Katharine Suding

Distinguished Professor • PI, Niwot Ridge LTER •
• Plant community ecology • Restoration and conservation • Invasion biology

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

katharine.suding@colorado.edu

303 735-3193

Visit the Suding Lab

Bio

Plant community ecology; restoration, invasion biology, environmental change, and conservation.

I am a plant community ecologist working at the interface of ecosystem, landscape and population biology. My goal is to apply cutting-edge “usable” science to the challenges of restoration, species invasion, and environmental change. My research group and I work with a range of conservation groups, government agencies and land managers to provide evidence-based solutions that take into account biodiversity, human well-being, and management opportunities. We employ a combination of long-term monitoring, modeling and experimental approaches in settings that range from alpine tundra to oak woodlands to grasslands. Common themes include plant-soil feedbacks, functional traits, species effects on ecosystem processes, and non-linear and threshold dynamics.

Visit the Suding Lab web site.

Education

PhD: University of Michigan, 1999
BS: Williams College, 1994

Awards

Highly Cited Researcher (2016-2019), Web of Science Group, 2019
Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2018
MacArthur Award, Ecological Society of America, 2018
BFA Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarly and Creative Work, Boulder Faculty Assembly, 2018
Fellow, Ecological Society of America, 2016

Research

Visit the Suding Lab web site. We are plant community ecologists working at the interface of ecosystem, landscape and population biology. Our goal is to apply cutting-edge science to the challenges of restoration, invasion, and environmental change.

Publications

Recent publications

Potential vulnerability of 348 herbaceous species to atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and sulfur in the United States

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash; Bowman, Bill

All Authors:

Clark CM; Simkin SM; Allen EB; Bowman WD; Belnap J; Brooks ML; Collins SL; Geiser LH; Gilliam FS; Jovan SE...

Clark CM
Simkin SM
Allen EB
Bowman WD
Belnap J
Brooks ML
Collins SL
Geiser LH
Gilliam FS
Jovan SE

Published in: Nature Plants
Publication Date: 2019-07-01
Type: Journal Article

Warming shortens flowering seasons of tundra plant communities (vol 3, pg 45, 2019)

CU Boulder Authors: Elmendorf, Sarah Claire; Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors:

Prevey JS; Rixen C; Ruger N; Hoye TT; Bjorkman AD; Myers-Smith IH; Elmendorf SC; Ashton IW; Cannone N; Chisholm CL...

Prevey JS
Rixen C
Ruger N
Hoye TT
Bjorkman AD
Myers-Smith IH
Elmendorf SC
Ashton IW
Cannone N
Chisholm CL

Published in: Nature Ecology and Evolution
Publication Date: 2019-04-01
Type: Journal Article

The effects of nitrogen deposition and invasion on litter fuel quality and decomposition in a Stipa pulchra grassland

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Hernandez E; Questad EJ; Meyer WM; Suding KN

Published in: Journal of Arid Environments
Publication Date: 2019-03-01
Type: Journal Article

Leaf temperatures mediate alpine plant communities' response to a simulated extended summer

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash; Neff, Jason C

All Authors: Wentz KF; Neff JC; Suding KN

Published in: Ecology and Evolution
Publication Date: 2019-02-01
Type: Journal Article

Warming shortens flowering seasons of tundra plant communities

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash; Elmendorf, Sarah Claire

All Authors:

Prevey JS; Rixen C; Rueger N; Hoye TT; Bjorkman AD; Myers-Smith IH; Elmendorf SC; Ashton IW; Cannone N; Chisholm CL...

Prevey JS
Rixen C
Rueger N
Hoye TT
Bjorkman AD
Myers-Smith IH
Elmendorf SC
Ashton IW
Cannone N
Chisholm CL

Published in: Nature Ecology and Evolution
Publication Date: 2019-01-01
Type: Journal Article

Building Ecological Resilience in Highly Modified Landscapes

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors:

Beller EE; Spotswood EN; Robinson AH; Anderson MG; Higgs ES; Hobbs RJ; Suding KN; Zavaleta ES; Grenier JL; Grossinger RM...

