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.
Climate change decreases the cooling effect from postfire albedo in boreal North America
Potter S; Solvik K; Erb A; Goetz SJ; Johnstone JF; Mack MC; Randerson JT; Roman MO; Schaaf CL; Turetsky MR...
- Potter S
- Solvik K
- Erb A
- Goetz SJ
- Johnstone JF
- Mack MC
- Randerson JT
- Roman MO
- Schaaf CL
- Turetsky MR
Publication Date: 2019-11-19
Type: Journal Article
Plant functional group effects on peat carbon cycling in a boreal rich fen
Publication Date: 2019-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Increasing wildfires threaten historic carbon sink of boreal forest soils
Walker XJ; Baltzer JL; Cumming SG; Day NJ; Ebert C; Goetz S; Johnstone JF; Potter S; Rogers BM; Schuur EAG...
- Walker XJ
- Baltzer JL
- Cumming SG
- Day NJ
- Ebert C
- Goetz S
- Johnstone JF
- Potter S
- Rogers BM
- Schuur EAG
Publication Date: 2019-08-22
Type: Journal Article
Characterizing Boreal Peatland Plant Composition and Species Diversity with Hyperspectral Remote Sensing
McPartland MY; Falkowski MJ; Reinhardt JR; Kane ES; Kolka R; Turetsky MR; Douglas TA; Anderson J; Edwards JD; Palik B...
- McPartland MY
- Falkowski MJ
- Reinhardt JR
- Kane ES
- Kolka R
- Turetsky MR
- Douglas TA
- Anderson J
- Edwards JD
- Palik B
Publication Date: 2019-07-02
Type: Journal Article
Wildfire severity reduces richness and alters composition of soil fungal communities in boreal forests of western Canada
Publication Date: 2019-07-01
Type: Journal Article
Effect of permafrost thaw on plant and soil fungal community in a boreal forest: Does fungal community change mediate plant productivity response?
Schutte UME; Henning JA; Ye Y; Bowling A; Ford J; Genet H; Waldrop MP; Turetsky MR; White JR; Bever JD...
- Schutte UME
- Henning JA
- Ye Y
- Bowling A
- Ford J
- Genet H
- Waldrop MP
- Turetsky MR
- White JR
- Bever JD
Publication Date: 2019-07-01
Type: Journal Article
Permafrost collapse is accelerating carbon release
Turetsky MR; Abbott BW; Jones MC; Anthony KW; Olefeldt D; Schuur EAG; Koven C; McGuire AD; Grosse G; Kuhry P...
- Turetsky MR
- Abbott BW
- Jones MC
- Anthony KW
- Olefeldt D
- Schuur EAG
- Koven C
- McGuire AD
- Grosse G
- Kuhry P
Publication Date: 2019-05-02
Type: Journal Article
Warming Effects of Spring Rainfall Increase Methane Emissions From Thawing Permafrost
Neumann RB; Moorberg CJ; Lundquist JD; Turners JC; Waldrop MP; McFarland JW; Euskirchen ES; Edgar CW; Turetsky MR...
- Neumann RB
- Moorberg CJ
- Lundquist JD
- Turners JC
- Waldrop MP
- McFarland JW
- Euskirchen ES
- Edgar CW
- Turetsky MR
Publication Date: 2019-02-16
Type: Journal Article
The response of boreal peatland community composition and NDVI to hydrologic change, warming, and elevated carbon dioxide
Publication Date: 2019-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Cross-scale controls on carbon emissions from boreal forest megafires
Walker XJ; Rogers BM; Baltzer JL; Cumming SG; Day NJ; Goetz SJ; Johnstone JF; Schuur EAG; Turetsky MR; Mack MC...
- Walker XJ
- Rogers BM
- Baltzer JL
- Cumming SG
- Day NJ
- Goetz SJ
- Johnstone JF
- Schuur EAG
- Turetsky MR
- Mack MC
Publication Date: 2018-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Controls on boreal peat combustion and resulting emissions of carbon and mercury
Publication Date: 2018-03-01
Type: Journal Article
Biological and geophysical feedbacks with fire in the Earth system
Archibald S; Lehmann CER; Belcher CM; Bond WJ; Bradstock RA; Daniau A-L; Dexter KG; Forrestel EJ; Greve M; He T...
- Archibald S
- Lehmann CER
- Belcher CM
- Bond WJ
- Bradstock RA
- Daniau A-L
- Dexter KG
- Forrestel EJ
- Greve M
- He T
Publication Date: 2018-03-01
Type: Journal Article
The Sphagnome Project: enabling ecological and evolutionary insights through a genus-level sequencing project
Weston DJ; Turetsky MR; Johnson MG; Granath G; Lindo Z; Belyea LR; Rice SK; Hanson DT; Engelhardt KAM; Schmutz J...
- Weston DJ
- Turetsky MR
- Johnson MG
- Granath G
- Lindo Z
- Belyea LR
- Rice SK
- Hanson DT
- Engelhardt KAM
- Schmutz J
Publication Date: 2018-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Soil organic layer combustion in boreal black spruce and jack pine stands of the Northwest Territories, Canada
Publication Date: 2018-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Recovery of carbon pools a decade after wildfire in black spruce forests of interior Alaska: effects of soil texture and landscape position
Publication Date: 2018-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Influence of Holocene permafrost aggradation and thaw on the paleoecology and carbon storage of a peatland complex in northwestern Canada
Publication Date: 2017-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Soil microbial community composition is correlated to soil carbon processing along a boreal wetland formation gradient
Publication Date: 2017-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Legacy effects of drought alters the aquatic food web of a northern boreal peatland
Publication Date: 2017-08-01
Type: Journal Article
A decade of boreal rich fen greenhouse gas fluxes in response to natural and experimental water table variability
Publication Date: 2017-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Losing Legacies, Ecological Release, and Transient Responses: Key Challenges for the Future of Northern Ecosystem Science
Publication Date: 2017-01-01
Type: Journal Article
A Thermodynamic Analysis of Soil Ecosystem Development in Northern Wetlands
Publication Date: 2016-12-01
Type: Journal Article
Variation in plant community composition and vegetation carbon pools a decade following a severe fire season in interior Alaska
Publication Date: 2016-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Effects of permafrost thaw on nitrogen availability and plant-soil interactions in a boreal Alaskan lowland
Publication Date: 2016-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Circumpolar distribution and carbon storage of thermokarst landscapes
Olefeldt D; Goswami S; Grosse G; Hayes D; Hugelius G; Kuhry P; McGuire AD; Romanovsky VE; Sannel ABK; Schuur EAG...
- Olefeldt D
- Goswami S
- Grosse G
- Hayes D
- Hugelius G
- Kuhry P
- McGuire AD
- Romanovsky VE
- Sannel ABK
- Schuur EAG
Publication Date: 2016-10-11
Type: Journal Article
Potential carbon emissions dominated by carbon dioxide from thawed permafrost soils
Schadel C; Bader MK-F; Schuur EAG; Biasi C; Bracho R; Capek P; De Baets S; Diakova K; Ernakovich J; Estop-Aragones C...
- Schadel C
- Bader MK-F
- Schuur EAG
- Biasi C
- Bracho R
- Capek P
- De Baets S
- Diakova K
- Ernakovich J
- Estop-Aragones C
Publication Date: 2016-10-01
Type: Journal Article
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