Dr. Stephen K. Hamilton

Ecosystem Ecologist, Biogeochemist | PhD, University of California at Santa Barbara

Expertise
wetlands, streams, rivers and lakes, agricultural ecology, water quality, tropical rivers, floodplains

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Stephen Hamilton’s principal research interests involve ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry, with particular emphasis on water. He has studied wetlands, streams, lakes, reservoirs, and watersheds, as well as agricultural cropping systems and their effects on water and climate. His research draws on multiple disciplines to understand and mitigate environmental problems and inform environmental protection and conservation.

Hamilton’s research publications include studies of nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, invasive species, food webs, remote sensing, conservation planning, and hydrology. He has received awards for his engagement with environmental issues from the Michigan Environmental Council and the Society for Freshwater Science, and is a Fellow of that society.

Hamilton has conducted a variety of studies in tropical floodplain and river ecosystems of South America and Australia, and presently works with several research groups in Brazil on hydropower effects on river systems.

Hamilton also works part-time as a Professor at Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station. Here, Hamilton has recently served as the Lead Principal Investigator of the National Science Foundation’s Long Term Ecological Research site. He is also a Project Leader in the Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center.

Rates of anaerobic microbial metabolism in wetlands of divergent hydrology on a glacial landscape
Whitmire, Stefanie L., and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2008. “Rates of Anaerobic Microbial Metabolism in Wetlands of Divergent Hydrology on a Glacial Landscape”. Wetlands 28 (3): 703-14. doi:10.1672/06-126.1.
Silicate and carbonate mineral weathering in soil profiles developed on Pleistocene glacial drift (Michigan, USA): Mass balances based on soil water geochemistry
Jin, Lixin, Erika L. Williams, Kathryn J. Szramek, Lynn A. Walter, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2008. “Silicate and Carbonate Mineral Weathering in Soil Profiles Developed on Pleistocene Glacial Drift (Michigan, USA): Mass Balances Based on Soil Water Geochemistry”. Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta 72 (4): 1027-42. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2007.12.007.
Primary production in tropical streams and rivers
Davies, Peter M., Stuart E. Bunn, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2008. “Primary Production in Tropical Streams and Rivers”. In Tropical Stream Ecology, 23-42. doi:10.1016/B978-012088449-0.50004-2.
Sources and transport of carbon and nitrogen in the River Sava watershed, a major tributary of the River Danube
Ogrinc, Nives, Roland Markovics, Tjasa Kanduc, Lynn M. Walter, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2008. “Sources and Transport of Carbon and Nitrogen in the River Sava Watershed, a Major Tributary of the River Danube”. Applied Geochemistry 23 (12): 3685-98. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2008.09.003.
Stream denitrification across biomes and its response to anthropogenic nitrate loading
Mulholland, Patrick J., Ashley M. Helton, Geoffrey C. Poole, Robert O. Hall, Stephen K. Hamilton, Bruce J. Peterson, Jennifer L. Tank, et al. 2008. “Stream Denitrification across Biomes and Its Response to Anthropogenic Nitrate Loading”. Nature 452: 202-5. doi:10.1038/nature06686.
Assimilatory uptake rather than nitrification and denitrification determines nitrogen removal patterns in streams of varying land use
Arango, Clay P., J.L. Tank, L. T. Johnson, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2008. “Assimilatory Uptake Rather Than Nitrification and Denitrification Determines Nitrogen Removal Patterns in Streams of Varying Land Use”. Limnology and Oceanography 53 (6): 2558-72. doi:10.4319/lo.2008.53.6.2558.
Controls on algal abundance in a eutrophic river with varying degrees of impoundment (Kalamazoo River, Michigan, USA)
Reid, Nicole J., and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2007. “Controls on Algal Abundance in a Eutrophic River With Varying Degrees of Impoundment (Kalamazoo River, Michigan, USA)”. Lake and Reservoir Management 23 (3): 219-30. doi:10.1080/07438140709354011.
Ecosystem services and agriculture: Cultivating agricultural ecosystems for diverse benefits
Swinton, Scott M., Frank Lupi, Philip Robertson, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2007. “Ecosystem Services and Agriculture: Cultivating Agricultural Ecosystems for Diverse Benefits”. Ecological Economics 64 (2): 245-52. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2007.09.020.
Evidence for carbon sequestration by agricultural liming
Hamilton, Stephen K., Amanda L. Kurzman, Clay P. Arango, Lixin Jin, and Philip Robertson. 2007. “Evidence for Carbon Sequestration by Agricultural Liming”. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 21 (2). doi:10.1029/2006GB002738.
Freshwater conservation planning in data-poor areas: An example from a remote Amazonian basin (Madre de Dios River, Peru and Bolivia)
Thieme, Michele, Bernhard Lehner, Robin Abell, Stephen K. Hamilton, Josef Kellndorfer, George Powell, and Juan Carlos Riveros. 2007. “Freshwater Conservation Planning in Data-Poor Areas: An Example from a Remote Amazonian Basin (Madre De Dios River, Peru and Bolivia)”. Biological Conservation 135 (4): 484-501. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2006.10.054.