Beller EE
Spotswood EN
Robinson AH
Anderson MG
Higgs ES
Hobbs RJ
Suding KN
Zavaleta ES
Grenier JL
Grossinger RM

Published in: Bioscience
Publication Date: 2019-01-01
Type: Journal Article

Patterns of root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophytes across a mostly-unvegetated, high-elevation landscape

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash; Schmidt, Steve

All Authors:

de Mesquita CPB; Sartwell SA; Ordemann EV; Porazinska DL; Farrer EC; King AJ; Spasojevic MJ; Smith JG; Suding KN; Schmid...

de Mesquita CPB
Sartwell SA
Ordemann EV
Porazinska DL
Farrer EC
King AJ
Spasojevic MJ
Smith JG
Suding KN
Schmidt SK

Published in: Fungal Ecology
Publication Date: 2018-12-01
Type: Journal Article

ASSEMBLY AND FUNCTION OF NEMATODE COMMUNITIES IN AN EARLY SUCCESSIONAL ALPINE LANDSCAPE

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash; Schmidt, Steve

All Authors: Dorota P; Farrer EC; Spasojevic MJ; de Mequita CPB; Suding KN; Schmidt SK

Published in: Journal of Nematology
Publication Date: 2018-12-01
Type: Conference Proceeding

Tundra Trait Team: A database of plant traits spanning the tundra biome

CU Boulder Authors: Elmendorf, Sarah Claire; Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors:

Bjorkman AD; Myers-Smith IH; Elmendorf SC; Normand S; Thomas HJD; Alatalo JM; Alexander H; Anadon-Rosell A; Angers-Blond...

Bjorkman AD
Myers-Smith IH
Elmendorf SC
Normand S
Thomas HJD
Alatalo JM
Alexander H
Anadon-Rosell A
Angers-Blondin S
Bai Y

Published in: Global Ecology and Biogeography
Publication Date: 2018-12-01
Type: Journal Article

Tradeoffs in demographic mechanisms underlie differences in species abundance and stability

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Hallett LM; Farrer EC; Suding KN; Mooney HA; Hobbs RJ

Published in: Nature Communications
Publication Date: 2018-11-28
Type: Journal Article

Alpine catena response to nitrogen deposition and its effect on the aquatic system

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash; Anderson, Suzanne Prestrud

All Authors: Litaor MI; Suding K; Anderson SP; Litus G; Caine N

Published in: Catena
Publication Date: 2018-11-01
Type: Journal Article

Navigating Novelty and Risk in Resilience Management

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Dudney J; Hobbs RJ; Heilmayr R; Battles JJ; Suding KN

Published in: Trends in Ecology and Evolution
Publication Date: 2018-11-01
Type: Journal Article

Rapid temporal changes in root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and fine root endophytes, not dark septate endophytes, track plant activity and environment in an alpine ecosystem

CU Boulder Authors: Schmidt, Steve; Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: de Mesquita CPB; del Rio CMM; Suding KN; Schmidt SK

Published in: Mycorrhiza
Publication Date: 2018-11-01
Type: Journal Article

Plant functional trait change across a warming tundra biome

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash; Elmendorf, Sarah Claire

All Authors:

Bjorkman AD; Myers-Smith IH; Elmendorf SC; Normand S; Rueger N; Beck PSA; Blach-Overgaard A; Blok D; Cornelissen JHC; Fo...

Bjorkman AD
Myers-Smith IH
Elmendorf SC
Normand S
Rueger N
Beck PSA
Blach-Overgaard A
Blok D
Cornelissen JHC
Forbes BC

Published in: Nature
Publication Date: 2018-10-04
Type: Journal Article

Ecological winners and losers of extreme drought in California

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Prugh LR; Deguines N; Grinath JB; Suding KN; Bean WT; Stafford R; Brashares JS

Published in: Nature Climate Change
Publication Date: 2018-09-01
Type: Journal Article

Plant diversity and density predict belowground diversity and function in an early successional alpine ecosystem

CU Boulder Authors: Schmidt, Steve; Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors:

Porazinska DL; Farrer EC; Spasojevic MJ; de Mesquita CPB; Sartwell SA; Smith JG; White CT; King AJ; Suding KN; Schmidt S...

Porazinska DL
Farrer EC
Spasojevic MJ
de Mesquita CPB
Sartwell SA
Smith JG
White CT
King AJ
Suding KN
Schmidt SK

Published in: Ecology
Publication Date: 2018-09-01
Type: Journal Article

Animals alter precipitation legacies: Trophic and ecosystem engineering effects on plant community temporal dynamics

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Grinath JB; Deguines N; Chesnut JW; Prugh LR; Brashares JS; Suding KN

Published in: Journal of Ecology
Publication Date: 2018-07-01
Type: Journal Article

The evolution of Society for Ecological Restoration's principles and standardscounter-response to Gann et al.

