Global Change Ecology

We study how climate change and other global environmental shifts affect life on Earth—and how ecosystems can help shape a sustainable future.

What we study and how we do it

Our research explores how large-scale changes—such as rising greenhouse gas levels, shifting water cycles, biodiversity loss, and land-use change—impact organisms and ecosystems. We combine modeling, field experiments, and long-term observations to study these effects from genes to global systems. By uncovering how life responds to environmental stress, we identify pathways toward resilience and adaptation.

Why it matters and how it’s applied

Our findings help guide conservation, land management, and climate adaptation strategies. We work with scientists, policymakers, and communities to develop evidence-based solutions that reduce environmental risks and support ecological sustainability. By linking local ecosystems to global processes, we contribute to a deeper understanding of how to sustain life in a rapidly changing world..

Faculty

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Kathleen Prudic

Kathleen Prudic

Associate Director for Graduate Student Advancement
Associate Professor, Citizen and Data Science
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Babst Flurin Headshot

Flurin Babst

Assistant Professor
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Patrick D. Broxton

Patrick Broxton

Assistant Research Professor
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Theresa Crimmins

Theresa Crimmins

Associate Professor, Phenology
Director, USA National Phenology Network
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Don Falk SNRE Professor

Donald Falk

Professor, Natural Resources
Chair, Global Ecology & Management
Affiliated Faculty; Arizona Institutes for Resilience
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Rachel Gallery

Rachel Gallery

Professor
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Laura Meredith Headshot

Laura Meredith

Associate Professor, Ecosystem Genomics
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David Moore

David Moore

Professor, Natural Resources and the Environment
Program Chair, Watershed Management and Ecohydrology
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Dr. William Smith

William Smith

Associate Professor, Land - Water - Climate / Geospatial Analysis
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Willem van Leeuwen

Willem van Leeuwen

Professor, Natural Resources and the Environment
Associate Director of Development

Research Staff