ESA Fellows
Fellows are members who have made outstanding contributions to a wide range of fields served by ESA—including, but not restricted to, those that advance or apply ecological knowledge in academics, government, non-profit organizations and the broader society. They are elected for life.
Early Career Fellows are members who have advanced ecological knowledge and applications within eight years of completing their doctoral training (or other terminal degree), and show promise of continuing to make outstanding contributions to a wide range of fields served by ESA. They are elected for five years. Read the 2024 press release announcement for more information.
Fellows elected in 2024
populating..
Fellows elected in 2023
James D. Bever, Foundation Distinguished Professor, University of Kansas, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Kansas Biological Survey and Center for Ecological Research
Elected for his pioneering research on the ecology and evolution of plant-microbiome interactions, including developing the plant-soil feedback empirical and theoretical approach to demonstrating the importance of pathogens and mycorrhizal fungi in plant species coexistence, community assembly, plant invasion success, succession and restoration.
Meghan A. Duffy, Susan S. Kilham Collegiate Professor, University of Michigan, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Elected for her innovative and leading research on host-parasite interactions and for her extraordinary work as a teacher and public scientific figure. Her work to increase access and opportunity for under-represented groups as well openly explaining the process of science has made science a better place for us all.
Marie-Josee Fortin, Professor, University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Elected for her outstanding scholarly contributions, which have advanced knowledge and quantitative approaches for the study of spatial phenomena in ecology, and for building frameworks for landscape-scale management decisions to support species conservation and create more resilient ecosystems.
Louis J. Gross, Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Department of Mathematics
Elected for his distinguished research and mentorship, exceptional service to the broader community via leadership of multiple programs (including ATLSS and a series of capacity-building programs for scientists from developing nations at ICTP) and his role in founding and directing NIMBioS.
Brian Silliman, Rachel Carson Distinguished Professor of Marine Biology and Conservation, Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment
Elected for his contributions to marine community ecology, especially his work in salt marshes and other estuarine and coastal ecosystems. His work bridges conceptual ecology and conservation science, and he is recognized as one of the field’s most creative and productive scientists, widely known for his experimental work on top-down control of salt marsh grasses.
Caryn C. Vaughn, George Lynn Cross Professor, University of Oklahoma, Department of Biology and Oklahoma Biological Survey
Elected for her research on Unionid mussels, which has transformed our understanding of their ecology and ecosystem functions and been central to their conservation. Additionally, she has been a tremendous teacher and mentor to early career ecologists.
Enriqueta Velarde, Researcher and Professor, Universidad Veracruzana, Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Pesquerías
Elected for her decades of research on seabirds in the Gulf of California, which have yielded a long-term database of immense ecological value and outstanding publications underscoring the role of seabirds as sentinels of the ocean. Her successful research-based conservation work has inspired students and Native communities to join her efforts.
Early Career Fellows (2023 – 2027)
Karen Bailey, Assistant Professor, University of Colorado at Boulder, Department of Environmental Studies
Elected for innovative research at the intersection of conservation biology and human livelihoods, and for her outstanding contributions to pedagogy, policy, public outreach, diversity, equity and inclusion.
Natalie Christian, Assistant Professor, University of Louisville, Department of Biology
Elected for exceptional scientific contributions in ecological research, specifically related to plant-fungal interactions. Additionally, her work applying evidence-based science pedagogy principles to introductory level courses has transformed undergraduate curriculum at the University of Louisville.
Mary K. Donovan, Assistant Professor, Arizona State University, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
Elected for advancing understanding of interactions between local and global human impacts on ecosystems through collaboration and synthesis, and for contributions to bridging science and policy at both local and global scales.
Meredith Holgerson, Assistant Professor, Cornell University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Elected for her pioneering research illustrating the critical role of ponds in ecosystem functioning from local to global scales, including how ponds are valued and managed by society; for her dedication to advancing policies and management to alleviate stressors in freshwater environments; and for her tireless efforts to mentor students.
Allison M. Louthan, Assistant Professor, Kansas State University, Division of Biology
Elected for her work addressing big questions in ecology, combining large-scale field experiments, sophisticated quantitative models tied to data and deep knowledge of the historical literature to advance both our fundamental understanding of the determinants of species distributions but also how that understanding should shape management in a changing world.
Sparkle L. Malone, Assistant Professor, Yale University, Yale School of the Environment
Elected for making major contributions to our understanding of wetland carbon dynamics. Her interdisciplinary work creatively explores the carbon sequestering capacity of natural ecosystems and ecosystem recovery from disturbances. She was also elected for service and leadership in the Long-term Ecological Research network, AmeriFlux and the National Ecological Observatory Network.
Emily Meineke, Assistant Professor, University of California, Davis, Department of Entomology and Nematology
Elected for her innovative and cross-disciplinary research to understand historical and current plant-insect interactions in a changing world, as well as her effective integration of research, inclusion in teaching and mentoring and outreach in all facets of her work.
Holly V. Moeller, Assistant Professor, University of California, Santa Barbara, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology
Elected for advancing fundamental understanding of the ecological and evolutionary consequences of acquired metabolism through merging theoretical and empirical approaches, and for exceptional contributions to training and mentoring of future theoretical ecologists.
Lauren Ponisio, Assistant Professor, University of Oregon, Department of Biology
Elected for fundamentally advancing our understanding of pollination ecology, developing innovative actions and community partnerships for native bee conservation and promoting open and inclusive scientific practices.
Maria Natalia Umaña, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Elected for her outstanding contributions to the fields of tropical ecology and conservation, which has focused on the integration of functional traits and forest monitoring data to disentangle the mechanisms driving the abundance distributions, assembly and dynamics of tree seedling communities.
Fellows elected in 2022
Sara C. Hotchkiss, Professor, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Department of Botany
Elected for bringing to ecology a unique blend of thoughtfulness, insight and originality. She has made important contributions at the intersection of paleoecology, ecosystem ecology and landscape ecology. Her career has been uniquely enriched by commitment to empathic understanding, not only of students and colleagues, but also of ecosystems and landscapes.
Julian D. Olden, Professor, University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
Elected for pushing the frontiers of invasion ecology and deepening the
understanding of freshwater sustainability through environmental flows management, for tireless science communication and for his dedication to training the next generation of freshwater ecologists and conservation biologists.
understanding of freshwater sustainability through environmental flows management, for tireless science communication and for his dedication to training the next generation of freshwater ecologists and conservation biologists.
Erika Marín-Spiotta, Professor, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Department of Geography
Elected for advancing knowledge of soil carbon stability and its response
to land use change, particularly in tropical ecosystems, while serving as a global leader who promotes diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the biogeosciences and other scientific fields.
to land use change, particularly in tropical ecosystems, while serving as a global leader who promotes diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the biogeosciences and other scientific fields.
Hanqin Tian, Solon & Martha Dixon Professor, Auburn University, College of Forestry and Wildlife Science
Elected for groundbreaking research on ecosystem patterns and processes at multiple scales that provides a predictive understanding of how anthropogenic disturbances alter global carbon and nitrogen cycles.
Matthew D. Wallenstein, Professor and Department Head, Colorado State University, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
Elected for advancing our ability to link microbial community composition to function, unraveling the role of microbial adaptation in ecosystem responses to climate change, applying ecological understanding to developing and commercializing sustainable technologies as an entrepreneur and for leadership in orienting team-based research towards equitable solutions.
Early Career Fellows (2022 – 2026)
Laura E. Dee, Assistant Professor, University of Colorado Boulder, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Elected for her innovative and interdisciplinary contributions to the fields of ecology and conservation science through application of cutting-edge, statistical and mathematical approaches to answer general questions in basic and applied ecology.
Graziella V. DiRenzo, Assistant Unit Leader of Wildlife, U.S. Geological Survey, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Elected for her exceptional leadership in research in evaluating direct and indirect impacts of disease on host populations and community dynamics; teaching and mentorship engaging in several diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; and application of ecology to management through collaborative relationships with state and federal agencies to address urgent conservation needs.