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors:

Higgs E; Harris J; Murphy S; Bowers K; Hobbs R; Jenkins W; Kidwell J; Lopoukhine N; Sollereder B; Suding K...

Higgs E
Harris J
Murphy S
Bowers K
Hobbs R
Jenkins W
Kidwell J
Lopoukhine N
Sollereder B
Suding K

Published in: Restoration Ecology
Publication Date: 2018-05-01
Type: Journal Article

On principles and standards in ecological restoration

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors:

Higgs E; Harris J; Murphy S; Bowers K; Hobbs R; Jenkins W; Kidwell J; Lopoukhine N; Sollereder B; Suding K...

Higgs E
Harris J
Murphy S
Bowers K
Hobbs R
Jenkins W
Kidwell J
Lopoukhine N
Sollereder B
Suding K

Published in: Restoration Ecology
Publication Date: 2018-05-01
Type: Journal Article

Keep ecological restoration open and flexible

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Higgs ES; Harris JA; Heger T; Hobbs RJ; Murphy SD; Suding KN

Published in: Nature Ecology and Evolution
Publication Date: 2018-04-01
Type: Journal Article

Topographic heterogeneity explains patterns of vegetation response to climate change (1972–2008) across a mountain landscape, Niwot Ridge, Colorado

CU Boulder Authors: Molotch, Noah Paul; Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Bueno de Mesquita CP; Tillmann LS; Bernard CD; Rosemond KC; Molotch NP; Suding KN

Published in: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
Publication Date: 2018-01-01
Type: Journal Article

Seed-associated fungi in the alpine tundra: Both mutualists and pathogens could impact plant recruitment

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Tobias TB; Farrer EC; Rosales A; Sinsabaugh RL; Suding KN; Porras-Alfaro A

Published in: Fungal Ecology
Publication Date: 2017-12-01
Type: Journal Article

Where and how to restore in a changing world: a demographic-based assessment of resilience

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Larios L; Hallett LM; Suding KN

Published in: Journal of Applied Ecology
Publication Date: 2017-08-01
Type: Journal Article

Plant colonization of moss-dominated soils in the alpine: Microbial and biogeochemical implications

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash; Schmidt, Steve

All Authors: de Mesquita CPB; Knelman JE; King AJ; Farrer EC; Porazinska DL; Schmidt SK; Suding KN

Published in: Soil Biology and Biochemistry
Publication Date: 2017-08-01
Type: Journal Article

Trait Complementarity Enhances Native Plant Restoration in an I Invaded Urban Landscape

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors:

Hallett LM; Chapple DE; Bickart N; Cherbowsky A; Fernandez L; Ho CH; Alexander M; Schwab K; Suding KN...

Hallett LM
Chapple DE
Bickart N
Cherbowsky A
Fernandez L
Ho CH
Alexander M
Schwab K
Suding KN

Published in: Ecological Restoration
Publication Date: 2017-06-01
Type: Journal Article

Teaching

Courses

EBIO 6100: Graduate Seminar in Critical Transitions & Resilience
- It is increasingly clear that ecological systems, like many other complex systems, have critical thresholds at which they shift abruptly from one state to another--non-linear transitions that are abrupt and hard to reverse. We will explore the application of complexity theory to such issues as desertification in rangelands, dieback in coral reefs, and turbidly in lakes.

Current postdocs and students

Sam Ahler

PhD Student •
• Plant community ecology • Functional traits • Belowground dynamics • Restoration

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Visit the Suding Lab Advisor: Katharine Suding

sam.ahler@colorado.edu

Jonathan Henn

Postdoctoral Scholar •
• Alpine plant ecology

Visit Suding Lab Advisor: Katharine Suding I am a Postdoctoral Researcher working with Marko Spasojevic and Katie Suding to characterize long-term change in alpine plant communities. Overall, my research focuses on these issues to improve the restoration and management of ecosystems under rapidly changing conditions. I also actively work on developing effective mentoring, teaching, and outreach skills to help cultivate the next generation of scientists and engaged citizens. See more...

