People
Dr. Gregory Starr
Research in my lab focuses on understanding the controls over carbon, water, and energy fluxes through terrestrial ecosystems. This includes the interaction between abiotic and biotic processes and the feedbacks to global biogeochemistry cycles and climate change. I am particularly interested in understanding these processes across multiple scales (e.g. internal plant signals to continental level carbon dynamics) using plant physiological ecology as a foundation for my research. My research makes use of the latest environmental instrumentation to understand the relationships among climate, biogeochemistry, and plant physiology. Over the past decade I have been involved with research in a multitude of ecosystems around the world, these include but are not limited to: Arctic Tundra, Everglades, Southern Pine, Lowland Neo-Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystems.
David Yannick- Ph.D. Student
David graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and a minor in Statistics. During his BS, he was an undergraduate research assistant in the Aquatic Biogeochemistry Lab (ABL) at UCF. While there, he completed an honors thesis on the relationship between organic matter in wetland soils and sulfate, exploring the potential for toxic aquatic conditions. Post-graduation he continued as the ABL’s lab manager, completing fieldwork in various wetland systems, supporting the operation of analytical instruments, and sample processing.
David joined the Global Change Ecology Lab at the University of Alabama in the Spring of 2022. During his MS, he expanded our knowledge of anthropogenic impacts on wetland systems to understand long-term implications and potential solutions. He joins our long-term research project, which monitors carbon dynamics in Everglades marshes, specifically in systems undergoing shifts from sawgrass prairie to mangrove forest. He was co-advised by Dr. Christina Staudhammer and graduated in December 2023. He will be continuing within our group for his Ph.D., which he started in the Spring of 2024
Maddie Cherry – M.S.
Maddie graduated from the University of Alabama in December 2022 with a BS in Biology and Marine Science. She was an undergraduate research assistant in the Global Change Ecology lab. After graduation, she took some time to backpack a third of the Appalachian Trail. She rejoined the lab in the Fall of 2023 and is working on the Savannah River project. For her MS, she is working to understand the water cycle in a longleaf pine forest and its environmental drivers. Specifically, she is looking at the partitioning of evapotranspiration in a remnant longleaf pine forest.
Rene Pereyra – Undergraduate Research Associate
Rene is an undergraduate studying biology at the University of Alabama. He is currently working on a variety of research projects at our SRS site.
Graduate Student Alumni
N. Wright-Osment (Degree: Completed 08/2022) – M.S. Student, “Pervasive subnivean photosynthesis in vascular and non-vascular tundra plants facilitates recovery of energetic of metabolites”
Z. Yu (Degree: Completed 12/21) – M.S. Student, “Biophysical Factors Influence Methane Fluxes in Subtropical Freshwater Wetlands Using Eddy Covariance Methods”
R. Ruzol (Degree: M.S., Completed 08/2021) – (Chair). Water use from a young loblolly pine bioenergy plantation: effects of intensive management on stand evapotranspiration. (Current: Lecturer, Dept. of Biology, University of Alabama)
G. Kenney (Degree: M.S., Completed 05/2021) – (Chair). Hurricane Michael altered the structure and function of longleaf pine woodlands. (Current: Research Associate, USDA Livestock and Range Research Laboratory in Miles City, Montana)S. Wiesner (Degree: Ph.D. Completed 08/2018) – (Chair). ” Energy Density and Entropy Production: Their Role in the Carbon and Energy Cycling of Subtropical Longleaf Pine Savannas.” (Current: Post Doctoral Scientist: University of Wisconsin)
S. George (Degree: M.S., Completed 08/2017) – (Chair). “Understanding the carbon, water and energy exchange of a young cellulosic biofuels stand of loblolly pine.” (Tower Technician: Neon Inc.)
S. Malone (Degree: Ph.D., Completed 04/2014) – (Co-Chair). “Hydrology drives Everglades ecosystem function: implications for ecosystem vulnerability to drought, energy balance, climate teleconnections and climate change.” (Current: Assistant Professor Florida International University)
J. Jarnigan (Degree: M.S., Completed: 02/2013) – (Chair). “Carbon Dynamics in Saltwater Marsh Ecosystems along a Productivity Gradient.” (Current: Instructor University of Alabama)
J. Wright (Degree: Ph.D., Completed: 9/2012) – (Co-Chair). Ph.D. University of Edinburgh. Dissertation entitled, “Fire and forest ecosystems in the south-eastern United States.” (Current: unknown)
A. Whelan (Degree: M.S., Completed: 04/2012) – (Chair). “Interaction of soil moisture availability and prescribed fire on the exchange of carbon dioxide, energy and water in longleaf pine forests.” (Current: Research Associate Joseph Jones Ecological Research Center)
K. Jimenez, (Degree: M.S., Completed: 08/2010) – (Chair). “A comparison of CO2 Exchange Rates for Long- and Short-hydroperiod Everglades Marshes.” (Current: Research Associate University of Cincinnati)
Post Doctoral Advised
Rajit Patankar – April 2011 – April 2012 (Operations Manager, Neon Inc).
Helene Genet- March 2009 – December 2010 (Current, Assistant Research Professor, University of Alaska, Fairbanks).
Post Doctoral Co-Advised
Sean Charles – December 2018 to December 2019 (Current, Post Doctoral Scientist FIU)
Junbin Zhao – October 2016 to December 2018 (Current, Research Scientist, N
orweigian Institute of Bioeconomy Research)
Justin Becknell – July 2013 – June 2015 (Current, Assistant Professor Colby College).
Debra Davis – September 2010 – July 2012. (Current, Assistant Professor, Wingate University, N.C.).Jessica Schedlbauer – August 2007- July 2010 (current, Associate Professor West Chester University, PA).