Brian J. Harvey, Assistant Professor, University of Washington, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
Elected for deepening understanding of the effects of natural disturbances, especially fire and insect outbreaks, on resilience and management of forests in the US West; for excellence in science communication and outreach; and for outstanding teaching and mentoring at all levels from undergraduate to advanced graduate.
Matthew A. McCary, Assistant Professor, Rice University, Department of Biosciences
Elected for his work examining how global change affects the structure of below- and above-ground food webs and their ecosystem function using experiments, observational studies, meta-analyses and mathematical models. He is a leader in community and ecosystem ecology and a champion of diversity in ecology.
Nick Smith, Assistant Professor, Texas Tech University, Department of Biological Sciences
Elected for his outstanding contributions to plant physiological ecology, particularly his work on photosynthetic and respiratory acclimation responses to changing environments. Nick was also elected for his commitment to openly available science and for prioritizing an equitable and inclusive learning environment for his students.
Ying Sun, Assistant Professor, Cornell University, School of Integrative Plant Science
Elected for her pioneering research in plant ecophysiology and sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence from leaf to global scales, and for her innovative contribution in land surface modeling and remote sensing.
Anna T. Trugman, Assistant Professor, University of California, Santa Barbara, Department of Geography
Elected for making major contributions to our understanding of how ecosystems respond to climate change. She uses theoretical, computational and experimental tools to tackle exciting questions in terrestrial ecology, carbon cycling and climate change, including the mechanisms of drought mortality and recovery, plant allocation and forest disturbance dynamics.
Fernanda S. Valdovinos, Assistant Professor, University of California, Davis, Department of Environmental Science and Policy
Elected for major contributions to the ecological theory of food webs, particularly the role of mutualisms, and the study of networks in ecology more generally. She has also made major contributions in promoting underrepresented groups in ecology.
Grace M. Wilkinson, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Center for Limnology
Elected for making significant contributions to our understanding of the role of lakes in landscape and regional carbon cycling, ecosystem resilience and the dynamics of algal blooms, and for being committed to translating science to a diverse group of stakeholders and early-career scientists.
Fellows elected in 2021
Brendan Bohannan
Elected for fundamental contributions to the unification of microbiology and ecology that show that ecological principles developed for macroorganisms (in biodiversity, biogeography and community assembly sciences) also apply to microbial life; for exceptional mentorship of a generation of microbial ecologists; and exceptional service on ESA’s governing council and as journal editor.
Thomas Boutton
Elected for outstanding scholarly contributions that have advanced understanding of the structure and function of grassland and savanna ecosystems, and for revealing how land cover and land use changes in those systems have modified key biogeochemical processes in the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles at multiple scales.
Mary Cadenasso
Elected for definitive contributions in urban ecology and landscape ecology, including discoveries on the social-natural hybridity of urban land covers; on the structure, function, and theory of ecological boundaries; and on ecosystem function in heterogeneous systems that have informed management, policy, and environmental justice in cities and conservation lands.
Brenda Casper
Elected for decades of contributions to ecological understanding in plant reproductive ecology, population biology, and foundational work in plant-soil feedbacks; for mentoring and training experimental ecologists; and for leadership positions enhancing science communication and undergraduate education.
Ferran Garcia-Pichel
Elected for contributions to the understanding of the roles of microbes and their activities in ecological processes present, past and future, and for opening the microbial black box to reveal the rich natural history of important microbes.
Steven Handel
Elected for contributions in urban restoration ecology, including research on opportunities and methods for adding ecological enhancements to degraded areas; for building important bridges to the landscape architecture profession in prize-winning public projects; and for revising university curricula to better incorporate ecological concepts better into landscape design practices.
Jessica Hellmann
Elected for her research contributions to understanding global change ecology and adaptation of human and natural systems to climate change.
Karen Holl
Elected for path-breaking contributions to the science and practice of restoration ecology, including long-term experiments that place restoration efforts into a landscape context; and for leadership in international training, including an exceptional primer on restoration, bringing science into decision making, and effective communication about the importance of restoring ecosystems.
Shuijin Hu
Elected for influential research in the fields of plant-microbe interactions, ecosystem ecology, and global change ecology, and for his dedication to pedagogy.
Louis R. Iverson
Nominated for creative and insightful research in restoration ecology and in understanding potential impacts of climate change on forest species; for the practical implementation of this research for management of national environmental problems; and for leadership in putting the field of landscape ecology on a firm footing.
Joshua Lawler
Elected for broadening understanding of the effects of landscape and climate change on biological diversity; educating students and serving society in ways that have increased recognition of ecological science and the connection between nature and human health; and mentoring the next generation of ecologists.
Jay Lennon
Elected for substantial contributions to the understanding of the ecology and evolution of microbial communities and their relationship to ecosystem function, notably the importance of dormancy as a mechanism that maintains microbial diversity; leadership in developing a research vision to bridge the disciplines of microbiology and macroecology; and interdisciplinary service and mentorship of junior researchers.
Margaret Mayfield
Elected for research that spans basic and applied ecological questions, including pollinator contributions to ecosystem services, the importance of considering functional traits in restoration of tropical forests and climate change responses, and the factors contributing to the coexistence of species.
Laura Meyerson
Elected for leadership in invasion science, including research on the biotic and abiotic underpinnings of biological invasions at multiple scales; for contributions to national and international policy through her publications and extensive service; and for training the next generation of leaders through teaching, mentoring, and action.
William Morris
Elected for contributions to empirical and theoretical understanding of population dynamics and species interactions; for research that has grounded conservation biology with more careful and rigorous analysis methods; and for providing insights into the dynamics and evolution of species interactions.
Rebecca Ostertag
Elected for outstanding intellectual leadership in the areas of tropical forest ecology and conservation and a deep commitment to mentoring and enhancing diversity in the next generation of ecologists.
Ingrid Parker
Elected for seminal contributions to understanding the ecological and evolutionary processes surrounding biological invasions, and the legacies of such invasions in natural ecosystems; for service to numerous non-academic consortia and organizations addressing conservation and ecosystem management; for fostering diversity and inclusion; and for service to the Ecological Society of America.
Pedro Peres-Neto
Elected for innovative research in aquatic science, spatial ecology and multivariate statistics; leadership and editorial service in scientific societies; and international collaboration and outreach.
Stacy Philpott
Elected for outstanding and substantial contributions to the field of ecology, especially in the areas of agroecology, trophic interactions, community assembly, insect ecology, and relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services; and for significant contributions in teaching, mentoring, curriculum development and promoting women and students of color.
Pejman Rohani
Elected for using long-term spatio-temporal epidemiological data to test and examine ecological theory, while simultaneously applying ecological concepts and perspectives to enhance understanding of transmission dynamics and improve human health.
Stefan Schnitzer
Elected for outstanding contributions to tropical forest community and ecosystems ecology through groundbreaking research on lianas, for exceptional mentoring of junior scientists, and for being a generous collaborator.
Lisa Schulte Moore
Elected for contributions to sustainable agriculture and landscape diversity, especially for pioneering strategies that foster wildlife conservation, reduced soil erosion, and improved water quality in agricultural regions.
Brad Wilcox
Elected for research elucidating causes and consequences of vegetation change on the ecohydrology of savannas and woodlands, including field studies conducted in North, Central and South America that have provided a deeper understanding of hydrological and other ecosystem changes during woody plant encroachment in semiarid regions.
Rachael Winfree
Elected for excellence in research on the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function in real-world systems; the ecology of pollinators and pollination; and how both are affected by global environmental change.
Amy Zanne
Elected for building a trait-based conceptual framework of plant ecology and evolution, extending trait-based theory to wood dynamics and fungi, building trait databases of tremendous value to the scientific community, and fostering a new generation of collaboration networks in trait-based ecology.
Early Career Fellows (2021 – 2025)
Caroline Farrior
Elected for advancing understanding of how individual-based competition influences plant strategies, ecosystem-level carbon storage, and forest dynamics; and for facilitating the use of this knowledge in public policy.
Jaclyn Hatala Matthes
Elected for contributions to the understanding of how feedbacks between climate change, land-use change, and ecosystem processes influence carbon cycling across a variety of systems, and her exceptional mentorship and teaching at the graduate and undergraduate level.
