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

Plant and microbe contribution to community resilience in a directionally changing environment

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

All Authors: Suding KN; Ashton IW; Bechtold H; Bowman WD; Mobley ML; Winkleman R

Published in: Ecological Monographs
Publication Date: 2008-08-01
Type: Journal Article

Historical change in coastal sage scrub in southern California, USA in relation to fire frequency and air pollution

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Talluto MV; Suding KN

Published in: Landscape Ecology
Publication Date: 2008-08-01
Type: Journal Article

Nitrogen preferences and plant-soil feedbacks as influenced by neighbors in the alpine tundra

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

All Authors: Ashton IW; Miller AE; Bowman WD; Suding KN

Published in: Oecologia
Publication Date: 2008-06-01
Type: Journal Article

Carbon flux from plants to soil: roots are a below-ground source of phenolic secondary compounds in an alpine ecosystem

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

All Authors: Meier CL; Suding KN; Bowman WD

Published in: Journal of Ecology
Publication Date: 2008-05-01
Type: Journal Article

Scaling environmental change through the community-level: a trait-based response-and-effect framework for plants

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors:

Suding KN; Lavorel S; Chapin FS; Cornelissen JHC; Diaz S; Garnier E; Goldberg D; Hooper DU; Jackson ST; Navas M-L...

Suding KN
Lavorel S
Chapin FS
Cornelissen JHC
Diaz S
Garnier E
Goldberg D
Hooper DU
Jackson ST
Navas M-L

Published in: Global Change Biology
Publication Date: 2008-05-01
Type: Journal Article

SPECIES RESPONSES TO NITROGEN FERTILIZATION IN HERBACEOUS PLANT COMMUNITIES, AND ASSOCIATED SPECIES TRAITSEcological ArchivesE089-070

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

All Authors:

Cleland EE; Clark CM; Collins SL; Fargione JE; Gough L; Gross KL; Milchunas DG; Pennings SC; Bowman WD; Burke IC...

Cleland EE
Clark CM
Collins SL
Fargione JE
Gough L
Gross KL
Milchunas DG
Pennings SC
Bowman WD
Burke IC

Published in: Ecology
Publication Date: 2008-04-01
Type: Journal Article

Models of Ecosystem Dynamics as Frameworks for Restoration Ecology

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: SUDING KN; HOBBS RJ

Publication Date: 2008-01-01
Type: Chapter

Testing the Holy Grail framework: using functional traits to predict ecosystem change

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Suding KN; Goldstein LJ

Published in: New Phytologist
Publication Date: 2008-01-01
Type: Journal Article

Frequency-dependence stabilizes competitive interactions among four annual plants

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Harpole WS; Suding KN

Published in: Ecology Letters
Publication Date: 2007-12-01
Type: Journal Article

Ecosystem responses to water and nitrogen amendment in a California grassland

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Harpole WS; Potts DL; Suding KN

Published in: Global Change Biology
Publication Date: 2007-11-01
Type: Journal Article

Complementarity as a mechanism of coexistence between functional groups of grasses

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Gross N; Suding KN; Lavorel S; Roumet C

Published in: Journal of Ecology
Publication Date: 2007-11-01
Type: Journal Article

Environmental and plant community determinants of species loss following nitrogen enrichment

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Clark CM; Cleland EE; Collins SL; Fargione JE; Gough L; Gross KL; Pennings SC; Suding KN; Grace JB

Published in: Ecology Letters
Publication Date: 2007-07-01
Type: Journal Article

Plant uptake of inorganic and organic nitrogen: Neighbor identity matters

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

All Authors: Miller AE; Bowman WD; Suding KN

Published in: Ecology
Publication Date: 2007-07-01
Type: Journal Article

Phosphorus fertilization stimulates nitrogen fixation and increases inorganic nitrogen concentrations in a restored prairie

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Reed SC; Seastedt TR; Mann CM; Suding KN; Townsend AR; Cherwin KL

Published in: Applied Soil Ecology
Publication Date: 2007-06-01
Type: Journal Article

Leaf dry matter content and lateral spread predict response to land use change for six subalpine grassland species

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Gross N; Suding KN; Lavorel S

Published in: Journal of Vegetation Science
Publication Date: 2007-04-01
Type: Journal Article

Biotic constraints on the invasion of diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) in North American grasslands

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Seastedt TR; Suding KN

Published in: Oecologia
Publication Date: 2007-04-01
Type: Journal Article

Leaf dry matter content and lateral spread predict response to land use change for six subalpine grassland species

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Nicolas G; Nash SK; Sandra L

Published in: Journal of Vegetation Science
Publication Date: 2007-04-01
Type: Journal Article

Modifying native and exotic species richness correlations: The influence of fire and seed addition

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Nash Suding K; Gross KL

Published in: Ecological Applications
Publication Date: 2006-08-01
Type: Journal Article

The consequence of species loss on ecosystem nitrogen cycling depends on community compensation

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

All Authors: Suding KN; Miller AE; Bechtold H; Bowman WD

Published in: Oecologia
Publication Date: 2006-08-01
Type: Journal Article

Nutrient availability does not explain invasion and dominance of a mixed grass prairie by the exotic forb Centaurea diffusa Lam.

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: LeJeune KD; Suding KN; Seastedt TR

Published in: Applied Soil Ecology
Publication Date: 2006-05-01
Type: Journal Article

Plant community responses to experimental warming across the tundra biome

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors:

Walker MD; Wahren CH; Hollister RD; Henry GHR; Ahlquist LE; Alatalo JM; Bret-Harte MS; Calef MP; Callaghan TV; Carroll A...

Walker MD
Wahren CH
Hollister RD
Henry GHR
Ahlquist LE
Alatalo JM
Bret-Harte MS
Calef MP
Callaghan TV
Carroll AB

Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA
Publication Date: 2006-01-31
Type: Journal Article

FACTORS AFFECTING UNDERSTORY ESTABLISHMENT IN COASTAL SAGE SCRUB RESTORATION

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Talluto MV; Suding KN; Bowler PA

Published in: Madrono
Publication Date: 2006-01-01
Type: Journal Article

The practice of restoration and the science of ecology

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: SUDING K

Published in: Trends in Ecology and Evolution
Publication Date: 2005-11-01
Type: Journal Article

Do individual plant species show predictable responses to nitrogen addition across multiple experiments?

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Pennings SC; Clark CM; Cleland EE; Collins SL; Gough L; Gross KL; Milchunas DG; Suding KN

Published in: OIKOS
Publication Date: 2005-09-01
Type: Journal Article

The effect of recycling on plant competitive hierarchies

CU Boulder Authors: Suding, Katharine Nash

All Authors: Clark BR; Hartley SE; Suding KN; de Mazancourt C

Published in: The American Naturalist
Publication Date: 2005-06-01
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

---

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 >

Search

Breadcrumb

Katharine Suding

Bio

Education

Awards

Research

Publications

Models of Ecosystem Dynamics as Frameworks for Restoration Ecology

Pages

Teaching

Courses

Current postdocs and students

Alumni

Outreach

News