jonathan.henn@colorado.edu

Katya Jay

Postdoctoral Scholar •
• Plant ecology • Climate change

Visit the Suding Lab Advisor: Katharine Suding Bio Education PhD: Oregon State University, 2021 BS: Macalester College, 2016

katya.jay@colorado.edu

Thomas Merchant

PhD Student •
• Plant community ecology

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Advisor: Katharine Suding Specialties: plant community, ecosystem ecology, and global change; plant-microbial interactions; data science.

thomas.merchant@colorado.edu

Melinda Stueber

Bachelor's Accelerated Master's Student •
• Restoration ecology • Conservation biology • Landscape ecology

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Advisor: Katharine Suding

melinda.stueber@colorado.edu

Caitlin White

PhD Student •
• Plant community ecology • Restoration ecology

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Advisor: Katharine Suding Research Publications Seastedt, T., White, C., Tucker, C., Beaury, E. M., Concilio, A., Gasarch, E., Haggans, V. J., Smith, J. G., 2020: Decadal dynamics of dry alpine meadows under nitrogen and phosphorus additions . Plant Ecology, 221(8): 647-658. DOI: 10.1007/s11258-020-01039-8 Balch, J. K., Iglesias, V., Braswell, A. E., Rossi, M. W., Joseph, M. B., Mahood, A. L., Shrum, T. R., White, C., Scholl, V. M., McGuire, B.,...

caitlin.t.white@colorado.edu

Alumni

See Suding Lab alumni.

Outreach

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News

Alpine wildflowers bloom on the tundra of Niwot Ridge. Photo by William Bowman.

$7.65 million grant to extend study of how climate change shapes life at 10,000 feet (CU Boulder Today)

Feb. 3, 2023

For more than 40 years, scientists from the Niwot Ridge Long-Term Ecological Research program have worked to better understand high-alpine ecosystems in a warming world. Thanks to a new $7.65 million, six-year grant from the National Science Foundation, that work will continue, making Niwot Ridge LTER the longest-running NSF-funded program at CU Boulder.

A map shows where surface water samples were collected from the Coal Creek waterway shortly after the Marshall Fire.

Ongoing CU research explores impacts, solutions after Marshall Fire (CU Boulder Today)

Dec. 21, 2022

On Dec. 30, 2021, a fast-moving wildfire in suburban Boulder County became the costliest wildfire in Colorado history. It burned 6,000 acres, destroyed more than 1,000 homes and damaged thousands of others. The Marshall Fire also spurred researchers—many personally affected by the fire—to apply their expertise to the aftermath. A year later, dozens of ongoing research projects continue to explore the science behind the fire; its widespread impacts; and how we can mitigate future catastrophes in a changing climate.

Miles Moore and Jimmy Howe toss black sand onto a test plot on Niwot Ridge. Photo by Kelsey Simpkins, CU Boulder.

To study impacts of longer, hotter summers, ecologists haul 5,000 pounds of sand up a mountain (CU Boulder Today)

Sept. 12, 2022

For the past five years, a team of research assistants and volunteers have hiked up Niwot Ridge in late May to set the stage for a unique experiment in which they spread 5,000 pounds of black sand across portions of the remaining snowpack. Their goal is to simulate the near-future effects of a warming planet on alpine ecosystems.

3 faculty members headed out on Fulbright Program (CU Boulder Today)

Aug. 10, 2022

Katharine Suding is among three CU Boulder faculty members who received Fulbright fellowships to study internationally. Suding will travel to the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, to work on a project called Recovery, Resilience and the Ecology of Change.

Oft-overlooked grasslands build biodiversity, resilience over centuries (CU Boulder Today)

Aug. 4, 2022

Grasslands’ biodiversity and resilience to disturbances such as fire, heat and drought is the result of a slow process over hundreds of years, like that of old growth forests, finds new CU research led by INSTAAR Katharine Suding that was published today in Science. An implication of the research is that it's important to conserve grasslands that are still intact.

More Suding news >

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Katharine Suding

Bio

Education

Awards

Research

Publications

ASSEMBLY AND FUNCTION OF NEMATODE COMMUNITIES IN AN EARLY SUCCESSIONAL ALPINE LANDSCAPE

Pages

Teaching

Courses

Current postdocs and students

Alumni

Outreach

News