{"id":393,"date":"2016-05-19T17:36:19","date_gmt":"2016-05-19T17:36:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology-new\/?page_id=393"},"modified":"2025-11-19T15:01:48","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T20:01:48","slug":"applied-ecology","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/","title":{"rendered":"Ecosystem Experts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding Our Planet<\/h2>\n\n\n<aside class=\"ncst-aside-container\">\n  <div class=\"ncst-aside-contents\">\n    <a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-spotlight-box has-blue-400-background-color with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/about\/strategic-plan\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/about\/strategic-plan\/\n  >\n  \n\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Read our strategic plan<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Our 2025-2030 plan outlines four goals that collectively further our mission.<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\">Read <span class=nowrap>more&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Working at the intersection of basic and applied life sciences, our researchers utilize ecological approaches to solve local and global environmental challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our topics of interest and levels of analysis range from single species mechanisms to ecosystem-wide fundamentals. Whether studying sunflower pollen to entire landscape functions, we are passionate about understanding the living world in order to serve the greater good.&nbsp; Together, we advance and share fundamental and novel discoveries in ecology and apply them to our greatest environmental challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/about\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/about\/\"><span class=\"text\">Learn More<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-fact-list layout-default has-three-fact\"><div class=\"ncst-fact-list__container\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=crqds-MAAAAJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"wp-block-ncst-inner-fact ncst-fact with-cta has-gray-800-text-color\" data-ua-cat=\"Fact Block\" data-ua-action=\"URL Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=crqds-MAAAAJ\"><span class=\"ncst-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" data-name=\"Layer 1\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" size=\"75\"><path d=\"M131.93 0v42.46H89.47V85H47v427h333.07v-42.49h42.49v-42.46H465V0Zm227.64 491.5H67.47v-386h22v364.01h270.1Zm42.49-42.5H110V63h22v364.05h270.06Zm42.47-42.46h-292.1V20.5h292.1Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M190.02 64.89h214.36v16.25H190.02zM190.02 159.7h214.36v16.25H190.02zM190.02 111.87h214.36v16.25H190.02zM190.02 206.68h214.36v16.25H190.02zM190.02 254.5h214.36v16.25H190.02zM190.02 301.48h214.36v16.25H190.02zM190.01 349.32h108.47v16.23H190.01z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><h2 class=\"fact__heading\">55,000+ Citations<\/h2><p class=\"fact__support\">Our team aquatic research, entomology, fisheries, and theoretical ecology publications contribute to global environmental change.<\/p><p class=\"fact__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Browse our library<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/p><\/a>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/students\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"wp-block-ncst-inner-fact ncst-fact with-cta has-gray-800-text-color\" data-ua-cat=\"Fact Block\" data-ua-action=\"URL Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/students\/\"><span class=\"ncst-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xml:space=\"preserve\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" size=\"75\"><path d=\"M91.5 162.5c0-9.2-6.1-17.4-14.3-19.4v-9.2l-14.3-3.1v13.3c-8.2 3.1-14.3 10.2-14.3 19.4 0 6.1 3.1 12.3 7.2 15.3V283H63v7.2h14.3V283h7.2V177.8c3.9-4.1 7-9.2 7-15.3zM129.3 121.6c4.1-3.1 8.2-5.1 12.3-8.2 17.4-10.2 38.8-17.4 61.3-21.5 6.1-1 11.2-2 17.4-3.1 12.3-1 24.5-2 35.8-2 24.5 0 49.1 3.1 70.5 8.2 21.5 5.1 41.9 14.3 57.2 25.5v18.4l97.1-28.6L256 0 31.2 113.4l98.1 24.5v-16.3z\" class=\"graduate_svg__st0\"><\/path><path d=\"M256 97.1c47 0 91 11.2 118.5 29.6v38.8h-236v-38.8C165 108.3 209 97.1 256 97.1M137.5 174.8v156.3l50 50.1v30.6h138v-32.7l48-48V174.8zM417.5 425.1h-89.9L256 511l-68.5-85.8h-93s-94 0-94 86.9h511c0-87-94-87-94-87z\" class=\"graduate_svg__st0\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><h2 class=\"fact__heading\">Preparing Leaders<\/h2><p class=\"fact__support\">Our students get first-hand experiences that make our alumni top influencers in research, management, and education.<\/p><p class=\"fact__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Explore student pathways<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/p><\/a>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/programs-centers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"wp-block-ncst-inner-fact ncst-fact with-cta has-gray-800-text-color\" data-ua-cat=\"Fact Block\" data-ua-action=\"URL Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/programs-centers\/\"><span class=\"ncst-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" data-name=\"Layer 1\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" size=\"75\"><path d=\"m267.26 337.81-.26.46-.76-.46L251.16 364l-32-21-.25.52-.78-.52-9 19-44.25-25.14-.25.44-.77-.44-11 19-52.48-30.27c-.09.14-.16.29-.25.44l-.77-.44a49.94 49.94 0 0 0-3.07 42 24.32 24.32 0 0 0 6.83 9.09l.31.26.09.08a21.6 21.6 0 0 0 15.29 4.91 42.09 42.09 0 0 0 13.4-2.72c.59-.21.94-.36.94-.36a45.06 45.06 0 0 0 45.06 25.6 35.21 35.21 0 0 0 27.6 16.26c1 .08 2.07.14 3.12.13a32.58 32.58 0 0 0 13.49-2.71c1.37 2.75 4.47 5.81 8.48 8.21a25.61 25.61 0 0 0 14.86 4.66 20.47 20.47 0 0 0 18.43-11.27 472.62 472.62 0 0 0 30.72-65.53ZM161.79 165.78 123.9 145.3 61.44 307.09l33.79 18.44 66.56-159.75zM188.42 259l55.29-40 9.22 5.12 157.69 101.41-66.56-159.75c-23.55-18.43-34.81-27.65-62.46-27.65-31.74 0-114.69 80.9-115.71 80.9ZM352.26 161.69l1.02 1.02 65.54 157.7 30.72-16.39-63.49-160.77-33.79 18.44zM394.24 137.11l.18.45-1.2.57 84.99 214.02L512 334.74V80.79l-117.76 56.32zM0 81.81v252.93l33.79 17.41 83.97-214.02L0 81.81z\"><\/path><path d=\"M405.5 332.69 248.83 232.34l-4.09-2.05-50.18 35.84-8.19 6.15-5.12-9.22-22.53-39.93-3.07-6.13 5.12-5.12a468.19 468.19 0 0 1 89.09-71.68 27.27 27.27 0 0 0-12.29-3.07c-27.65 0-38.91 9.22-62.47 27.65l-64.51 154.6 38.91 23.55 6.15-11.26 4.09-8.19 8.2 5.12 35.84 20.48 5.12-10.24 5.12-9.22 9.21 6.15 24.58 16.38 10.24-17.41 5.12-8.19 8.19 5.12L299 348.05l7.17 4.1-4.1 6.14a534.58 534.58 0 0 1-30.72 67.59 8 8 0 0 1-4.1 4.09A25.39 25.39 0 0 0 297 418.71a35.22 35.22 0 0 0 44-13.31 44.53 44.53 0 0 0 44-26.63s27.65 11.27 37.89-11.26A33.4 33.4 0 0 0 426 346Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><h2 class=\"fact__heading\">Cultivating Collaboration<\/h2><p class=\"fact__support\">We work in partnership with research sites and programs across North Carolina, the United States, and the world.