Beverly Law

DEPT. of FOREST ECOSYSTEMS & SOCIETY
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

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I research how climate and disturbance affect ecosystem function in forests, woodlands, and shrublands at scales from leaf to ecosystem, region and the globe. Human influence on ecosystems is a major driver of change. My work includes the effects of management activities such as thinning and land-use change on ecosystem function, and studies on species-specific traits that affect sensitivity to climate. My research team conducts field measurements along ecoclimatic gradients on drought sensitivity of species and developmental stages of trees, ecosystem-atmosphere exchange of carbon, water and energy in different forest types and age classes and in sagebrush steppe. We combine observations and land-system modeling that incorporates physiological trait sensitivity to predict vulnerability of ecosystems to changing climate in the future, and the interactive effects of climate and actions taken to mitigate impacts in Oregon and the western US. We emphasize the importance of conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem function in the face of climate extremes and increasing human appropriation of land and productivity in the Anthropocene.

Selected publications

Berner, L.T., B.E. Law, A. Meddens and J. Hicke (2017) . Environmental Research Letters 103485.

Berner, L.T. and B.E. Law (2015) . Biogeosciences 12: 6617-6635. doi:10.5194/bg-12-6617-2015.

Law, B.E. and R.H. Waring (2015) . Forest Ecology and Management 355: 4-14. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2014.11.023.

Law, B.E. (2014) . Global Change Biology 20: 3595-3599. doi: 10.1111/gcb.12651.

Law, B.E., T. Hudiburg and S. Luyssaert (2013) . Plant Ecology & Diversity 6: 73-85. John Grace Festschrift - Forest and Environment Special Issue. doi: 10.1080/17550874.2012.679013.

Gonçalves, F., M. Yatskov, J.R. dos Santos, R.N. Treuhaft and B.E. Law (2010) . Ambiência Guarapuava (PR) v.6 Ed. Especial: 167 – 174. ISSN 1808 – 0251.

Fontaine, J.B., Donato, D., W.D. Robinson, B.E. Law and J.B. Kaufmann (2009) . Forest Ecology and Management 257: 1496-1504.

Donato, D., J.B. Fontaine, W.D. Robinson, J.B. Kaufmann and B.E. Law (2009) . Journal of Ecology 97: 142-154. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2008.01456.x

Turner, D.P., M. Guzy, M. Lefsky, S. Van Tuyl, O. Sun, C. Daly and B.E. Law (2003) . Tellus 55B: 657-668.

Law, B.E., E. Falge, D.D. Baldocchi, P. Bakwin, P. Berbigier, K. Davis, A.J. Dolman, M. Falk, J.D. Fuentes, A. Goldstein, A. Granier, A. Grelle, D. Hollinger, I.A. Janssens, P. Jarvis, N.O. Jensen, G. Katul, Y. Mahli, G. Matteucci, R. Monson, W. Munger, W. Oechel, R. Olson, K. Pilegaard, K.T. Paw U, H. Thorgeirsson, R. Valentini, S. Verma, T. Vesala, K. Wilson and S. Wofsy (2002) . Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 113: 97-120. *World Meteorological Organization Paper of the Year, Norbert-Gerbier Mumm Award.