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.

Characterizing seasonal dynamics of Amazonian wetlands for conservation and decision making
Reis, Vanessa, Virgilio Hermoso, Stephen K. Hamilton, Stuart E. Bunn, Etienne Fluet‐Chouinard, Bill Venables, and Simon Linke. 2019. “Characterizing Seasonal Dynamics of Amazonian Wetlands for Conservation and Decision Making”. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 29 (7). Wiley: 1073-82. doi:10.1002/aqc.3051.
A diverse suite of pharmaceuticals contaminates stream and riparian food webs
Richmond, Erinn K., Emma J. Rosi, David M. Walters, Jerker Fick, Stephen K. Hamilton, Tomas Brodin, Anna Sundelin, and Michael Grace. 2018. “A Diverse Suite of Pharmaceuticals Contaminates Stream and Riparian Food Webs”. Nature Communications 9 (1). doi:10.1038/s41467-018-06822-w.
Ecosystem carbon exchange on conversion of Conservation Reserve Program grasslands to annual and perennial cropping systems
Abraha, Michael, Stephen K. Hamilton, Jiquan Chen, and Philip Robertson. 2018. “Ecosystem Carbon Exchange on Conversion of Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands to Annual and Perennial Cropping Systems”. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 253-254: 151-60. doi:10.1016/j.agrformet.2018.02.016.
Evapotranspiration is resilient in the face of land cover and climate change in a humid temperate catchment
Hamilton, Stephen K., M. Z. Hussain, Christopher Lowrie, B. Basso, and G. P. Robertson. 2018. “Evapotranspiration Is Resilient in the Face of Land Cover and Climate Change in a Humid Temperate Catchment”. Hydrological Processes 32 (5): 655-63. doi:10.1002/hyp.11447.
The greenhouse gas cost of agricultural intensification with groundwater irrigation in a Midwest U.S. row cropping system
McGill, Bonnie, Stephen K. Hamilton, N. Millar, and G. P. Robertson. 2018. “The Greenhouse Gas Cost of Agricultural Intensification With Groundwater Irrigation in a Midwest U.S. Row Cropping System”. Global Change Biology 24 (12): 5948-60. doi:10.1111/gcb.14472.
Legacy effects of land use on soil nitrous oxide emissions in annual crop and perennial grassland ecosystems
Abraha, Michael, Ilya Gelfand, Stephen K. Hamilton, Jiquan Chen, and Philip Robertson. 2018. “Legacy Effects of Land Use on Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Annual Crop and Perennial Grassland Ecosystems”. Ecological Applications 28 (5): 1362-69. doi:10.1002/eap.1745.
Organic matter loading by hippopotami causes subsidy overload resulting in downstream hypoxia and fish kills
Dutton, Christopher L., Amanda L. Subalusky, Stephen K. Hamilton, Emma J. Rosi, and D.M. Post. 2018. “Organic Matter Loading by Hippopotami Causes Subsidy Overload Resulting in Downstream Hypoxia and Fish Kills”. Nature Communications 9 (1). doi:10.1038/s41467-018-04391-6.
Cellulosic biofuel contributions to a sustainable energy future: Choices and outcomes
Robertson, Philip, Stephen K. Hamilton, Bradford L. Barham, Bruce E. Dale, Cesar Izaurralde, Randall D. Jackson, Douglas A. Landis, Scott M. Swinton, Kurt D. Thelen, and James M. Tiedje. 2017. “Cellulosic Biofuel Contributions to a Sustainable Energy Future: Choices and Outcomes”. Science 356 (6345). doi:10.1126/science.aal2324.
Drivers of nitrogen transfer in stream food webs across continents
Norman, B. M., M.R. Whiles, S. M. Collins, A.S. Flecker, Stephen K. Hamilton, S.L. Johnson, Emma J. Rosi, et al. 2017. “Drivers of Nitrogen Transfer in Stream Food Webs across Continents”. Ecology 98 (12): 3044-55. doi:10.1002/ecy.2009.
A Global Assessment of Inland Wetland Conservation Status
Reis, Vanessa, Virgilio Hermoso, Stephen K. Hamilton, Douglas Ward, Etienne Fluet-Chouinard, Bernhard Lehner, and Simon Linke. 2017. “A Global Assessment of Inland Wetland Conservation Status”. BioScience 67 (6): 523-33. doi:10.1093/biosci/bix045.