Nate Jones, Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama 

Join us for the livestream March 8th, 11:45am ET: https://tinyurl.com/d44rnfry

(Please visit our YouTube channel main page for the stream if there are any issues with the direct link.) 

ABSTRACT

Managing water resources continues to be one of society’s grand challenges. Our water resources play a critical role in human health, agriculture and energy production, and ecosystem function. In this seminar, we will focus on managing watersheds to promote ecosystem function. More specifically, we will examine how upstream processes (i.e., watershed storage and hydrologic connectivity) impact downstream function. To do this, we will use three case studies that span gradients in hydrologic connectivity: (i) headwater wetlands, (ii) non-perennial streams, and (iii) riverine floodplains. In each of these case studies, we will examine hierarchical controls on hydrologic variability and cascading ecosystem functions. Moreover, each case study will address challenges across research, regulatory, and management communities. Finally, we will end with a discussion on opportunities to further integrate catchment hydrology, ecosystem science, and water resource management.

BIO

Nate is an interdisciplinary water scientist focused on improving the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of our water resources. His work spans gradients in hydrologic connectivity (e.g., upland wetlands, intermittent streams, and large-rivers), spatial scales (e.g., individual soil aggregates to watersheds), and disciplinary boundaries (e.g., engineering, environmental science, and the social sciences).

POSTCARD