Boston University Department of Biology

Faculty Profiles

Current Research

In general, I am interested in the factors regulating productivity and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Research in my lab tends to focus on biogeochemistry and global change in forest ecosystems. My research is primarily field based using observational and experimental approaches. I am particularly interested in how interspecific differences in resource uptake and loss affect the distribution of carbon and nitrogen in terrestrial ecosystems. I am also interested in the interaction between microbial activity and forest dynamics. Thus my perspective is generally integrative, focusing on how the different components of an ecosystem (soils, microbes, plant species) interact with the physical environment to affect biogeochemical cycling.

My interest in global change stems from the fact that human activity is transforming the basic function of the terrestrial biosphere at an accelerating rate. Fossil fuel combustion is increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Fixation of atmospheric N by humans now exceeds the rate of non-anthropogenic N fixation. Changes in land use and the introduction of invasive species have legacy effects on carbon storage and biogeochemical cycling that last decades.

Graduate students in my lab work on many different research projects. I encourage incoming students to tackle questions that are of interest to them whether they be related to my current projects or otherwise. If you are interested in graduate work with me, please contact me, I am more than happy to describe ongoing research projects and possibilities in my lab.

Courses Taught

• BI 303 Ecology
• BI 443/643 Terrestrial Biogeochemistry (cross-listed in Earth Sciences)
• BI 945 Research in Forest Ecology

Selected Publications

• Finzi AC and VL Rodgers (2009). Bottom-up rather than top-down processes regulate the abundance and activity of nitrogen fixing plants in two Connecticut old-field ecosystems. Biogeochemistry 95:309-321.
• Finzi AC (2009). Decades of enhanced atmospheric N deposition do not increase the occurrence of P limitation or N saturation in two southern New England forests. Biogeochemistry 92(3):217-229.
• Anne Gallet-Budynek, Brzostek E, Rodgers VL, Talbot JM Hyzy S, Finzi AC (2009). Amino acid uptake in northern hardwood-conifer forests. Oecologia 160(1):129-138
• Rodgers VL, Finzi AC. (In Press). Ready or not garlic mustard is moving into eastern North American Forests: A review of the ecology of Allaria petiolata. Bioscience 58(5):426-436.
• Talbot JM, Finzi AC. (2008). Differential Effects of Sugar Maple, Red Oak, and Hemlock Tannins on Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Temperate Forest Soils. Oecologia. DOI: 10 1007/s00442-007-0940-7.
• Zaccherio MT, Finzi AC. (2007). Atmospheric N deposition and acid rain may affect the composition of northern hardwood-conifer forests by altering the availability of soil nitrogen and calcium. Ecological Applications 17, 1929-1941.
• Finzi AC, Norby RJ, Calfapietra C, Gallet A, Gielen B, Holmes WE, Hoosbeek MR, Iversen CI, Jackson RB, Kubiske ME, Ledford J, Liberloo M, Oren R, Polle A, Pritchard S, Zak DR, Schlesinger WH, Ceuelmans. (2007). Increases in nitrogen uptake rather than nitrogen-use efficiency support higher rates of forest productivity under elevated CO2 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 104, 14014-14019.
• Finzi AC, Moore DJP, DeLucia EH, Lichter J, Hofmockel KS, Jackson RB, Kim HS, Matamala R, McCarthy HR, Oren R, Pippen JS, and Schlesinger WH (2006). Progressive N Limitation in the Duke Forest FACE Experiment: A Six Year Synthesis. Invited Special Features, Ecology 86, 3345-3353.