What is Applied Ecology at NC State University?

“Applied Ecology” constitutes a blend of basic science to examine the nature of the world around us, and the extension of those fundamental concepts to solve local and global environmental challenges. Applied Ecology is therefore interdisciplinary in nature, drawing from life sciences to inform the public as well as policy. This intersectionality may manifest through participatory science – in which researchers partner with the general public to scale up data collection, analysis, and dissemination – or through science communication (including extension and outreach) to translate research findings into straightforward, actionable advice that’s directly relevant to our most pressing needs.

The research in the department of Applied Ecology at NC State University highlights several examples of science centered around our basic needs and grand challenges. Dr. JoAnn Burkholder’s lab at the Center for Applied Aquatic Ecology monitors nutrient and pollutant levels in major drinking water sources, and has curated long-term high-frequency data sets to help optimize the management and conservation of water resources. Dr. Burkholder originally identified Pfiesteria piscicida, a toxic dinoflagellate, as the cause of mass fish deaths and public health hazards to coastal North Carolina and Maryland in the 1980s and 1990s. The Center for Applied Aquatic Ecology continues to inform legislation and also engages the public including primary school students through a variety of educational outreach efforts.

Other research in AEC contributes toward a better understanding of food production on land and in sea. Dr. Becky Irwin investigates the complex interactions among plants and pollinators. These evolutionary and ecological dynamics can be affected by environmental dynamics as well as invasive species; and they can be critical for crop production. Dr. Ben Reading studies egg formation and quality in fishes to address reproductive failure in fisheries and aquaculture. He also uses genomic approaches to develop a hybrid striped bass that will bolster the fish market even as it decreases the cost of the product.

Our faculty also investigate human impacts across several scales. Dr. Rob Dunn has developed global participatory science projects that engage the public to catalog life in our homes, from microbes to millipedes. The results suggest that, while human-made structures recreate conditions that favor certain species (most notoriously, cave crickets in basements), our tendency to retreat indoors may profoundly affect our microbiomes – and our health. Outside of the home, Dr. Khara Grieger and Dr. Catherine LePrevost assess environmental risks associated with agricultural work. Dr. Grieger investigates the potential risk and societal implications of emerging technologies like nanoparticles in food and agriculture systems, and also works with different stakeholders to co-create solutions for managing phosphorus sustainably. Dr. LePrevost partners with agricultural workers and community health workers who serve these populations to develop non-traditional science education practices, increase access to health information and technology, reduce chemical exposures, and promote health and safety among workers.

There’s no doubt our world is changing – and Applied Ecology gives us tools to mitigate and prepare for change. Dr. Skylar Hopkins explores “win-win” solutions to advance conservation goals while reducing infectious disease burdens in humans and wildlife – and how to conserve parasites that might be threatened by global change. Dr. Elsa Youngsteadt investigates the effects of urbanization, climate change, and other anthropogenic pressures on community interactions and ecosystem services.

Beyond these departmental examples, increasing management crises – of forests, fisheries, and wildlife – highlight our ongoing struggle to mediate our relationship with the natural world – of which we are most certainly a part. Ecological studies help us to build empirical bridges toward a better understanding of our place within – and effects on – the rest of the world, and grow toward a sustainable future.