Heather D. Alexander

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

Research Summary

My research aims to develop a mechanistic understanding of how human-driven changes to natural disturbance regimes restructure vegetation communities, and in turn, modify ecosystem-level processes. This information is crucial for predicting ecosystem response to an ever-changing environment and for guiding restoration and conservation activities aimed at sustaining vital environmental resources. My research is largely empirical, using manipulative field-based experimental studies and observational approaches across natural gradients. 

My work to date has focused on three questions:

1) How do climate-driven changes to the natural fire regime influence successional dynamics and carbon (C) pools within boreal forests?

2) How has fire suppression altered the regeneration capacity of eastern deciduous forests and ecosystem processes such as forest hydrology, nutrient cycling, and decomposition?

3) How have river diversions and damming changed soil properties and vegetation dynamics in downstream coastal salt marshes?