<\/p><p class=\"fact__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Find a program<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/p><\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ncst-labeled-section wp-block-ncst-automated-posts ncst-featured-content is-card-style layout-three-column\">\n  <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__background\">\n    <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__container\">\n               <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__header\">\n                      <h2 class=\"ncst-labeled-section__heading\">Latest News<\/h2>\n                                <a\n              href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/news\/\"\n              class=\"ncst-labeled-section__link\"\n                                          data-ua-cat=\"Featured Content Block\" data-ua-action=\"Label Link Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/news\/\"\n            >Read More<\/a>\n                  <\/div>\n            <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__content\">\n        <a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card \"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/news\/community-led-health-and-livelihood-programs-helped-protect-rainforests-during-the-pandemic\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/news\/community-led-health-and-livelihood-programs-helped-protect-rainforests-during-the-pandemic\/\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-101560\" \n            alt=\"A forest in West Kalimantan.\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2026\/07\/258325499081da46ec304k-e1784587253839.jpg\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n          \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Community-Led Health and Livelihood Programs Helped Protect Rainforests During the Pandemic<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">As COVID-19 disrupted rural economies, communities living near protected rainforests faced rising uncertainty about jobs, health and basic needs. A new study in The Lancet Planetary Health shows that when communities were supported by health and livelihood programs that they designed with local nongovernment organizations, both people and ecosystems were more resilient. \u201cBefore the <span class=nowrap>pandemic,&hellip;&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card \"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/news\/widely-used-method-for-assessing-stream-health-doesnt-work-very-well\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/news\/widely-used-method-for-assessing-stream-health-doesnt-work-very-well\/\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-101534\" \n            alt=\"photo shows an urban stream near a stormwater overflow pipe\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2026\/07\/mckenney-urban-stream-header.jpg\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n          \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Widely-Used Method for Assessing Stream Health Doesn\u2019t Work Very Well<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">A widely-used technique for assessing the health of freshwater streams is not effective at detecting a range of water quality <span class=nowrap>problems&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card \"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/news\/bradford-awarded-prestigious-louisville-first-book-grant\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/news\/bradford-awarded-prestigious-louisville-first-book-grant\/\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-101525\" \n            alt=\"\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2026\/07\/aminah-horizontal-headshot-1-scaled.jpeg\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2026\/07\/aminah-horizontal-headshot-1-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2026\/07\/aminah-horizontal-headshot-1-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2026\/07\/aminah-horizontal-headshot-1-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2026\/07\/aminah-horizontal-headshot-1-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2026\/07\/aminah-horizontal-headshot-1-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2026\/07\/aminah-horizontal-headshot-1-2048x1152.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Bradford awarded prestigious Louisville First Book Grant<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Aminah Al-Attas Bradford has been awarded a First Book Grant by the Louisville Institute. Her book, Symbiotic Grace: Holobiont Theology in the Age of the Microbe, reconstructs Christian doctrine <span class=nowrap>through&hellip;&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/24b5b5b34ad0\/nc-state-department-of-applied-ecology-newsletter\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/24b5b5b34ad0\/nc-state-department-of-applied-ecology-newsletter\"><span class=\"text\">Subscribe to our newsletter<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Understanding Our Planet Working at the intersection of basic and applied life sciences, our researchers utilize ecological approaches to solve local and global environmental challenges. Our topics of interest and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":6207,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/floating-box-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"pageIntro\":\"Applying ecological discoveries to the greatest environmental challenges.\",\"backgroundColor\":\"gray_800\",\"boxPosition\":\"right\",\"ctaNum\":\"one\",\"useCTA\":false,\"focalPoint\":{\"x\":0.51,\"y\":0.36},\"imageURL\":\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2019\/08\/IMG_1770.jpg\",\"imageID\":6207,\"imageAlt\":\"Aquatic research and stream ecology\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-393","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=393"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/393\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":101302,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/393\/revisions\/101302"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6207"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/applied-ecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}