Loralee Larios
Elected for innovative research in plant community ecology, emerging leadership in restoration ecology, exceptional outreach and community engagement, and significant work on diversifying the discipline of ecology.
Nathan Lemoine
Elected for integrating ecophysiology into community ecology to provide mechanistic predictions for how climate change will impact ecosystem structure and function, and for his advocacy to improve statistical practices in ecology.
Desiree Narango
Elected for pioneering research on the connections between native plants, insects, and birds in human-dominated urban and agricultural ecosystems; for excellence in communicating ecological concepts and the importance of native plants to the urban public; and for promoting diversity and inclusion in ecology.
Julian Resasco
Elected for outstanding contributions toward advancing ecological understanding of human impacts on biodiversity and species interactions, including spatial and temporal dynamics and responses to landscape connectivity and fragmentation, and for his commitment to mentoring and promoting diversity and inclusion in ecology.
Lauren Shoemaker
Elected for research advancing the ways we make sense of complex ecological systems, integrating theory and empiricism, and applying theory to real-world problems; for leadership in collaborative science; and for dedicated and innovative teaching and mentoring.
Adrian Stier
Elected for innovative contributions to marine population and community ecology, integration of community ecology with ecosystem-based management to advance the recovery of marine food webs, novel perspectives on ecosystem resilience in the Anthropocene, and commitment to community engagement in natural resource management.
Jennifer Sunday
Elected for contributions to understanding the relative roles of climate, physiology, and species’ interactions upon biogeographical ranges and changes in biodiversity; and for advancing understanding of ecological change and climate change responses using analyses of biogeography through time and comparative traits.
Kai Zhu
Elected for outstanding contributions to research, teaching, and service in the fields of global change ecology, ecological modeling, and environmental data science.
Fellows elected in 2020
Aimee Classen, Professor, University of Vermont, Rubenstein School of Environment & Natural Resources
Elected for creative leadership and vision for international research collaborations using mountain ecosystems as models for climate change research; for stellar research contributions to the ecology of global environmental change, including how soil microbial diversity shapes ecosystems, biotic and environmental controls on soil nutrient cycling and carbon storage; and for outstanding service.
Ellen Damschen, Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Integrative Biology
Elected for her pioneering research in basic and applied plant ecology, including discoveries about long-term change and how landscape connectivity affects the diversity of ecological communities, and her excellence in teaching and mentoring.
John Drake, Professor, University of Georgia, Odum School of Ecology
Elected for contributions to the understanding of tipping points in ecological and epidemiological systems and the development of computational methods for modeling the spatial distribution of species.
Serita Frey, Professor, University of New Hampshire, Natural Resources and the Environment
Elected for substantial contributions to our understanding of how soil organisms respond to environmental change and in turn impact the services that ecosystems provide across both space and time, leadership within the field of ecology, service to the Ecological Society of America, and tireless mentorship of the next generation of ecologists.
Nicholas Gotelli, Professor, University of Vermont, Department of Biology
Elected for contributing outstanding intellectual leadership in ecology and ecological methodology to the fields of biodiversity science, community assembly, climate change, demography, and species distributions, as well as through his service to the Ecological Society of America.
Benjamin S. Halpern, Professor, University of California Santa Barbara, Bren School of Environmental Science and Management; Director, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
Elected for repeatedly transforming ecology and conservation, contributing to understanding of biomass distribution in ecosystems, contributing landmark syntheses of human impacts on the ocean, and developing the Ocean Health Index, which redefined how policy makers approach marine ecosystem assessments worldwide.
Andrew Hansen, Professor, Montana State University, Ecology Department
Elected for fundamentally important contributions in landscape ecology, especially for new insights into how avian assemblages respond to forest landscape structure and management; how patterns of residential development are reshaping rural America and the “New West;” and for advancing conservation of protected areas in the US and worldwide.
Carter Johnson, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, South Dakota State University, Department of Natural Resource Management
Elected in recognition of a long, often-cited record of accomplishment that has involved novel combinations of natural history, landscape dynamics, paleoecology, and ecosystem restoration; and for elucidating the impacts of climate change on prairie wetlands and the effects of streamflow regulation on the Missouri River.
Michael Kaspari, George Lynn Cross Research Professor, University of Oklahoma, Geographical Ecology Group, Department of Biology
Elected for his work bridging macro-ecology, ant biology, and ecosystems ecology that has led to fundamental insights into the contributions of invertebrates to the brown food web and also paved the way for studying biogeochemistry across the periodic table; and for being an inspiring researcher, teacher, mentor, and friend.
Julie Lockwood, Professor, Rutgers University, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources
Elected in recognition of her contributions as a leading invasion ecologist and senior author of the leading invasion biology textbook, and for her voluminous research on patterns, impacts, and management of invasions.
Gary Lovett, Senior Scientist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Department of Forest Ecology
Elected in recognition of a distinguished history of contributions to forest ecology, including studies of atmospheric deposition of nutrients and their impacts, and the disturbance of forest ecosystems by invasive pests and pathogens, often leading to significant changes in forest management policy.
Fernando Maestre Gil, Distinguished Researcher, University of Alicante, Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies 'Ramon Margalef'
Elected for outstanding contributions to the ecology of drylands that have illuminated how dryland plant and soil communities are likely to change in a warmer, drier future, and the ecosystem consequences of these shifts; and for fostering truly inclusive, collaborative networks among the dryland ecologists of the world.
Knute Nadelhoffer, Professor, University of Michigan, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Director, UM Biological Station
Elected for outstanding scholarly contributions to terrestrial biogeochemistry and to understanding the impacts of global environmental change and human activities on forest ecosystems, as well as to the applications of ecology to management and policy.
Shahid Naeem, Professor, Columbia University, Department of Ecology Evolution and Environmental Biology
Elected for decades of research, writing, teaching, and outreach on the implications of biodiversity for ecosystem function, ecosystem services, and human welfare; and in recognition of his creative insight, his remarkable gift for designing experiments that resolve controversy, and his ability to communicate and persuade, bringing consensus out of conflict.
Yude Pan, Senior Research Scientist, USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Elected for ground-breaking contributions to scientific understanding of forests and global carbon cycling, emphasizing the magnitude and pattern of the forest carbon sink, the importance of reducing tropical deforestation and degradation for climate change mitigation, and the critical role of forest age distributions when addressing disturbance legacies.
Jennifer Powers, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota, Departments of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior and of Plant and Microbial Biology
Elected for contributions to long-term research that has advanced understanding of global change consequences, ecosystem ecology, restoration, and conservation of seasonally dry tropical forests, a vastly understudied biome, and for training the next generation of tropical ecologists.
Taylor Ricketts, Professor, University of Vermont, Rubenstein School for Environment and Natural Resources
Elected for his contributions to understanding ecosystems and the services they provide for human well-being; his discoveries related to pollination services for crops; and his unique ability to bridge the science and decision-making worlds, ensuring that new knowledge about ecosystems services is used by decision makers in conservation communities and beyond.
Patricia Soranno, Professor, Michigan State University, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
Elected for her foundational work developing the fields of landscape limnology and macrosystems ecology, her advancement of ecological understanding of lakes at broad spatial and temporal scales, and her positive impacts on the methods, tools, and perspectives researchers use to conduct data-intensive ecology.
Susan Ustin, Distinguished Professor of Environmental Resource Science, Emeritus, University of California Davis, Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources; Associate Director, John Muir Institute of the Environment
Elected for research pioneering the use of remote sensing technology for detecting changes in plant community characteristics, biological diversity, and land use, and for her continued influence on the field.
Diego Vázquez, Principal Researcher, Argentine Institute for Dryland Research, National Council for Science and Technology; Associate Professor, National University of Cuyo, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences
Elected for excellence in research on the ecology of species interactions, including the study of dynamics of interaction networks, the functioning and conservation of plant-animal mutualisms, and the ecology of biological invasions.
