Breadcrumb

Bio
I am a broadly trained 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
- 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)
- AAAS Leshner Leadership Institute Science Engagement Fellow
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
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.
Ten new insights in climate science 2020-a horizon scan
Pihl E; Alfredsson E; Bengtsson M; Bowen KJ; Broto VC; Chou KT; Cleugh H; Ebi K; Edwards CM; Fisher E...
- Pihl E
- Alfredsson E
- Bengtsson M
- Bowen KJ
- Broto VC
- Chou KT
- Cleugh H
- Ebi K
- Edwards CM
- Fisher E
Type: Journal Article
Permafrost Thaw in Northern Peatlands: Rapid Changes in Ecosystem and Landscape Functions
Publication Date: 2021-01-01
Type: Chapter
Spatial pattern of intraspecific trait variability in Sphagnum fuscum
Publication Date: 2020-12-01
Type: Journal Article
Increased rainfall stimulates permafrost thaw across a variety of Interior Alaskan boreal ecosystems (vol 2, 28, 2020)
Publication Date: 2020-12-01
Type: Journal Article
Getting to the Root of Plant-Mediated Methane Emissions and Oxidation in a Thermokarst Bog
Publication Date: 2020-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Fuel availability not fire weather controls boreal wildfire severity and carbon emissions
Walker XJ; Rogers BM; Veraverbeke S; Johnstone JF; Baltzer JL; Barrett K; Bourgeau-Chavez L; Day NJ; de Groot WJ; Dielem...
- Walker XJ
- Rogers BM
- Veraverbeke S
- Johnstone JF
- Baltzer JL
- Barrett K
- Bourgeau-Chavez L
- Day NJ
- de Groot WJ
- Dieleman CM
Publication Date: 2020-10-12
Type: Journal Article
Arctic fires re-emerging
Publication Date: 2020-10-01
Type: Journal Article
Assessing the Potential for Mobilization of Old Soil Carbon After Permafrost Thaw: A Synthesis of C-14 Measurements From the Northern Permafrost Region
Estop-Aragones C; Olefeldt D; Abbott BW; Chanton JP; Czimczik CI; Dean JF; Egan JE; Gandois L; Garnett MH; Hartley IP...
- Estop-Aragones C
- Olefeldt D
- Abbott BW
- Chanton JP
- Czimczik CI
- Dean JF
- Egan JE
- Gandois L
- Garnett MH
- Hartley IP
Publication Date: 2020-09-01
Type: Journal Article
When the Source of Flooding Matters: Divergent Responses in Carbon Fluxes in an Alaskan Rich Fen to Two Types of Inundation
Publication Date: 2020-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Large stocks of peatland carbon and nitrogen are vulnerable to permafrost thaw
Hugelius G; Loisel J; Chadburn S; Jackson RB; Jones M; MacDonald G; Marushchak M; Olefeldt D; Packalen M; Siewert MB...
- Hugelius G
- Loisel J
- Chadburn S
- Jackson RB
- Jones M
- MacDonald G
- Marushchak M
- Olefeldt D
- Packalen M
- Siewert MB
Publication Date: 2020-08-25
Type: Journal Article
Tradeoffs between phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation influence the ecophysiology of the moss,Sphagnum magellanicum
Publication Date: 2020-08-18
Type: Journal Article
Patterns of Ecosystem Structure and Wildfire Carbon Combustion Across Six Ecoregions of the North American Boreal Forest
Walker XJ; Baltzer JL; Bourgeau-Chavez L; Day NJ; Dieleman CM; Johnstone JF; Kane ES; Rogers BM; Turetsky MR; Veraverbek...
- Walker XJ
- Baltzer JL
- Bourgeau-Chavez L
- Day NJ
- Dieleman CM
- Johnstone JF
- Kane ES
- Rogers BM
- Turetsky MR
- Veraverbeke S
Publication Date: 2020-07-30
Type: Journal Article
Fire characteristics and environmental conditions shape plant communities via regeneration strategy
Day NJ; White AL; Johnstone JF; Degre-Timmons GE; Cumming SG; Mack MC; Turetsky MR; Walker XJ; Baltzer JL...
- Day NJ
- White AL
- Johnstone JF
- Degre-Timmons GE
- Cumming SG
- Mack MC
- Turetsky MR
- Walker XJ
- Baltzer JL
Publication Date: 2020-07-27
Type: Journal Article
Increased rainfall stimulates permafrost thaw across a variety of Interior Alaskan boreal ecosystems
Publication Date: 2020-07-24
Type: Journal Article
Impact of wildfire on permafrost landscapes: A review of recent advances and future prospects
Publication Date: 2020-07-01
Type: Journal Article
Wildfire combustion and carbon stocks in the southern Canadian boreal forest: Implications for a warming world
Dieleman CM; Rogers BM; Potter S; Veraverbeke S; Johnstone JF; Laflamme J; Solvik K; Walker XJ; Mack MC; Turetsky MR...
- Dieleman CM
- Rogers BM
- Potter S
- Veraverbeke S
- Johnstone JF
- Laflamme J
- Solvik K
- Walker XJ
- Mack MC
- Turetsky MR
Publication Date: 2020-06-12
Type: Journal Article
Identifying Functional Impacts of Heat-Resistant Fungi on Boreal Forest Recovery After Wildfire
Publication Date: 2020-06-09
Type: Journal Article
Permafrost Mapping with Electrical Resistivity Tomography: A Case Study in Two Wetland Systems in Interior Alaska
Publication Date: 2020-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Evaluating Sphagnum traits in the context of resource economics and optimal partitioning theories
Publication Date: 2020-05-11
Type: Journal Article
Diverse perspectives on interdisciplinarity from Members of the College of the Royal Society of Canada
Cooke S; Nguyen VM; Anastakis D; Scott SD; Turetsky MR; Amirfazli A; Hearn A; Milton CE; Loewen L; Smith EE...
- Cooke S
- Nguyen VM
- Anastakis D
- Scott SD
- Turetsky MR
- Amirfazli A
- Hearn A
- Milton CE
- Loewen L
- Smith EE
Type: Journal Article
Climate change, ecosystems and abrupt change: science priorities
Turner MG; Calder WJ; Cumming GS; Hughes TP; Jentsch A; LaDeau SL; Lenton TM; Shuman BN; Turetsky MR; Ratajczak Z...
- Turner MG
- Calder WJ
- Cumming GS
- Hughes TP
- Jentsch A
- LaDeau SL
- Lenton TM
- Shuman BN
- Turetsky MR
- Ratajczak Z
Publication Date: 2020-03-16
Type: Journal Article
Focus on changing fire regimes: interactions with climate, ecosystems, and society
Publication Date: 2020-03-01
Type: Journal Article
Assessing Boreal Peat Fire Severity and Vulnerability of Peatlands to Early Season Wildland Fire
Publication Date: 2020-02-28
Type: Journal Article
Carbon release through abrupt permafrost thaw
Turetsky MR; Abbott BW; Jones MC; Anthony KW; Olefeldt D; Schuur EAG; Grosse G; Kuhry P; Hugelius G; Koven C...
- Turetsky MR
- Abbott BW
- Jones MC
- Anthony KW
- Olefeldt D
- Schuur EAG
- Grosse G
- Kuhry P
- Hugelius G
- Koven C
Publication Date: 2020-02-01
Type: Journal Article
Taking care of the land An interdisciplinary approach to community-based food systems assessment in Kakisa, Northwest Territories, Canada
Type: Chapter
Pages
Teaching
Current students
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