quote For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. - Carl Sagan My photo album! Web Link
Meredtih Kane mlkane@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Kimmerer	Undergraduate Institute: St Lawrence University (Biology)
Phil-Goo Kang pkang01@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Mitchell	Previous Graduate Study: Kangwon National University (Water Pollution ) Home Page http://www.esf.edu/efb/grad/Kang.htm
Georgia Keene grkeene@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Parry	Undergraduate Institute: SUNY College Oswego (Zoology)
Lucas Kirby lkirby@syr.edu	EFB Fish & Wildlife Biology & Mgt Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Ringler	Previous Graduate Study: SUNY ESF ( ) Graduate Research Topic I am currently looking at the structuring role of aquatic macrophytes on aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in Onondaga Lake, Syracuse, NY. I am also evaluating the colonization potential of macroinvertebrates from connected waterbodies into Onondaga Lake. Home Page http://www.esf.edu/efb/grad/Kirby.htm
Stefanie Kroll sakroll@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Ringler	Undergraduate Institute: SUNY ESF (Biology) Previous Graduate Study: University of CastillaLaMancha (Agricultural Enginee) Graduate Research Topic My work is focused on assessing human impacts to the Segura River Basin in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. This watershed is located in a Mediterranean climate and is subjected to pressures from land use and flow regulation. It is the receiving watershed of the Tajo-Segura Transfer, the largest inter-basin water transfer in Spain. More specifically, the study includes the use of traits to study the macroinvertebrate community, stable isotope analysis and projected ecosystem changes due to climate change. Publications The influence of land use on water quality and macroinvertebrate biotic indices in rivers within Castilla-La Mancha (Spain)
Catherine Landis cllandis@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Leopold and Kimmerer,r	Undergraduate Institute: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN (ENGLISH) Previous Graduate Study: SUNY ESF (Environ Science )
Stephen Langdon sflangdo@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Dovciak	Undergraduate Institute: Plattsburgh State University (Ecology)
Jill Mandel jkmandel@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Limburg and Shields	Undergraduate Institute: Long Island University of Southampton (Marine Biology)
Kapil Mandrekar kmandrek@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Stewart	Undergraduate Institute: Albion College (Biology) Previous Graduate Study: Arkansas State University of St Univ (Biology )
Andrew Miller admill05@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Ringler	Undergraduate Institute: Ursinus College (German/Biology) Graduate Research Topic My research focuses on the role of out-migrating juvenile Chinook salmon in the food web of the lower Salmon River, New York, and the implications of this predation pressure on salmon recruitment. Home Page http://www.esf.edu/efb/grad/Miller.htm
Matthew Regan mjrega01@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Leopold
Anna Stewart amstew01@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Hall	Undergraduate Institute: Syracuse University (Environmental Science) Links Web Link Personal Statement I am a concurrent Ph. D. candidate at SUNY ESF and Masters of Public Administration student at Syracuse University. I am broadly interested in the application of ecological research to issues of human development in the tropics. For my dissertation research I am studying social and climatic risk factors for denque fever transmission in Ecuador. Dengue is an emerging infectious disease transmitted to humans by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. From 2010-2011 I will be in Ecuador conducting field research in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia en Hidrologia (INAMHI). Graduate Research Topic A socio-ecological analysis of risk factors for dengue fever transmission in coastal Ecuador Favorite Quote Herman Daly: "It is better to deal incompletely with the whole than to deal wholly with the incomplete" Home Page http://www.esf.edu/efb/grad/Stewart.htm
Samuel Tourtellot sgtourte@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Horton	Undergraduate Institute: Michigan State University (Forestry and Related)
Rebecca Walling rwalling@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Horton
Jay Wason jwwasoni@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Dovciak	Undergraduate Institute: University of Pittsburgh Graduate Research Topic Climatic controls of the northern-hardwood to boreal forest ecotone in the Adirondack Mountains of New York Home Page Web Link
Brigham Whitman bjwhitma@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Porter	Home Page http://www.esf.edu/efb/grad/Whitman.htm
Cheryl Whritenour cawhrite@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Schulz	Undergraduate Institute: SUNY ESF (EFB) Previous Graduate Study: SUNY ESF (Ecology )
John Wiley jwileyjr@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Beier and McGee	Undergraduate Institute: Hanover College (Biology) Previous Graduate Study: Ohio University (Plant Biology/Forest) Graduate Research Topic Secondary successional processes and habitat trends based on chronosequential decomposition of LiDAR-derived vegetation height profiles in relation to edaphic and climatic gradients across the landscape.
Jennifer Yantachka jeyantac@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Beier	Undergraduate Institute: Cornell University (Biological Sciences) Graduate Research Topic One of the ways acid deposition affects biota is through the leaching of soil calcium. Snails are sensitive to calcium availability and are a major source of supplementary calcium for breeding songbirds. I am studying songbird abundance and diversity along calcium gradients in the Adirondack Mountains to understand how acidification is influencing songbird populations.