Professor Turetsky has moved from INSTAAR to RASEI.
There, she is joining an expanding research community focused on justice through sustainability and societal solutions to achieve net zero carbon emissions.

Bio
I am a broadly trained carbon cycle scientist and ecosystem ecologist with interests in plant ecology, biogeochemistry, and global change.
My students and I use a variety of approaches, from large-scale manipulations to laboratory experiments and paleoecological reconstructions, to understand the resilience of communities and ecosystems to environmental change.
We tend to work on a variety of research issues including permafrost degradation and changing wildfire regimes that are important to global change and environmental policy arenas. In both northern Canada and Alaska, my research is moving towards fundamental research questions that also are of interest to stakeholders in the north. Northerners are experiencing the most rapid climate change on the planet, and my research interests are aimed at helping them address what these rapid changes mean for their land, traditional foods and the quality of their water. Landscape changes associated with climate warming also will influence the resilience of power and energy systems in northern regions. For example, permafrost thaw is leading to land subsidence (thermokarst) and affects the ability of subsidence harvesters to travel across their land and access traditional foods. By conducting user-driven research that also addresses fundamental questions in ecology and global change biology, I strive to build knowledge and capacity for northern communities and governments.
Key accomplishments
- Science Advisor to EOS, the science news magazine published by the American Geophysical Union
- INSTAAR Director (Jan 2020 - Jul 2023)
- Steering Committee member and Founding member, Permafrost Carbon Network
- Member, Permafrost Action Team (SEARCH)
- Member, National Academies' Polar Research Board
- Steering committee to create the Canadian Permafrost Association
- Senior scientist, Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Research Program
- Academic liaison to NASA’s Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE)
Please visit my lab website (www.turetskylab.com) to see examples of research projects, products (including conference posters) and videos and photos of field sites.
Education
- Mendenhell Fellow: U.S. Geological Survey, 2004
- PhD: University of Alberta, 2002
Awards
- Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher, Clarivate: 2020, 2021, and 2022
- AAAS Leshner Leadership Institute Science Engagement Fellow
Research
Ecosystem ecology, wetland ecology, carbon cycling, permafrost science, fire ecology, biogeochemistry
With more than 20 years of experience working in boreal and arctic ecosystems, my work contributes to theoretical predictions of ecosystem structure and function, but it also applies to regulation of carbon in a global change world. I am passionate about northern ecosystems and the people who depend on them. Through research, engagement, and teaching, my primary aim is to train the next generation of scientists in the interdisciplinary skills required to tackle ongoing challenges in the north related to food and water security, energy sustainability, carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, and landscape change.
Please visit my lab website (www.turetskylab.com) to see examples of research projects, products (including conference posters) and videos and photos of field sites.
Publications
For additional publications, see Merritt's Google Scholar list.
Past permafrost dynamics can inform future permafrost carbon-climate feedbacks
Publication Date: 2023-07-25
Type: Journal Article
Permafrost thaw induces short-term increase in vegetation productivity in northwestern Canada
Publication Date: 2023-06-18
Type: Journal Article
Structuring Life After Death: Plant Leachates Promote CO2 Uptake by Regulating Microbial Biofilm Interactions in a Northern Peatland Ecosystem
Publication Date: 2023-01-26
Type: Journal Article
Black spruce (Picea mariana) seed availability and viability in boreal forests after large wildfires
Reid KA; Day NJ; Alfaro-Sanchez R; Johnstone JF; Cumming SG; Mack MC; Turetsky MR; Walker XJ; Baltzer JL...
- Reid KA
- Day NJ
- Alfaro-Sanchez R
- Johnstone JF
- Cumming SG
- Mack MC
- Turetsky MR
- Walker XJ
- Baltzer JL
Publication Date: 2023-01-23
Type: Journal Article
Lowering water table reduces carbon sink strength and carbon stocks in northern peatlands
Kwon MJ; Ballantyne A; Ciais P; Qiu C; Salmon E; Raoult N; Guenet B; Gockede M; Euskirchen ES; Nykanen H...
- Kwon MJ
- Ballantyne A
- Ciais P
- Qiu C
- Salmon E
- Raoult N
- Guenet B
- Gockede M
- Euskirchen ES
- Nykanen H
Publication Date: 2022-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Carbon and nitrogen cycling dynamics following permafrost thaw in the Northwest Territories, Canada
Publication Date: 2022-07-16
Type: Journal Article
Reimagine fire science for the anthropocene
Shuman JK; Balch JK; Barnes RT; Higuera PE; Roos CI; Schwilk DW; Stavros EN; Banerjee T; Bela MM; Bendix J...
- Shuman JK
- Balch JK
- Barnes RT
- Higuera PE
- Roos CI
- Schwilk DW
- Stavros EN
- Banerjee T
- Bela MM
- Bendix J
Type: Journal Article
Material Legacies and Environmental Constraints Underlie Fire Resilience of a Dominant Boreal Forest Type
Publication Date: 2022-06-29
Type: Journal Article
We Must Stop Fossil Fuel Emissions to Protect Permafrost Ecosystems
Abbott BW; Brown M; Carey JC; Ernakovich J; Frederick JM; Guo L; Hugelius G; Lee RM; Loranty MM; Macdonald R...
