- Ecology, global change biology, physiological ecology,biophysics
Associate Director, Center for Ecosystem Science and Society
Professor, Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University
B.S. in Biology from Stanford University (1978)
Ph.D. in Biology from Stanford University (1988)
Koch’s research focuses on understanding the biophysical and ecological
interactions of plants with their environments, including features affected by
human-driven global change. He has worked in a variety of terrestrial
ecosystems ranging from tropical and temperate rainforests to deserts. Much of
his research explores the interaction of water relations and carbon metabolism,
a relationship central to the challenge of plant life on land. He is fascinated
by giant trees and enjoys combining the physical challenge of tree climbing
with state-of-the-art scientific techniques.
Other Achievements, Honors, Awards
Koch co-founded the Professional Science Master’s degree program in
Climate Science and Solutions at Northern Arizona University.
Koch served as Co-Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Western
Regional Center of the National Institute for Climatic Change Research at
Northern Arizona University.
Big-picture Career Goal
Through his research and teaching Koch strives to convey how a
scientific understanding can enhance appreciation of the workings and wonder of
the natural world.
Koch enjoys getting outside to experience, explore, and understand the
natural world. His favorite outdoor activities include climbing big trees,
skiing the backcountry, poking around canyons, and sailing.
Hurteau M. D., T.
A. Robards, D. Stevens, S. Saah, M. North, G. W. Koch. 2013. Modeling climate
and fuel reduction impacts on mixed-conifer forest carbon stocks in the Sierra
Nevada, California. Ecosystems,
Kerhoulas, L. P., T. E.
Kolb, M. D. Hurteau, G. W. Koch. 2013. Managing climate
change adaptation in forests: a case study from the U.S. Southwest. Journal of Applied Ecology, DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12139
Classen, A. T., S.
K. Chapman, T. G. Whitham, S. C. Hart, G. W. Koch. 2013. Long-term insect
herbivory slows soil development in an arid ecosystem. Ecosphere
Wu Z, P Dijkstra,
GW Koch, BA Hungate. 2012. Progressively declining climate change effects on
plant productivity. Nature Climate Change
Hurteau,M. D., M. North,
GW Koch, BA Hungate, G. Smith. 2012. Aligning Ecology and Markets in the Forest
Carbon Cycle. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment,
Dore, S., M.
Montes-Helu, S. C. Hart, B. A. Hungate, G. W. Koch, J. B. Moon, A. J. Finkral,
T. E. Kolb. 2012. Recovery of ponderosa pine ecosystem carbon and water fluxes
from thinning and stand replacing fire. Global Change Biology,
Wu Z, GW Koch, P
Dijkstra, MA Bowker, BA Hungate. 2011. Responses of Ecosystem Carbon Cycling to
Climate Change Treatments Along an Elevation Gradient. Ecosystems. DOI: 10.1007/s10021-011-9464-4
Dijkstra P, JC
Blankinship, PC Selmants, SC Hart, GW Koch, E Schwartz, BA Hungate. 2011.
Probing carbon flux patterns through soil microbial metabolic networks using
parallel position-specific tracer labeling. Soil Biology and
Biochemistry 43(1): 126 -132
Sillett SC, R Van Pelt,
GW Koch, AR Ambrose, AL Carroll, ME Antoine, BM Misfud. 2010. Increasing wood
production through old age in tall trees.
Forest Ecology and Management
Dore S, TE Kolb, M
Montes-Helu, SE Eckert, BW Sullivan, BA Hungate, JP Kaye, SC Hart, GW Koch, A.
Finkral. 2010. Carbon and water fluxes from ponderosa pine forests disturbed by
wildfire and thinning. Ecological Applications, 20(3):663-683.
Koch GW, SC Sillett, GM
Jennings, and SD Davis. 2004. The limits to tree height. Nature
Huxman TE, MD Smith, PA
Fay, AK Knapp, MR Shaw, ME Loik, SD Smith, DT Tissue, JC Zak, JF Weltzin, WT
Pockman, OE Sala, B Haddad, J Harte, GW Koch, S Schwinning, EE Small, DG
Williams. 2004. Convergence across biomes to a common rain-use efficiency. Nature, 429:651-654
the Carbon Implications of Ecologically-Based Forest Management. U.S. Department of Energy, SERDP
Digging Deeper: In
Situ Metabolic Analysis Of Soil C Cycling Processes. National Science
Major Research Instrumentation: Development of a Southwest Experimental
Garden Array (SEGA) for Integrating Genetics and Climate Change. National
Research Experiences for Students: Patagonian Research Experiences in
Sustainability Science (PRESS): Understanding Social-Ecological Drivers and
Consequences of Global Change. National
Production: Developing Applications in Microbiology, Plant Ecology, and
Medicine. Technology Research Initiative Fund, Northern Arizona University
Graphene Trees. Technology Research Initiative Fund, Northern Arizona University