Jonathan Bakker
- Professor
Research areas
My research focuses on:
- Restoration and management of prairies, savannas, and forests
- Long-term vegetation dynamics
- Statistical methods for community ecology
B.A., Biology and Environmental Studies, Dordt University
M.Sc., Plant Ecology, University of Regina
Ph.D., Ecosystem Science (Forestry), Northern Arizona University
Jon is currently accepting graduate students, particularly those with or pursuing external funding.
Ecological restoration; sustainable ecosystem management
Courses
- ESRM 362 | Introduction to Restoration Ecology (5) - Autumn
- ESRM 412 | Native Plant Production (3) - Spring
- SEFS 502 | Analytical Techniques for Community Ecology (4) - Winter
- SEFS 503 | Current Issues in Restoration Ecology and Environmental Horticulture (1) - Autumn, Winter, Spring
- SEFS 530 | Introduction to Restoration Ecology (5) - Autumn
Current Sponsored Projects
- Leveraging Land Condition Trend Analysis (LCTA) data to Understand Vegetation Change on Military Installations
The primary products will be a refined model of vegetation change, maps highlighting areas of recovery or degradation, maps prioritizing areas at risk for future degradation or suitable for habitat restoration and enhancement, and identification of opportunities to further leverage historical data by integrating it with other data. - Long-term SUCCESS: SUCCession and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Sagebrush Steppe following Wildfires
This project will examine the effect of historic wildfires on ecosystem dynamics in sagebrush steppe habitats of western North America. - Taylor's Checkerspot Host Plant Suitability Study
This multi-year project would inform Taylor's checkerspot butterfly recovery efforts by providing information on variation in host plant phenology, the effects of three host species on larval performance, and how host species effects vary with soil conditions. - The Role of Hemiparasites in Structuring Ecosystems
By tracking the movement of nutrients among organisms, the research will expand our knowledge of the mechanisms behind these interactions. This research has practical significance and will inform the management and recovery of two rare species.
Selected publications
Bakker, J.D., E.G. Delvin, and P.W. Dunwiddie. 2018. Staged-scale restoration: refining adaptive management to improve restoration effectiveness. Journal of Applied Ecology 55: 1126-1132 doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.13050 Link
Haan, N.L., J.D. Bakker, and M.D. Bowers. 2018. Hemiparasites can transmit indirect effects from their host plants to herbivores. Ecology 99: 399-410 doi: 10.1002/ecy.2087 Link
Hautier, Y., F. Isbell, E.T. Borer, E.W. Seabloom, W.S. Harpole, E.M. Lind, A.S. MacDougall, C.J. Stevens, P.B. Adler, J. Alberti, J.D. Bakker, L.A. Brudvig, Y.M. Buckley, M. Cadotte, M.C. Caldeira, E.J. Chaneton, C. Chu, P. Daleo, C.R. Dickman, J.M. Dwyer, A. Eskelinen, P.A. Fay, J. Firn, N. Hagenah, H. Hillebrand, O. Iribarne, K.P. Kirkman, J.M.H. Knops, K.J. La Pierre, R.L. McCulley, J.W. Morgan, M. Partel, J. Pascual, J.N. Price, S.M. Prober, A.C. Risch, M. Sankaran, M. Schuetz, R.J. Standish, R. Virtanen, G.M. Wardle, L. Yahdjian, and A. Hector. 2018. Local loss and spatial homogenization of plant diversity reduce ecosystem multifunctionality. Nature Ecology and Evolution 2: 50-56 doi: 10.1038/s41559-017-0395-0 Link
Rossman, A.K., C.B. Halpern, R.J. Harrod, L.S. Urgenson, D.W. Peterson, and J.D. Bakker. 2018. Benefits of thinning and burning for understory diversity vary with spatial scale and time since treatment. Forest Ecology and Management 419-420: 58-78 doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2018.03.006 Link
Harpole, W.S., L.L. Sullivan, E.M. Lind, J. Firn, P.B. Adler, E.T. Borer, J. Chase, Y. Hautier, H. Hillebrand, E.W. Seabloom, J.D. Bakker, M.W. Cadotte, E.J. Chaneton, K.J. La Pierre, J.L. Moore, S.M. Prober, and C.J. Stevens. 2017. Out of the shadows: multiple nutrient limitations drive relationships among biomass, light and plant diversity. Functional Ecology 31:1839-1846 doi: 10.1111/1365-2435.12967 Link