Mark Vellend, Professor, University of Sherbrooke, Biology Department
Elected for innovative work on the underlying processes of ecological community dynamics, including: the conceptual foundations of community ecology, understanding the nature and consequences of diversity spanning ecology and evolution, and empirically studying the historical changes in plant communities and their diversity.
Don Zak, Burton V. Barnes Collegiate Professor of Ecology, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, University of Michigan, School for Environment and Sustainability
Elected for his pioneering research and leadership in microbial, ecosystem, and global change ecology that have revolutionized our understanding of how ecosystems acquire and cycle nutrients, and for his outstanding service as a mentor who selflessly supports and enhances the work of others in the field.
Early Career Fellows (2020 – 2024)
Meghan Avolio, Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Elected for her plant ecology work in grasslands and cities, where she advances novel approaches to studying biodiversity patterns, including focusing on dominant species, rank abundance curves, traits relevant for resident preferences in cities, and genetic diversity.
Carl Boettiger, Assistant Professor, University of California Berkeley, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management
Elected for his emerging leadership in the role of stochastic dynamics in both population ecology and open science.
Lauren Hallett, Assistant Professor, University of Oregon, Department of Biology and Environmental Studies Program
Elected for making fundamental advances in population and community ecology, her effective application of ecological theory and concepts to real-world restoration problems, her adept facilitation of collaborative team science, and her commitment to open science.
Alexandra Harmon-Threatt, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Department of Entomology
Elected for critically important research in the ecology and conservation of native bee species, and meaningful contributions to training the next generation of ecologists, public outreach, and the enhancing diversity in science.
Nyeema Harris, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Elected for her innovative research on the conservation ecology of mammals, her exceptional outreach and community engagement, and her influential work on diversifying the discipline of ecology.
Sara Kuebbing, Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Biological Sciences
Elected for her research on the impacts of invasive plant species on terrestrial plant communities and ecosystems and for her leadership in applying research to management of invaded ecosystems.
Joleah Lamb, Assistant Professor, University of California Irvine, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Elected for transformative environmental research and outstanding contributions to science communication at the interface of ecosystem function and public health, particularly solutions-based research on ecosystem services of tropical seagrass meadows, health of coral reefs, and the role of plastics across Southeast Asia as a pathway to infectious diseases of corals.
Jacob Allgeier, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Elected for integrating ecosystem and community ecology to help advance understanding of nutrient dynamics in marine ecosystems and the role of consumers in mediating these processes, and for efforts to apply this information towards the conservation of coastal marine ecosystems.
Fellows elected in 2019
Peter B. Adler, Professor, Utah State University, Department of Wildland Resources
Elected for providing critical insight into climate change impacts on biodiversity through the application of sophisticated statistical analyses to extensive datasets, and, more broadly, for leadership in generating and preserving the spatially and temporally extensive data needed to observe and forecast anthropogenic impacts.
Steven R. Beissinger, Professor, UC Berkeley, Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
Elected for innovative research that quantifies the effects of a century of contemporary climate and land-use change on birds and mammals; that integrates field studies, analytical methods, and models for managing threatened species; and that advances understanding of the ecology and behavior of birds.
Ottar N. Bjørnstad, Distinguished Professor, Pennsylvania State University, Department of Entomology and Biology
Elected for advancing the way time-series methods are applied to long-term population dynamic data for small mammals, insects, and fisheries and for developing new ways of analyzing and understanding data for influenza and measles – the two most important directly transmitted viral diseases of humans.
Gordon B. Bonan, Senior Scientist, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Department of Climate and Global Dynamics
Elected for research linking terrestrial ecology with atmospheric science and enabling pioneering contributions to the quantitative understanding of how ecological processes operating at small scales can collectively influence Earth’s climate.
Elizabeth T. Borer, Professor, University of Minnesota, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior
Elected for transforming how ecologists do science through her leadership of the global plant Nutrient Network, and for advancing understanding of how global changes impact the composition, diversity, and function of ecosystems, and the disease dynamics and microbiomes of interacting species.
John F. Bruno, Professor, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Department of Biology
Elected for excellent research in the fields of ecology, evolutionary biology, conservation biology, climate change, and marine science, including experimental field and synthetic work that has advanced and even overturned major theory and sparked important debates in conservation biology.
Ingrid C. Burke, Dean, Yale University, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies
Elected for advancing fundamental understanding of ecosystem processes, particularly carbon and nitrogen cycling in semi-arid rangeland and grassland ecosystems, and applying those biogeochemical principles to rangeland ecosystem management.
Daniel F. Doak, Professor, University of Colorado Boulder, Environmental Studies Program
Elected for fundamental contributions to population ecology and conservation biology, particularly through the use of quantitative methods in population projection and matrix modeling, and for his long-term commitment to mentoring graduate students and other young professionals.
Tadashi Fukami, Professor, Stanford University, Department of Biology
Elected for contributions to advancing community, ecosystem, and evolutionary ecology through a novel focus on historical contingency in community assembly, and to promoting inquiry-based education in ecology.
John Harte, Professor, UC Berkeley, The Energy and Resources Group/ESPM
Elected for foundational leadership on early work on climate change and education of the ecological crisis to come, for pioneering work on feedbacks and synergies among global change drivers, and for development of the maximum entropy theory of ecology.
Bruce A. Hungate, Regent’s Professor of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Center for Ecosystem Science and Society
Elected for advancing understanding of how soil nutrients regulate terrestrial ecosystem feedbacks to climate change and for developing new tools that fuse the molecular revolution in microbial ecology with quantitative ecological insights using stable isotopes, metabolic flux analysis, and ecological theory.
Felicia Keesing, Professor, Bard College, Department of Biology
Elected for pioneering research in the ecology of infectious diseases and community ecology of African savannas, and pedagogical research that she has integrated into a vision and practice of college science teaching for enhancing scientific literacy.
Jonathan M. Levine, Professor, Princeton University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Elected for research that fundamentally advances understanding of biological invasions and species coexistence, often by deploying creative, highly controlled experimental units across landscape-scale environmental gradients in natural communities and integrating field data with theoretical models.
David Lindenmayer, Professor, Australian National University, Fenner School of Environment and Society
Elected for outstanding conceptual and long-term empirical research on interacting drivers of landscape transformation in forests, plantations, and agricultural environments, and seminal contributions to understanding how pre-existing landscape conditions interact with land use change to shape temporal and spatial patterns of biodiversity occurrence and ecosystem conditions.
Thomas E. Lovejoy, Professor, George Mason University, Environmental Science and Policy
Elected for research showing how effects of Amazon deforestation led to loss of species over time, and for leadership as the spokesperson and educator for ecological concepts dealing with sustainable tropical forestry and biodiversity.
Brian J. McGill, Professor, University of Maine, Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions & School of Biology and Ecology
Elected for important contributions to the fields of macroecology, population and community ecology, spatial ecology, and global change, and for exceptional service to the discipline via editorial work and the Dynamic Ecology blog.
Rosamond L. Naylor, Professor, Stanford University, Department of Earth System Science
Elected for designing ecologically and economically sound practices that protect native species and enhance global food security in marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Diane E. Pataki, Professor, University of Utah, School of Biological Sciences
Elected for advancing new approaches to understanding the interactions between humans and ecosystems in urban systems.
Catherine M. Pringle, Distinguished Research Professor, University of Georgia, Odum School of Ecology
Elected for contributions to understanding stream ecosystems through the perspective of leading long term research from tropical to temperate systems and sustained mentoring to generations of students in aquatic conservation ecology.
Scott R. Saleska, University of Arizona, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Elected for seminal contributions to global ecology and earth science including pioneering novel methodologies that have revolutionized understanding of the drivers of productivity and forest dynamics in the Amazon and of microbial dynamics in thawing permafrost systems, and for contributions to international educational infrastructure and national environmental policy.
Matthias C. Rillig, Professor, Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology
Elected for outstanding contributions in plant-soil-microbial ecology, seminal discoveries in ecosystem processes, fostering a scientific culture of international collaboration, and providing a supportive environment for early-career researchers.
