We
study the dynamics and structure of terrestrial food webs.
Research
We focus on
plant-herbivore interactions and how they are mediated by carnivores and
soil-nutrient levels, both at the level of herbivore foraging ecology and plant-herbivore
population dynamics.
We use a combination of
empirical research and mathematical modeling to understand ecosystem structure
and function. We deal with a variety of ecosystems and study species, ranging
from seabirds on islands in
Current empirical
research focuses on:
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People
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Oswald
J. Schmitz CV Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies Yale Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Phone:
(203) 432-5110 |
Post-doctoral
Associate Phone:
(203) 436-3978 Email:dror.hawlena@yale.edu |
Ph.D.
Candidate Phone:
(203) 432-4952 Email:brandon.barton@yale.edu |
Ph.D. Candidate Phone:
(203) 432-4952 Email:holly.jones@yale.edu |
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Ph.D.
Student Email:jennifer.miller@yale.edu |
M.E.M. Student Email:sarah.fierce@yale.edu |
M.E.M. Student Email:kate.freund@yale.edu |
M.E.M. Student Email:abigail.adams@yale.edu |
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Jessica
Price M.E.Sc.
Student Email:jessica.price@yale.edu Kathy
Hughes Undergraduate
Associate Email:kathy.hughes@yale.edu |
M.E.Sc. Student Email:heidi.jump@yale.edu |
M.E.Sc.
Student |
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M.E.Sc.
Student Email:berkley.adrio@yale.edu |
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Os first
book, Ecology and Ecosystem Conservation, was
recently released!
Teaching
Os
Schmitz teaches two primary courses:
- Linkages of Sustainability
- Biodiversity Conservation
Linkages of Sustainability: The Earth system is comprised of interdependent
components—land, water, energy, biota, and non-renewable resources, all
of which have physical limits. Societies transform these resources into useable
goods, and production and consumption cycles connect people and places across
space and time. This team-taught course provides an overview of these linkages
and explores their implications for applying and measuring the concept of
sustainability. It examines the constraints to sustainability imposed by those
linkages (e.g., the energy required to supply water), opportunities for their
transformation, and challenges of implementing sustainability across complex
social and cultural systems.
Biodiversity Conservation:
This course
introduces the student to concepts related to gathering and applying scientific
information for problem solving in wildlife conservation. The course explores
conceptually the kinds of ecological knowledge needed for wildlife conservation.
Students also learn how to formalize that knowledge for effective
decision-making. Relevance to real-world problem solving is the central focus
of the course and students are exposed to numerous examples of applications
throughout the term. Students also gain facility using the concepts and tools
through written assignments and exams. The aim of the course is to provide
students with a complement of concepts and tools that can be applied generally
to environmental problem solving in wildlife conservation.
Alums
Masters Students
Angela
Rutherford (MESc 2008)
Currently:
Leadership in Environmental Energy and Environmental Design Planning Strategist
Email: angie.c.rutherford@gmail.com
Kelsey
Kidd (MESc 2008)
Currently:
Environmental Scientist, Weston Solutions
Email: kelseykidd@gmail.com
Maya
Leonard-Cahn (MESc 2007)
Currently:
Environmental Law,
Email: mayacahn@gmail.com
Elizabeth Kalies (MESc 2004)
Currently:
Doctoral Student Department of Forestry, Northern
Email: elk26@dana.ucc.nau.edu
Kate
OBrien (MFS 1996)
Currently:
Wildlife Biologist,
Email: Kate_OBrien@fws.gov
Maria
Uriarte (MFS 1996)
PhD Cornell
Currently: Assistant Professor,
Department of Ecology, Evolution and
Environmental
Biology,
Doctoral Students
Libby Jones (PhD 2007)
Currently: Biology
Teacher, Sacred Heart Preparatory,
Michael G. Booth (PhD
2005)
Currently:
Postdoctoral Fellow,
Catherine Burns (PhD 2004)
Currently: Research
Assistant Professor, Department of Wildlife Ecology,
Jason
Grear (PhD 2003)
Postdoctoral Fellow, EPA Atlantic Ecology Division National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Narragansett, RI (2003–2005)
Currently:
Ecologist, EPA Atlantic Ecology Division National Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory, Narragansett, RI
Andrew Beckerman (PhD 1999)
NERC Post-Doctoral
Associate, University of Stirling (1999-2002)
Currently: Senior
Lecturer (Associate Professor in
Susan Koening (PhD 1999)
Currently: Executive
Director,
Kristina Rothley (PhD1999)
TNC Smith
Postdoctoral Fellowship,
Currently: Dean of
Students,
Postdoctoral
Fellows
Peter Hamback
Currently: Associate
Professor, Department of Botany,
Barney
Luttbeg
Currently: Assistant
Professor,
Ofer Ovadia
Currently: Associate Professor,
Department of Life Sciences,