Welcome to the Northern Plant Ecology Lab
Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan
People
Dr. Jill Johnstone
- Associate professor, Department
of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place,
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2 Canada
- Research associate, Institute
of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, PO Box 757000,
Fairbanks, AK 99775 USA
- email: jill.johnstone at usask.ca
- phone: (306) 966-4421 (office) or -1297 (lab)
- fax: (306) 966-4461
- Background: Jill was born and raised originally in
Vermont (USA) and is now a citizen of both the United States and
Canada. She first developed an interest in northern ecosystems when
studying at Middlebury College with Dr. Bill Howland. After completing
a M.Sc. degree in arctic plant ecology at UBC with Dr. Greg Henry, Jill
spent 10 years living and working in the North. During this time, she
completed a Ph.D. on fire and boreal forest ecology at the University
of Alaska Fairbanks with Dr. F. Stuart (Terry) Chapin, III. Jill
started up the Northern Plant Ecology Lab at the University of
Saskatchewan in 2006.
Research Interests
Our main research interests are focused on
how disturbance processes may interact with climate change to drive
future vegetation dynamics of boreal forest and tundra ecosystems. In
particular, how are changes in disturbance regimes, such as altered
fire frequency and severity, likely to influence forest responses to
directional climate change? Once a disturbance has occurred, what are
the effects of climate warming on plant regeneration and colonization
processes? After the initial period of community assembly, what types
of biotic and abiotic interactions are responsible for shaping
subsequent trajectories of succession? Are disturbances likely to
create windows of opportunity for
southern species to invade northern communities as the climate warms?
What do these interactions mean for management of human disturbances or
the prediction of future changes in northern ecosystems over coming
decades or centuries?
Current research
The Northern Plant Ecology Lab at the University of Saskatchewan was
established in 2006. Current research in the lab includes the following
projects:
Notes for Prospective Graduate Students
[Website last updated in April 2013 by JFJ.]
