Ecological Society of America honors two EEMB researchers for outstanding contributions to conservation and ecosystem dynamics
Two faculty members from the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology have been selected for the Ecological Society of America’s 2026 class of fellows. The organization honored professor Deron Burkepile as a Fellow for his work at the intersection of community and ecosystem ecology, and named assistant professor Yong Zhou an Early Career Fellow for his research uncovering how belowground ecosystem processes adapt to global change.
Burkepile’s research explores the critical roles animals play in shaping ecosystems — from coral reefs and kelp forests to African savannas — investigating how predators, herbivores and nutrient recycling impact community resilience. Zhou’s work challenges traditional climate mitigation strategies by focusing on carbon and nutrient dynamics in fire-prone ecosystems, demonstrating the unique ways savannas sequester carbon through grass-derived pathways and the biogeochemical impact of termites. Read the full story on The Current.
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