- Abbott BW
- Brown M
- Carey JC
- Ernakovich J
- Frederick JM
- Guo L
- Hugelius G
- Lee RM
- Loranty MM
- Macdonald R
Publication Date: 2022-06-29
Type: Journal Article
Cascading effects of predators on algal size structure
Publication Date: 2022-04-01
Type: Journal Article
Fuel Loads and Plant Traits as Community-Level Predictors of Emergent Properties of Vulnerability and Resilience to a Changing Fire Regime in Black Spruce Forests of Boreal Alaska
Publication Date: 2022-03-01
Type: Journal Article
Permafrost and Climate Change: Carbon Cycle Feedbacks From the Warming Arctic
Schuur EAG; Abbott BW; Commane R; Ernakovich J; Euskirchen E; Hugelius G; Grosse G; Jones M; Koven C; Leshyk V...
- Schuur EAG
- Abbott BW
- Commane R
- Ernakovich J
- Euskirchen E
- Hugelius G
- Grosse G
- Jones M
- Koven C
- Leshyk V
Publication Date: 2022-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Permafrost carbon emissions in a changing Arctic
Miner KR; Turetsky MR; Malina E; Bartsch A; Tamminen J; McGuire AD; Fix A; Sweeney C; Elder CD; Miller CE...
- Miner KR
- Turetsky MR
- Malina E
- Bartsch A
- Tamminen J
- McGuire AD
- Fix A
- Sweeney C
- Elder CD
- Miller CE
Type: Journal Article
Increasing fire and the decline of fire adapted black spruce in the boreal forest
Baltzer JL; Day NJ; Walker XJ; Greene D; Mack MC; Alexander HD; Arseneault D; Barnes J; Bergeron Y; Boucher Y...
- Baltzer JL
- Day NJ
- Walker XJ
- Greene D
- Mack MC
- Alexander HD
- Arseneault D
- Barnes J
- Bergeron Y
- Boucher Y
Publication Date: 2021-11-09
Type: Journal Article
BAWLD-CH4: a comprehensive dataset of methane fluxes from boreal and arctic ecosystems
Kuhn MA; Varner RK; Bastviken D; Crill P; MacIntyre S; Turetsky M; Walter Anthony K; McGuire AD; Olefeldt D...
- Kuhn MA
- Varner RK
- Bastviken D
- Crill P
- MacIntyre S
- Turetsky M
- Walter Anthony K
- McGuire AD
- Olefeldt D
Publication Date: 2021-11-05
Type: Journal Article
Mechanisms and impacts of climate tipping elements
Type: Journal Article
Natural selection on a carbon cycling trait drives ecosystem engineering by Sphagnum (peat moss)
Publication Date: 2021-08-25
Type: Journal Article
Identifying Functional Impacts of Heat-Resistant Fungi on Boreal Forest Recovery After Wildfire (vol 3, 68, 2020)
Publication Date: 2021-08-18
Type: Journal Article
Deep roots of Carex aquatilis have greater ammonium uptake capacity than shallow roots in peatlands following permafrost thaw
Publication Date: 2021-08-01
Type: Journal Article
Reflections and projections on a decade of climate science (vol 11, pg 279, 2021)
Eyring V; Mishra V; Griffith GP; Chen L; Keenan T; Turetsky MR; Brown S; Jotzo F; Moore FC; van der Linden S...
- Eyring V
- Mishra V
- Griffith GP
- Chen L
- Keenan T
- Turetsky MR
- Brown S
- Jotzo F
- Moore FC
- van der Linden S
Publication Date: 2021-06-14
Type: Journal Article
The Rhizosphere Responds: Rich Fen Peat and Root Microbial Ecology after Long-Term Water Table Manipulation
Publication Date: 2021-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Identifying increasing risks of hazards for northern land-users caused by permafrost thaw: integrating scientific and community-based research approaches
Publication Date: 2021-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Mapping and understanding the vulnerability of northern peatlands to permafrost thaw at scales relevant to community adaptation planning
Publication Date: 2021-05-01
Type: Journal Article
Summary and synthesis of Changing Cold Regions Network (CCRN) research in the interior of western Canada - Part 2: Future change in cryosphere, vegetation, and hydrology
DeBeer CM; Wheater HS; Pomeroy JW; Barr AG; Baltzer JL; Johnstone JF; Turetsky MR; Stewart RE; Hayashi M; van der Kamp G...
- DeBeer CM
- Wheater HS
- Pomeroy JW
- Barr AG
- Baltzer JL
- Johnstone JF
- Turetsky MR
- Stewart RE
- Hayashi M
- van der Kamp G
Publication Date: 2021-04-09
Type: Journal Article
Predicting patterns of terrestrial lichen biomass recovery following boreal wildfires
Greuel RJ; Degre-Timmons GE; Baltzer JL; Johnstone JF; McIntire EJB; Day NJ; Hart SJ; McLoughlin PD; Schmiegelow FKA; Tu...
- Greuel RJ
- Degre-Timmons GE
- Baltzer JL
- Johnstone JF
- McIntire EJB
- Day NJ
- Hart SJ
- McLoughlin PD
- Schmiegelow FKA
- Turetsky MR
Publication Date: 2021-04-01
Type: Journal Article
Pages
Teaching
Current students and postdocs
Dr. Emily Stuchiner and Dr. Alan Negron have also recently joined our team!
Alumni
For former students, see a list near the bottom of the Turetsky Lab people page
Outreach
I frequently engage with the media and have even produced my own science segment on live TV! Check out short clips of science communication on our lab website (www.turetskylab.com/media) or https://www.clippings.me/turetsky.
News