Current Research

The Templer Lab focuses on the effects of environmental change, including climate change, atmospheric deposition, and urbanization on biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and water in natural and managed ecosystems. We explore how plant-microbial interactions influence carbon exchange, nitrogen retention, forest productivity, and water and air quality. We currently work in temperate forests of the northeastern United States, urban sites throughout the Greater Boston Area, and tropical forests of Mexico. We also pursue projects that integrate across environmental science and policy through a collaborative approach with governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.

I welcome inquiries from prospective students, postdocs, and visiting scientists interested in joining our lab. I am happy to discuss our current projects and potential new collaborations.

Selected Publications

  • Caron S, S Garvey, J Gewirtzman, K Schultz, J Bhatnagar, CT Driscoll, L Hutyra, PH Templer. 2023. Urbanization and fragmentation have opposite effects on soil nitrogen availability in temperate forest ecosystems. Global Change Biology 29:2156-2171. 
  • Templer PH, J Harrison, F Pilotto, A Flores-Diaz, P Haase, WH McDowell, R Sharif, H Shibata, D Blankman, A Avila, U Baatar, HR Bogena, I Bourgeois, J Campbell, T Dirnbock, WK Dodds, M Hauken, I Kokorite, K Lajtha, IL Lai, H Laudon, TC Lin, SRM Lins, H Meesenburg, P Pinho, A Robinson, M Rogora, B Scheler, P Schleppi, R Sommaruga, T Staszewski, M Taka. 2022. Atmospheric deposition and precipitation are important predictors of inorganic nitrogen export to streams from forest and grassland watersheds: a large-scale data synthesis. Biogeochemistry 160:219-41. 
  • Mason R, N Lany, J Craine, M Jonard, S Ollinger, P Groffman, R Fulweiler, J Angerer, Q Read, P Reich, PH Templer, A Elmore. 2022. Evidence, causes, and consequences of declining nitrogen availability in terrestrial ecosystems. Science 376. 
  • Decina S, Hutyra LR, Templer PH (2020) Hotspots of nitrogen deposition in the world’s urban areas: a global data synthesis. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 18:92-100
  • Reinmann AB, Susser J, Demaria EMC, Templer PH (2019) Declines in northern forest tree growth following snowpack decline and soil freezing. Global Change Biology 25: 420-430.
  • Crowther TW, Machmuller MB, Carey JC, Allison SD, Blair JM, Bridgham SD, Burton AJ, Dijkstra FA, Elberling B, Estiarte M, Larsen KS, Laudon H, Lupascu M, Marhan S, Mohan J, Niu S, Penuelas J, Schimdt IK, Templer PH, Kroel-Dulay G, Frey S, Bradford MA (2018) Predicting soil carbon loss with warming. Nature 554: E7-E8.
  • Templer PH, Reinmann AB, Sanders-DeMott R, Juice S, Bowles F, Sofen L, Harrison J, Halm I, Rustad L, Martin M, Grant N (2017) Climate change across seasons experiment (CCASE) at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest: Combined effects of increased growing season temperatures and winter freeze-thaw cycles on the northern forest. PLOS ONE 12 (2): e0171928.
  • Dawson TE, Mambelli S, Plamboeck AH, Templer PH, Tu KP (2002) Stable isotopes in plant ecology. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 33: 507-559.

 

Courses Taught:

  • BI 303 Ecology
  • BI 306 Biology of Global Change
  • BI 530 Forest Ecology (Cross listed in Earth & Environment)
  • GRS 719 Colloquium in Biogeosciences
  • GRS 720 Practicum in Biogeosciences

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