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

845 677-7600 x237

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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.

Partitioning assimilatory nitrogen uptake in streams: an analysis of stable isotope tracer additions across continents
Tank, Jennifer L., E. Marti, T. Riis, D. von Schiller, Alexander J. Reisinger, Walter K. Dodds, M.R. Whiles, et al. 2017. “Partitioning Assimilatory Nitrogen Uptake in Streams: An Analysis of Stable Isotope Tracer Additions across Continents”. Ecological Monographs 88 (1): 120-38. doi:10.1002/ecm.1280.
Unexpected population response to increasing temperature in the context of a strong species interaction
White, Jeffrey D, Orlando Sarnelle, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2017. “Unexpected Population Response to Increasing Temperature in the Context of a Strong Species Interaction”. Ecological Applications 27 (5): 1657-65. doi:10.1002/eap.1558.
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.
Changes in river water quality caused by a diversion hydropower dam bordering the Pantanal floodplain
Fantin-Cruz, Ibraim, Olavo Pedrollo, Pierre Girard, Peter Zeilhofer, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2016. “Changes in River Water Quality Caused by a Diversion Hydropower Dam Bordering the Pantanal Floodplain”. Hydrobiologia 768 (1): 223-38. doi:10.1007/s10750-015-2550-4.
Ecosystem water-use efficiency of annual corn and perennial grasslands: Contributions from land-use history and species composition
Abraha, Michael, Ilya Gelfand, Stephen K. Hamilton, Changliang Shao, Yahn-Jauh Su, Philip Robertson, and Jiquan Chen. 2016. “Ecosystem Water-Use Efficiency of Annual Corn and Perennial Grasslands: Contributions from Land-Use History and Species Composition”. Ecosystems 19 (6): 1001-12. doi:10.1007/s10021-016-9981-2.
Nitrogen fertilization challenges the climate benefit of cellulosic biofuels
Ruan, Leilei, Ajay K. Bhardwaj, Stephen K. Hamilton, and Philip Robertson. 2016. “Nitrogen Fertilization Challenges the Climate Benefit of Cellulosic Biofuels”. Environmental Research Letters 11. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/11/6/064007.
Phosphorus release from the drying and reflooding of diverse shallow sediments
Kinsman-Costello, Lauren E., Stephen K. Hamilton, Jonathan M. O’Brien, and Jay T. Lennon. 2016. “Phosphorus Release from the Drying and Reflooding of Diverse Shallow Sediments”. Biogeochemistry 130 (1-2): 159-76. doi:10.1007/s10533-016-0250-4.
Development of a global inundation map at high spatial resolution from topographic downscaling of coarse-scale remote sensing data
Fluet-Chouinard, Etienne, Bernhard Lehner, Lisa-Maria Rebelo, Fabrice Papa, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2015. “Development of a Global Inundation Map at High Spatial Resolution from Topographic Downscaling of Coarse-Scale Remote Sensing Data”. Remote Sensing of Environment 158: 348-61. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2014.10.015.
Does flood rhythm drive ecosystem responses in tropical riverscapes?
Jardine, Timothy D., Nicholas R. Bond, Michele A. Burford, Mark J. Kennard, Douglas P. Ward, Peter Bayliss, Peter M. Davies, et al. 2015. “Does Flood Rhythm Drive Ecosystem Responses in Tropical Riverscapes?”. Ecology 96 (3): 684-92. doi:10.1890/14-0991.1.
Effects of a diversion hydropower facility on the hydrological regime of the Correntes River, a tributary to the Pantanal floodplain, Brazil
Fantin-Cruz, Ibraim, Olavo Pedrollo, Pierre Girard, Peter Zeilhofer, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2015. “Effects of a Diversion Hydropower Facility on the Hydrological Regime of the Correntes River, a Tributary to the Pantanal Floodplain, Brazil”. Journal of Hydrology 531: 810-20. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.10.045.