Pamela Templer, Professor, Bostin University, School of Biology
Elected for advancing understanding of the effects of climate change on biogeochemical cycles in forests, the patterns and mechanisms of nitrogen retention and loss in temperate and tropical forest ecosystems, and the effects of urbanization on air and water pollution, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration.
John (Jack) W. Williams, Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Geography
Elected for fundamentally important contributions in paleoecology, biogeography, and climate change ecology, notably no-analog climates and ecosystems, the role of megaherbivores in regulating late-glacial vegetation, and creative applications of paleoecoinformatics, and for his generosity and impact in mentoring and collaboration.
Jianguo Wu, Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences and School of Sustainability
Elected for outstanding contributions to landscape ecology, urban ecology, and sustainability science, particularly in the areas of hierarchical patch dynamics, spatial scaling, habitat fragmentation and biodiversity, ecological impacts of urbanization, and landscape sustainability.
Early Career Fellows (2019 – 2023)
James C. Beasley, Associate Professor, University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
Elected for outstanding contributions internationally in applied ecology through his research in invasive species ecology, carnivore ecology, scavenging ecology, and wildlife population ecology in landscapes abandoned following nuclear accidents.
David J. Civitello, Assistant Professor, Emory University, Department of Biology
Elected for advancing understanding of infectious disease dynamics in a changing world through his work integrating mathematical modeling, field studies, and laboratory experiments on how biodiversity, resource, and competition gradients affect disease risk.
Gregory R. Goldsmith, Chapman University, Schmid College of Science and Technology
Elected for outstanding contributions to research in the plant physiological ecology of tropical forests and for innovative contributions to engaging diverse audiences through both formal and informal education.
Elise S. Gornish, Cooperative Extension Specialist, University of Arizona, School of Natural Resources and the Environment
Elected for her exceptional leadership in advancing impactful, stakeholder-driven research in the field of ecological restoration; outstanding contributions to outreach, science communication, and education; and dedication to translational science partnerships to enhance management and policy decision-making.
Erin Mordecai, Assistant Professor, Stanford University, biology department
Elected for advancing understanding of infectious disease dynamics in a changing world through her work on how pathogens maintain species diversity in natural communities and how climate and land use change affect the dynamics of vector-borne disease in humans.
Malin L. Pinsky, Associate Professor, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources
Elected for advancing fundamental understanding of the ecological and evolutionary consequences of global change for marine populations and communities, and for facilitating the use of this knowledge in conservation and public policy.
Ashley Shade, Michigan State University, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, & Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences
Elected for advancing understanding of the consequences of microbial diversity for resilience, how the interactions among microbes impact resilience, and how microbiomes can be leveraged to support plant stress tolerance and ecosystem stability.
Abigail L. S. Swann, Associate Professor, University of Washington, Department of Atmospheric Sciences and Department of Biology
Elected for advancing understanding of linkages between vegetation change and the atmosphere via “ecoclimate teleconnections,” including understanding of the climate impacts of plant distributions and plant functioning, and of the processes responsible for plant-climate interactions.
Fellows elected in 2018
Fredrick R. Adler, Professor, Mathematics and Biology, University of Utah
Elected for his theoretical contributions to the areas of physiological, disease, evolutionary, population, community, behavioral and most recently urban ecology. His work exemplifies the power of theoretical thinking to simultaneously clarify specific questions and link across disparate fields of ecology.
Craig D. Allen, Research Ecologist & Station Leader, New Mexico Landscapes Field Station, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center
Elected for advancing core understanding of forest disturbance ecology, particularly through leadership that uncovered emerging patterns of forest die-off around the globe in response to drought and heat with associated pests and pathogens, and associated patterns in wildfire, demonstrating the value of place-based ecology in a global perspective.
Emily S. Bernhardt, Professor, Biology, Duke University
Elected for excellent contributions to watershed biogeochemistry and the impacts of global environmental change and human activities on aquatic ecosystems, as well as the applications of ecology to management and policy.
James E. (Jeb) Byers, Josiah Meigs Professor of Ecology, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia
Elected for major contributions to invasion biology, ecosystem engineering, ecological parasitology, and the biogeography of range boundaries, along with excellence in educating and mentoring students and in service to the national and international ecological community.
Zoe G. Cardon, Senior Scientist, The Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory
Elected for outstanding research contributions in ecosystem science, understanding of the rhizosphere as the nexus of commodity exchange in the terrestrial biosphere, for engineering developments in microbio-sensing, and for broad and fearless exploration of connections in ecology, from stomata to soil to hydrology to nutrients to microbiomes to biodiversity.
Cory C. Cleveland, Professor, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, University of Montana
Elected for substantial contributions to our understanding of carbon and nutrient cycling across multiple scales in terrestrial ecosystems.
Phyllis D. Coley, Distinguished Professor, Department of Biology, University of Utah
Elected for advancing our fundamental ecological knowledge of plant-animal interactions and of tropical ecology, as well as a lifetime commitment to training generations of students from Central and South America.
Jana E. Compton, Ecologist, Western Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Elected for her innovative and tireless efforts to better understand and develop societal solutions to the problem of nitrogen pollution. Her assessments of the social and environmental costs of excess nitrogen, her outstanding mentorship of students, and her applications of ecology to management and policy make her an inspiration to us all.
Todd E. Dawson, Professor, Integrative Biology, University of California – Berkeley
Elected for pioneering research on sources and pathways of plant water uptake with fundamental contributions at the interface among geosphere, biosphere and atmosphere.
Jeffrey S. Dukes, Professor, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, and Director, Purdue Climate Change Research Center
Elected for insightful and creative research highlighting important interactions among plant communities, ecosystem processes, and global environmental change and for impressive leadership in synthesis and research coordination in global change ecology.
Brian J. Enquist, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona
Elected for seminal discoveries on the origin and diversity of organismal form and function, the natural constraints controlling the organization of ecological systems, and the application of ecological scaling laws to ecosystem function.
Nelson G. Hairston Jr., Frank H.T. Rhodes Professor of Environmental Science, Department of Ecology ane Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University
Elected for influential experimental, conceptual, methodological, and synthetic contributions to our understanding of the interplay between ecological and evolutionary processes, for penetrating studies of freshwater populations and communities, and for pioneering “resurrection ecology” by using zooplankton diapausing eggs to reconstruct evolutionary history.
Stephen C. Hart, Professor of Ecology, Life and Environmental Sciences & Sierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California Merced
Elected for groundbreaking contributions in terrestrial ecosystem ecology and forest management. His pioneering use of stable isotopes transformed understanding of forest nitrogen cycling and soil microbial structure and function.
Janneke Hille Ris Lambers, Professor, Biology Department, University of Washington, Seattle
Elected for research linking models and data to test theories of community assembly and hypotheses about the role of climate and competition in setting species range limits, and for outstanding public outreach through an innovative citizen science program in Mt. Ranier National Park.
Nancy J. Huntly, Professor, Biology Department and Director, Ecology Center, Utah State University
Elected for foundational research on herbivory, coexistence, and human ecology, and for commitment to and innovation in both science communication and the application of ecological principles to the management of natural resources.
Douglas J. Levey, Program Officer, Division of Environmental Biology, National Science Foundation
Elected for his pioneering research on landscape corridors, seed dispersal, avian ecology, and evolutionary ecology of chilies; excellence in mentoring; commitment to broadening participation; and service to the field as an NSF Program.
Jianguo (Jack) Liu, Rachel Carson Chair in Sustainability and University Distinguished Professor, Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University
Elected for outstanding contributions to the integration of ecology with social sciences and policy for understanding for promoting ecological sustainability, and for his exceptional contributions to mentorship and capacity-building in the area of sustainability.
Yiqi Luo, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University
Elected for his fundamental contributions to our understanding of ecosystem dynamics in response to global change, theory development in terrestrial carbon and nitrogen cycles, and his pioneering approaches and applications of data assimilation techniques in ecological research.
Michael G. Neubert, Senior Scientist, Biology Department and Marine Policy Center, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Elected for fundamental contributions to theoretical ecology, biological oceanography, and resource management through his outstanding ability to formulate the mathematical structures that capture the essentials of the ecological problem, and avoid the inessential.
