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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

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Martin Dovciak; mdovciak@esf.edu
plant ecology, forest ecology, biodiversity, global change ecology, spatial ecology, ecosystem management & restoration, plant diversity
Danilo D. Fernando; fernando@esf.edu
plant reproductive biology, plant structure and development, in vitro fertilization in conifers, pollen transformation, genomics and proteomics of pollen tube development, willow flowering and genomics, genetic diversity, rare and endangered plants, plant reproductive biology, plant development, plant diversity
Melissa K. Fierke; mkfierke@esf.edu
forest entomology, forest ecology, invasive forest pests, insect-tree interactions, tree defenses
Jacqueline Frair; jfrair@esf.edu
vertebrate and landscape ecology, wildlife and landscape ecology, animal movements and habitat use, predator-prey interactions
James Gibbs; jpgibbs@esf.edu
herpetology, vertebrate conservation biology, genetics and ecology in birds, reptiles and amphibians, songbirds, giant tortoise, statistics, wildlife population monitoring, galapagos islands, conservation biology, ecological monitoring, population genetics, applied demography, undergraduate conservation education
Charles A. Hall; chall@esf.edu
systems ecology, meaning synthetic studies of populations and ecosystems, including studies of fish migrations, estuaries, tropical land use change and energetics of both natural and human-dominated ecosystems. Emphasis on measuring and modeling human-dominated ecosystems and geographic modeling as well as biophysical and ecological economics, GIS, energy, general systems thinking, coupled human and natural systems
Thomas R. Horton; trhorton@esf.edu
mycorrhizal plant ecology, molecular ecology, ecology, fungal communities, mycology, fire ecology
Robin W. Kimmerer; rkimmer@esf.edu
plant restoration ecology, bryology, bryoecology, restoration ecology, ethnobotany, conservation biology and bryophyte ecology, traditional ecological knowledge
Donald J. Leopold; djleopold@esf.edu
forest and freshwater wetland ecology, conservation, and restoration, peatland ecology and conservation, local and regional controls of species richness and rarity, dynamics of plant communities as affected by man and environment, management for unique communities and rare species, dendrology, native plants, restoration ecology, rare species conservation
Karin E. Limburg; klimburg@esf.edu
riverine fish and estuarine ecology, fisheries ecology, watershed ecology, systems ecology, ecological economics, fisheries and ecosystem science, coupled human-natural systems, biogeochemistry, fisheries ecology, ecosystem ecology, biogeochemical tracers, modeling
Mark V. Lomolino; island@esf.edu
conservation biology, wildlife, ecology, evolution and biogeography
Gregory McGee; ggmcgee@esf.edu
ecology, management and restoration of forest ecosystems, effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on northern hardwood forests, plant ecology
Stacy A. McNulty; smcnulty@esf.edu
forest ecology, landscape ecology, long-term monitoring, and applied geographic information systems. focused on exploring long-term changes, biodiversity conservation in the northern forest, and impacts of recreation, development, and forest management in the adirondack mountains and northern forest, phenology, amphibians, beaver, songbirds, white-tailed deer, animal movements and habitat use, wildlife management
Myron J. Mitchell; mitchell@syr.edu
biogeochemistry, environmental energetics
James P. Nakas; jpnakas@esf.edu
microbiology, transformation and decomposition processes, nutrient cycling, soil and aquatic microbiology, microbial biomass, solvent production, microbial ecology, microbial physiology
Dylan Parry; dparry@esf.edu
population dynamics and evolutionary ecology of defoliating Lepidoptera and their natural enemies (predators, parasitoids, and pathogens), invasive species in forested environments, insect-plant interactions, conservation of moths and butterflies, forest entomology, biological control
Neil H. Ringler; neilringler@esf.edu
fish ecology and behavior, foraging behavior of fishes, salmon reproduction, vertebrate anatomy, aquatic insect ecology, stream ecology and management, aquatic and fisheries restoration, aquatic entomology
Sadie J. Ryan; sjryan@esf.edu
disease and landscape ecology, wildlife conservation biology, public health, climate change
Kimberly L. Schulz; kschulz@syr.edu
nutrient and exotic species effects on aquatic ecosystems, ecological stoichiometry, aquatic community and ecosystem ecology, bioenergetics, nutrient cycling, lower food web studies, great lakes, finger lakes, plankton, limnology, aquatic ecology, biogeochemistry, invasive species
William M. Shields; wms1@syr.edu
animal behavior, evolution and genetics, evolution of animal communication and dispersal systems, effects of genetic constraints on the evolution of social behavior, sociobiology and behavioral ecology, the use of DNA in identity testing and conservation biology, the interface between science and the law, conservation theory, behavior in birds and mammals, forensic DNA analysis
Donald Stewart; djstewart@esf.edu
ecology and systematics, lake systems ecology, aquatic ecology, fish conservation, ecology and population biology in tropical and temperate systems, fish ecology and fisheries management, ecological energetics, modeling predation and production processes, Great Lakes ecosystems, Amazonian ecosystems, ecology and systematics of neotropical freshwater fishes
J. Scott Turner; jsturner@syr.edu
animal physiology, physiological ecology, thermal energetics, biology of body size, physiology of gas exchange
Alexander Weir; alexw@esf.edu
conservation mycology, fungal biodiversity and conservation, fungal-arthropod interactions, biology of parasites and symbionts, systematics and evolutionary biology of fungi, fungi and humans, biology of parasites and symbionts

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
Monica Bibiana Berdugo Moreno mbberdug@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Dovciak and Kimmerer	Undergraduate Institute: Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Biology) Previous Graduate Study: Universidad del Pais Vasco (Environmental Science)
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
Thomas Brumbelow trbrumbe@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Leopold	Undergraduate Institute: SUNY College Oswego (Biology)
Matthew Buff mfbuff@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Leopold
Jenna Carlson jecarlso@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Underwood
Kean Clifford kmcliffo@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Stewart
Derek Crane dpcrane@syr.edu	Ecology 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 ) Graduate Research Topic Working thesis title: "Population Persistence of Jaguar (Panthera onca) in the Brazilian Pantanal" - Conduct demographic and genetic data collection on jaguar residing in two working cattle ranches and two protected areas in the world's largest inland wetland, the Pantanal (MT, MS, Brazil). 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: MPS Advisor(s):
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: ( )
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
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
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.
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) Graduate Research Topic Inland barrens buck moth phenology and distribution in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve
Lucas Kirby lkirby@syr.edu	Ecology 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
Catherine Landis cllandis@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Leopold and Kimmerer	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)
Alexander Looi ahlooi@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Schulz
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 )
Matthew Regan mjrega01@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MS Advisor(s): Leopold
Jessica Saville jmsavill@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Leopold
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	Undergraduate Institute: Carleton College (Biology) Personal Statement I am interested in belowground community and ecosystem ecology. Graduate Research Topic The effect of invasive earthworms on soil nutrient distribution and ectomycorrhizal diversity Favorite Quote "It says nothing against the ripeness of spirit that it has a few worms" -Nietzsche Website Web Link
Jay Wason jwwasoni@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Dovciak	Undergraduate Institute: University of Pittsburgh Graduate Research Topic Climatic controls of vegetation distributions along elevation gradients in the Northern Forest (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York). Home Page Web Link
Samantha Wason sjwason@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: MPS Advisor(s): Leopold
Justine Weber juweber@syr.edu	Ecology Degree Sought: PHD Advisor(s): Leopold
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)
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.