People
John Stella, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
One Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210
Email: stella@esf.edu
Phone: 315-470-4902
Curriculum vitae (PDF)
Elizabeth Harper, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Research Fellow
I am developing patch-based population models for Fremont cottonwood stands on the Sacramento River in California's Central Valley. The models will be used to predict the effects of climate change and changes in flow regime on the riparian ecosystem.
Anna Harrison
M.S. student
My research attempts to better understand the landscape factors that drive beaver occupancy in the Adirondack Region of New York State. The duration and frequency at which beavers occupy a site is determined by specific landscape characteristics. My project uses a 30-year beaver occupancy dataset at Huntington Forest in the Central Adirondacks and involves mapping the geographic extent and forest impacts associated with varying degrees of beaver occupancy. As part of this, I am also quantifying relationships between beaver occupancy and: (1) the availability of forest resources, (2) changes to forest composition, and (3) forest management practices.
Laura Schifman
M.S. student
My research explores the ecophysiological functioning of willows used in biomass crops and phytoremediation. Water use efficiency in plants is related to stable carbon isotope ratios in woody tissue and can give an idea of plant water stress. My study is part of a larger investigation that seeks to optimize the phytoremediation effort of a local landfill. The goal is to create an evapotranspiration cover as opposed to a traditional landfill cap by selecting a willow with high water use. This will prevent groundwater contamination from runoff entering the landfill during a precipitation event.
Kacie Gehl
M.S. student
I am studying the biogeochemistry and nutrient stoichiometry of the Onondaga Creek watershed in Syracuse, NY. I am interested in how water chemistry changes through a network with land-use and natural features such as tributary confluences, salt springs, and mudboils. I am analyzing gradients in nutrient concentrations, loads, and limitations for in-stream production at three different catchment scales: network, reach, and 'transitional', meaning up- and downstream of stream tributaries and suspected nutrient point sources. My goal is to understand the most relevant perspective for evaluating stream physio-chemical gradients in a catchment with diverse land uses (forest, agriculture, urban) and cumulative impacts to water quality.
Johanna Duffy
M.P.S. student
My interests are associated with wetland resources and the diversity and interactions of animal and plant species that are found within these complex ecosystems. I enjoy ecological sampling and wetland monitoring, especially if these actions relate to wetland protection issues and/or state and federal environmental regulations. My capstone seminar will focus on ecological sampling and wetland monitoring at landfill sites.
Tyler Talucci
M.P.S. student
I am interested in the dynamics and control of invasive species, particularly non-native aquatic macrophytes in lakes and rivers.
Jess Riddle
Dendroecology Lab Manager and M.S. student (Don Leopold, major professor)
I am studying the climate-growth relationships of eastern redcedar and its close relative common juniper. The species grow together at my study sites where redcedar approaches its northern range limit and common juniper approaches its southern range limit. In general, I am interested in anything that lives in forests and doesn't run away from me; trees, herbaceous plants, lichens, and other fungi are all fair game.
Sara Scanga
Senior Research Assistant and Ph.D. candidate (Don Leopold, major professor)
I am broadly interested in plant and wetland ecology. My dissertation research concerns the population ecology and conservation of the rare wetland plant Trollius laxus, which grows in fens in the northeastern US.
James Johnson
Research Assistant, B.S. student
My main interests lie in plant systematics and taxonomy along with plant anatomy and physiology. My goal is a Ph.D. (hopefully in systematics). I would love to be a professor because I love teaching (I have been a TA three times as an undergrad) but I would still love to do research.
Former members of the Stella Lab
- Rachel Ribaudo, M.S., 2009 (Co-major professor Laura K. Lautz, Syracuse University)
- Lisa Kurian, M.S., 2009 (Co-major professor Laura K. Lautz, Syracuse University)
- Alex K. Fremier, former Post-doc, 2008 (now on the Faculty at University of Idaho)