Amy Daum Rosemond, Professor, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia
Elected for creative and influential experimental research on the food web, microbial, and biogeochemical dynamics of aquatic ecosystems.
Nathan J. Sanders, Professor and Director of the Environmental Program, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont
Elected for increasing understanding about causes and consequences of biodiversity change in terrestrial ecosystems by linking community, ecosystem, and macroecological approaches using observations and experiments from local to global scales.
Mark W. Schwartz, Professor, Environmental Science & Policy, University of California, Davis
Elected for influential research on responses to climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem function, and translational ecology, as well development of innovative ecology-in-practice graduate curricula.
Eric W. Seabloom, Professor, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota
Elected for major contributions to theoretical understanding of biological invasions, leadership in global network science, interdisciplinary collaboration, and mentorship of junior scientists.
Emily H. Stanley, Professor, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin
Elected for the quality and importance of her contributions to ecology, for her ability to identify and lead new ecological frontiers, and for making connections across boundaries that continue to push our field forward.
Michael J. Vanni, Professor, Biology, Miami University
Elected for outstanding experimental work that has created new insights into the roles of nutrients and fish in controlling primary productivity and trophic interactions in pelagic ecosystems in freshwater reservoirs.
Kirk O. Winemiller, Regents Professor, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences & Program of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Texas A&M University
Elected for his outstanding research on rivers, estuaries and fish ecology and evolution, involving field sites throughout the Americas, Africa and Asia and for his advice to agencies on freshwater resource science and policy.
Erika Zavaleta, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz
Elected for high impact research in basic plant community ecology, the interface of community dynamics and ecosystem function, comprehensive analyses of major conservation challenges for islands and boreal ecosystems, and integration of sociological factors into assessments of agricultural ecosystems.
Jizhong Zhou, Chaired Professor, School of Microbiology and Plant Biology, and Director, Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma
Elected for substantial contributions to the advancement and maturation of microbial ecology in the United States and China, including developing the interface between theoretical ecology and microbiology.
Early Career Fellows (2018 – 2022)
William Anderegg, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of Utah
Elected for advancing our fundamental ecological knowledge of how trees respond to drought and how we might expect the interactions of water stress and climate change to impact our nation’s forests.
Sarah E. Diamond, George B. Mayer Assistant Professor of Urban and Environmental Studies, Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University
Elected for far-reaching contributions in the areas of urban ecology, climate change impacts, and introduced species using ecophysiology, macroecology, and evolutionary ecology, and statistical modeling.
Tyler Kartzinel, Assistant Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown University
Elected for outstanding contributions at the interface of ecology and molecular biology, and for his pioneering use of DNA metabarcoding to elucidate the structure of complex terrestrial food webs.
Douglas McCauley, Assistant Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara
Elected for helping advance understanding of the complex ecological functions of large vertebrates in marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and for furthering the use of this information in conservation and environmental policy.
Allison K. Shaw, Assistant Professor, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota
Elected for innovative contributions to the fields of ecology, evolution, and behavior through the development of cutting-edge modeling approaches to answer general questions about dispersal, animal migration, disease ecology, conservation, and invasion biology.
Marjorie G. Weber, Assistant Professor, Plant Biology Department and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University
Elected for outstanding research linking the ecology and macroevolution of plant-arthropod interactions, integrating diverse tools from comparative phylogenetics, community and chemical ecology, and manipulative field experiments.
Wendy H. Yang, Assistant Professor, Plant Biology and Geology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Elected for outstanding contributions to research, teaching, and outreach in the fields of biogeochemistry and global change biology.
Fellows elected in 2017
David Ackerly, Professor, Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley
Elected for pioneering the integration of phylogenetic methods into ecology to generate new understanding of the evolutionary processes that contribute to the ecological function and community assembly of plants.
Anurag Agrawal, Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University
Elected for innovative contributions to community and evolutionary ecology, especially through providing conceptual advances and rigorous experimental work on plant-insect interactions.
Priyanga Amarasekare, Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
Elected for distinguished contributions to theoretical ecology, particularly our understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics of populations and communities.
Steven I. Apfelbaum, Chairman and Senior Ecologist, Applied Ecological Services, Inc.
Elected for contributions to innovative, successful ecological research, restoration and conservation projects in the Americas.
Martyn M. Caldwell, Emeritus Professor, Ecology Center, Utah State University
Elected for pioneering research in physiological plant ecology, including environmental photobiology and resource acquisition, and for exemplary service to the scientific community worldwide.
Bradley J. Cardinale, Professor and Director, Cooperative Institute of Limnology & Ecosystems Research, School of Natural Resources & Environment, University of Michigan
Elected for seminal experiments, data syntheses, and theory to understand the consequences of biodiversity loss for ecosystem goods and services.
Carmen R. Cid, Professor, Ecology; Dean, School of Arts and Sciences, Eastern Connecticut State University
Elected for her ESA leadership and contributions enhancing ecology education outreach to diverse audiences, recruitment and retention of women and minorities in ecology, and applying ecological principles to improve undergraduate liberal arts education.
Emmett Duffy, Director, Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network, Smithsonian Institution
Elected for innovation in development of ecological networks and analyses to tackle ecological questions at hitherto inaccessible scales and for significant contributions to building the conceptual and empirical research to link biodiversity to ecosystem functioning.
Jennifer A. Dunne, Professor and Vice President for Science, Santa Fe Institute
Elected for deep and central contributions to the theory of food web analyses, including extension to paleo food webs.
David M. Eissenstat, Professor, Woody Plant Physiology, Penn State University
Elected for major contributions towards understanding belowground processes and interactions among plants, microbes, environmental factors, and agricultural practices.
Exequiel Ezcurra, Director, University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States; Professor, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside
Elected for long-time leadership in bringing together research, outreach, education, management, and policy in the creation of natural protected areas and the development of conservation programs.
Monica A. Geber, Professor, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University
Elected for major contributions to the study of plant reproductive ecology, with a strong population, community, and evolutionary perspective. Her work has been highly influential because of its grounding in natural history, rigor, and very strong theoretical basis.
Leah R. Gerber, Professor, School of Life Sciences; Director, Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, Arizona State University
Elected for pioneering efforts in marine ecology that connect conservation science to tenable decision tools and policy.
Nick M. Haddad, Professor, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University
Elected for his research to apply ecology theory to conservation and land management, including pioneering experimental tests of habitat fragmentation and conservation corridors, and with conservation and recovery of endangered butterflies.
Feng Sheng Hu, Professor, Department of Plant Biology and Department of Geology, University of Illinois
Elected for paradigm-shifting research in paleoecology and important contributions to understanding climate change and ecological impacts, particularly in arctic and boreal regions.
Raymond B. Huey, Emeritus Professor, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle
Elected for foundational work on thermal sensitivity of ectotherms and its links to the ecological and evolutionary impacts of climate change.
Travis E. Huxman, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Director, Center for Environmental Biology, University of California, Irvine
Elected for advancing our understanding of plant ecophysiology, with fundamental work on the ecology and evolution of functional traits in plants, effects of climate change on ecosystems, and factors influencing restoration and conservation.
Richard Karban, Professor, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis
Elected for pivotal work in developing an ecological understanding of plant-herbivore interactions, with particularly notable contributions to the ecology of induced plant responses to herbivory and plant volatile signaling.
William K. Lauenroth, Professor in the Practice, Forestry & Environmental Studies, Yale University
Elected for visionary leadership, outstanding service, and major scientific contributions to the understanding of rangeland ecology, for excellence in mentoring students, and for translation of science to practice.
Matthew A. Leibold, Professor, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin
Elected for his many outstanding contributions, both empirical and theoretical, to our understanding of the dynamics of ecological communities and metacommunities and the ecology of aquatic food webs.
Jennifer B. H. Martiny, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine
Elected for advancing our understanding of the community ecology of microorganisms by bridging the fields of ecology and microbiology and developing the new field of microbial biogeography.
Mark A. McPeek, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College
Elected for his many outstanding contributions to our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary processes responsible for the structure of ecological communities.
