Karen Beard, Ph.D.

Field: Ecology and Ecosystems, Wildland Resources
Areas of Focus: Community Ecology, Conservation Ecology, Ecosystems Ecology, Invasion Ecology

Expertise

• Global change ecology
• Invasion ecology
• Conservation biology
• Community ecology
• Ecosystems ecology

Bio

Dr. Karen Beard’s research focuses on how changing landscapes influence species interactions and ecosystem functioning. Her research is often done in the context of the effects of non-native species and/or climate change. She is researching how non-native frogs influence the communities and ecosystems where they invade on the Hawaiian islands. The focus is on understanding their role in the food web and how this influences ecosystem processes, such as nutrient cycling rates and plant productivity. She has also conducted research in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in western Alaska on how the timing of seasonal events, including bird migration, influences species interactions and ecosystem processes.