Russell Monson, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Laboratory of Tree Ring Research, University of Arizona
Elected for his contributions to seminal discoveries in the areas of plant adaptation, biogeochemical cycling, and ecosystem-atmosphere gas exchange. His work has clarified patterns of C4 photosynthesis evolution, soil organic nitrogen uptake by plants, forest carbon cycling, and the exchange of volatile organic compounds between ecosystems and the atmosphere.
Peter B. Reich, Professor, Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota
Elected for his discovery of universal scaling rules in plant design and physiology, across scales from seedlings to the globe, that provide mechanistic insight into human-caused environmental change.
Melinda D. Smith, Professor, Department of Biology, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University
Elected for her seminal contributions to understanding environmental drivers of grassland community structure through field experiments, cutting-edge genomics, and collaborative synthesis.
John J. Stachowicz, Professor, Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis
Elected for his fundamental contributions to the fields of symbiosis and mutualism, multi-trophic species interactions, biogeography, and invasion biology.
Lawrence Venable, Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona
Elected for revolutionary work on plant community ecology and life history evolution, exemplifying the power of crossing temporal and spatial scales, mixing empirical and theoretical approaches, and integrating inquiries from physiology to evolutionary dynamics.
Early Career Fellows (2017 – 2021)
Colleen M. Iversen, Senior Staff Scientist, Climate Change Science Institute and Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Elected for her leadership and creativity in linking experimentation and modeling to advance ecological understanding of the influence of fine plant roots on the fate of vast pools of carbon and nutrients held in the soils of diverse biomes.
Alex Perkins, Eck Family Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame
Elected for advancing the science of infectious disease dynamics applied to contemporary challenges such as forecasting Zika and informing malaria elimination efforts.
Cascade J. B. Sorte, Assistant Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine
Elected for advancing the understanding of mechanisms underlying community composition and biogeographic patterns in response to global change, especially invasion and climate change, in marine systems.
Corina E. Tarnita, Assistant Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University
Elected for her fundamental insights into the understanding of pattern formation in ecological systems, from multicellularity to collective behavior in social insects to vegetation patterns in semi-arid ecosystems.
Jennifer L. Williams, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia
Elected for her outstanding research in invasion biology exploring eco-evolutionary dynamics with a combination of rigorous empirical work and mathematical models.
Chelsea L. Wood, Assistant Professor, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington
Elected for her pioneering work on the response of parasite transmission to biodiversity change, including innovative contributions to disease ecology, community ecology, marine biology, and conservation science.
Elise F. Zipkin, Assistant Professor, Department of Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University
Elected for outstanding contributions to the fields of applied ecology and conservation biology through her work developing hierarchical statistical models to assess the trajectories, dynamics, and optimal management of wildlife populations and communities.
Fellows elected in 2016
Steven R. Archer Professor, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona
For novel integration of ecological, remote sensing and the earth science theory to advance the conservation and management of the world’s grassland and savanna ecosystems.
Greg P. Asner Scientist, Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science
For leading the effort to move ecology from the local to the continental scale by developing remote sensing techniques and using them to solve fundamental questions in land use, biogeochemistry, and biological diversity.
Cherie J. Briggs Professor, Department of Ecology Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California - Santa Barbara
For pioneering research at the interface of fundamental, applied, and theoretical ecology, including seminal contributions to the biocontrol, disease ecology, mathematical biology, and amphibian conservation literature.
Judith L. Bronstein<br> Professor, Ecology Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona
For seminal contributions to the understanding of mutually-beneficial interactions between species, as well as excellence in teaching and mentoring.
Carla E. Caceres<br> Professor, Department of Animal Biology, University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign
For research of fundamental importance that spans the fields of evolutionary ecology, population ecology, community ecology, and disease ecology, as well as extensive outreach work.
Sharon K. Collinge<br> Professor and Director of the Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado - Boulder
Elected in 2016 for recognition of service as a member of the ESA Governing Board and advancing the science of ecology.
Scott L. Collins<br> Professor, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico
Elected in 2016 for recognition of service as a member of the ESA Governing Board and advancing the science of ecology.
Howard V. Cornell<br> Professor Emeritus, Department of Environmental Science & Policy, University of California - Davis
For outstanding contributions to ecology in the areas of herbivore naturalenemy interactions, local regional relationships of species richness, and macroecology.
Frank W. Davis<br> Professor, Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California - Santa Barbara
Elected in 2016 in recognition for advancing the science of ecology
Andrew P. Dobson<br> Professor, Ecology Evolutionary Biology, Princeton Environmental Institute
For his pioneering research on the ecology of zoonotic and wildlife diseases and the role of parasites in food webs.
Stephen P. Ellner<br> Professor, Ecology Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University
For his numerous and innovative contributions to ecology, with fundamental works in community ecology, population ecology and eco-evolutionary dynamics.
James R. Ehleringer<br> Director, Stable Isotope Ratio Facility for Environmental Research, Department of Biology, University of Utah
For leadership in understanding plant physiology and its implications for climate. Working at biochemical to global scales, he has discovered fundamental relationships between photosynthetic yields, transpiration, and environmental variables.
Catherine A. Gehring<br> Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University
For her pioneering research in the field of community genetics and the role of plant genetics in defining microbial communities.
Mark E. Hay<br> Teasley and Regents' Professor, School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology
For seminal contributions to understanding community organization, consumer-prey interactions, and the chemical cues regulating biotic interactions in aquatic ecosystems and to transforming conservation practices for coral reefs.
Alan K. Knapp<br> Professor, Department of Biology and the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University
For his contributions to understanding the impacts of climatic variability and climate change on terrestrial ecosystems.
Richard L. Lindroth<br> Professor, Associate Dean for Research and Associate Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Wisconsin - Madison
For pioneering research on gene-by-environment interactions and physiological trade-offs in plant chemistry and trophic relationships, and global-change impacts on forest ecosystems.
Karen R. Lips<br> Professor, Department of Biology, University of Maryland
For her groundbreaking work on understanding the causes of amphibian declines and in formulating and coordinating conservation responses.
David M. Lodge, Director of the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, Cornell University
Elected in 2016 for recognition of service as a member of the ESA Governing Board and advancing the science of ecology
Margaret D. Lowman, Director of Global Initiatives, The Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability, California Academy of Sciences
Elected in 2016 for recognition of service as a member of the ESA Governing Board and advancing the science of ecology.
Michelle C. Mack, Professor, Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University
For seminal research contributions in plant ecology, spanning population to ecosystem science, including invasions, nutrient cycling, disturbance, and climate forcing, with emphasis on plant ecology in the arctic and boreal regions.
Marc Mangel, Research Profesor, Department of Mathematical Biology, University of California - Santa Cruz
For his work as an innovative researcher in mathematical biology, an influential mentor to young scientists, a tireless administrator, and a generous member of the ecological community.
Peter B. Moyle, Associate Director, Center for Watershed Science, University of California - Davis
For huge and unique contributions to our understanding and management of inland fishes and fresh waters of California.
Nalini M. Nadkarni, Professor, Department of Ecology & Environmental Biology, University of Utah
Elected in 2016 for recognition of service as a member of the ESA Governing Board and advancing the science of ecology.
James D. Nichols, Senior Scientist, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey
For his broad contributions to ecology, especially estimation of population and community parameters.
Richard J. Norby, Research Staff Member, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
For fundamental research on the response of terrestrial organisms and ecosystems to elevated carbon dioxide atmospheres and environmental changes.
Julia K. Parrish, Professor SAFS & Associate Dean, College of the Environment, University of Washington
For innovation in developing a rigorous approach to citizen science that enhances public scientific literacy while bringing robust data to bear on a range of critical ecological questions and for leadership in addressing diversity issues in conservation.
N. LeRoy Poff, Professor, Department of Biology, Colorado State University
For pioneering research on stream ecology that has advanced ecological theory as well as playing a central role in developing solutions to critical environmental problems concerning water resources.
Leslie A. Real, Asa G. Candler Professor, Department of Biology, Emory University
Elected in 2016 for recognition of service as a member of the ESA Governing Board and advancing the science of ecology.
Paul A. Sandifer, Senior Science Advisor to the NOAA Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
For significant contributions in ecological research, natural resource management, ocean policy, the intersection of marine ecosystem health and human health, and interdisciplinary approaches to science and management.
Katriona Shea, Professor, Department of Biology, and Alumni Professor of Biological Sciences, Eberly College of Science, The Pennsylvania State University
For developing important insights into pressing environmental problems, including reconciling conflicting empirical results about invader richness and disturbance-diversity relationships.
Whendee L. Silver, Professor and Rudy Grah Chair, Department of Environmental Science Policy & Management, University of California - Berkeley
For expanding foundational understanding of carbon, nitrogen, and iron biogeochemistry in tropical forests as well as carbon stabilization and loss from grassland soils and applying this understanding to inform policy and research decisions.
Katharine Suding, Associate Professor, Ecology Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Artic and Alphine Research, University of Colorado - Boulder
For exceptional research in the dynamics of grassland and tundra plant communities and the application of this leading-edge knowledge to the challenges of restoration, species invasion, and environmental change.
Kathleen K. Treseder, Professor, Ecology Evolutionary Biology School of Biological Sciences, University of California - Irvine
For leadership in evaluating and communicating the importance of fungi in ecosystems, including in mediating ecosystem responses to global change.
Jackson R. Webster, Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech
For his substantial and important contributions to ecosystem ecology and pioneering the concept of nutrient spiraling in streams.
Early Career Fellows (2016 – 2020)
Jennifer K. Balch, Assistant Professor & Director of Earth Lab, Department of Geography, University of Colorado - Boulder
For her exceptional work and novel discoveries on fire risk, proliferation and consequences in both tropical and temperature ecosystems.
Michael H. Cortez, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Utah State University
For emerging leadership in the study of eco-evolutionary dynamics within predator-prey systems, using rigorous theory, numerical simulation, and statistical analysis to shed new light on adaptation and its consequences.
Mary I. O’Connor, Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia
For her outstanding research at the dynamic interface between metabolic ecology, biodiversity, and climate change in the oceans.
Kabir G. Peay, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Stanford University
For outstanding contributions in the areas of ectomycorrhizal, fungal, and community ecology, and for his innovative use of molecular methods to address classic ecological questions.
Sasha C. Reed, Research Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey
For exceptional contributions in the fields of ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry.
Ann Carla Staver, Assistant Professor, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Yale University
For her elegant combination of fieldwork, analysis of remote-sensing data, and mathematical theory to understand the role of fire in savanna and forest ecosystem dynamics.
Elizabeth M. Wolkovich, Assistant Professor, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University Center for the Environment
For her pioneering work on the effects of global change on the interactions among phenology, invasion biology, and community assembly.
2015 Fellows
Early Career Fellows (2015 – 2019)
- Karen Abbott
- Brian Allan
- Liza Comita
- Rob Pringle
- Corinna Riginos
- Rob Salguero-Gómez
- Daniel Stouffer
- Ariana Sutton-Grier
- Hillary Young
Fellows
- Jayne Belnap
- John Blair
- David Breshears
- Grace Brush
- Peter Chesson
- Kathy Cottingham
- Evan DeLucia
- Valerie Eviner
- Mary Firestone
- Janet Franklin
- Peter Groffman
- Drew Harvell
- Sarah Hobbie
- David Inouye
- Pat Megonigal
- Gary Mittelbach
- Craig Osenberg
- Mercedes Pascual
- Ivette Perfecto
- Steward Pickett
- Jim Reynolds
- Os Schmitz
- Sharon Strauss
- Kathie Weathers
2014 Fellows
Early Career Fellows (2014 – 2018)
- Marc Cadotte
- Daniel Donato
- Heather Lynch
- Abraham Miller-Rushing
- Laura Petes
Fellows
- Andrew Blaustein
- Hal Caswell
- Jiquan Chen
- Deborah Goldberg
- James Grace
- Mark Hunter
- Stephen Jackson
- Jon Keeley
- Robert Naiman
- Richard Ostfeld
- Alan Townsend
- John Vandermeer
2013 Fellows
Early Career Fellows (2013 – 2017)
- Steven D. Allison
- Marissa L. Baskett
- Meghan Duffy
- Pieter Johnson
- Duncan Menge
- Julian D. Olden
Fellows
- Carla D’Antonio
- Bill Fagan
- Lisa Graumlich
- Jessica Gurevitch
- Susan P. Harrison
- Robert D. Holt
- Nancy Johnson
- Pablo Marquet
- Kevin McCann
- Bruce A. Menge
- Camille Parmesan
- Eric R. Pianka
- Hugh Possingham
- Julie Reynolds
- Osvaldo E. Sala
- Joshua Schimel
- Joy Zedler
2012 fellows
- Jill Baron
- Ann Bartuska
- Barbara Lee Bentley
- May Berenbaum
- Alan Berkowitz
- Rosina M. Bierbaum
- Lawrence Carroll Bliss
- Carol Brewer
- James H. Brown
- John Cairns
- John Edward Cantlon
- Stephen Carpenter
- Juan Carlos Castilla
- Terry Chapin
- Sallie W. Chisholm
- Norm Christensen
- James Clark
- Robert Knight Colwell
- Joseph H. Connell
- Arthur Wells Cooper
- Alan Covich
- Richard M. Cowling
- Bert Cushing
- Gretchen C. Daily
- Pierre Dansereau
- Margaret Bryan Davis
- Ruth DeFries
- Sandra M. Diaz
- Rodolfo Dirzo
- Frank Nicholas Egerton
- Paul Ralph Ehrlich
- Aaron Ellison
- Paul Falkowski
- Peter Feinsinger
- Christopher Field
- Stuart Fisher
- Richard T.T. Forman
- Jerry Forest Franklin
- Charles Remington Goldman
- Eville Gorham
- Peter Grant
- Nancy B. Grimm
- Katherine Lynn Gross
- Ilkka Hanski
- Alan Hastings
- William Hazen
- Crawford S. Holling
- Stephen Philip Hubbell
- Laura Huenneke
- Robert Jackson
- Frances Crews James
- Anthony C. Janetos
- Edward Johnson
- Peter Kareiva
- Kenneth M. Klemow
- Dennis Hal Knight
- Charles J. Krebs
- Otto Lange
- Jean Harmon Langenheim
- Richard Lenski
- Simon A. Levin
- Claudia Lewis
- Gene Elden Likens
- Jane Lubchenco
- James A. MacMahon
- Pamela Matson
- Samuel Joseph McNaughton
- Ernesto Medina
- Jerry M. Melillo
- Judy Lynn Meyer
- Lee Norman Miller
- Harold A. Mooney
- John C. Moore
- Patrice A. Morrow
- Bill Murdoch
- Robert V. O’Neill
- Gordon Howell Orians
- Stephen W. Pacala
- Robert T. Paine
- Margaret Ann Palmer
- Bill Parton
- Ruth Myrtle Patrick
- Duncan Theunissen Patten
- Paul Guy Pearson
- Robert Krug Peet
- Deb Peters
- Evelyn Christine Pielou
- Louis Frank Pitelka
- James W. Porter
- Rich Pouyat
- Alison Power
- Mary Power
- Ron Pulliam
- Peter Raven
- Jim Reichman
- Robert E. Ricklefs
- Paul Gillan Risser
- William Robertson IV
- Richard Bruce Root
- Michael Leo Rosenzweig
- David Schimel
- William H. Schlesinger
- Thomas William Schoener
- Timothy Duane Schowalter
- Rebecca Reyburn Sharitz
- Gaius R. Shaver
- Daniel Simberloff
- Allen M. Solomon
- Donald R. Strong
- John Terborgh
- James M. Tiedje
- David Tilman
- Monica Turner
- Peter Morrison Vitousek
- Diana Harrison Wall
- Earl Edward Werner
- Thomas G. Whitham
- Henry Miles Wilbur
- Edward Osborne Wilson
- George Masters Woodwell
- H.E. Wright, Jr.