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.

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.
LAGOS-NE: a multi-scaled geospatial and temporal database of lake ecological context and water quality for thousands of US lakes
Soranno, Patricia A, Linda C. Bacon, Michael Beauchene, Karen E. Bednar, Edward G. Bissell, Claire K Boudreau, Marvin G Boyer, et al. 2017. “LAGOS-NE: A Multi-Scaled Geospatial and Temporal Database of Lake Ecological Context and Water Quality for Thousands of US Lakes”. GigaScience 6 (12): 1-22. doi:10.1093/gigascience/gix101.
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.
Heat-induced mass mortality of invasive zebra mussels (<i>Dreissena polymorpha</i>) at sublethal water temperatures
White, Jeffrey D, Stephen K. Hamilton, and Orlando Sarnelle. 2015. “Heat-Induced Mass Mortality of Invasive Zebra Mussels (<i>Dreissena polymorpha< I>) at Sublethal Water Temperatures”. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 72 (8): 1221-29. doi:10.1139/cjfas-2015-0064.
Natural stressors in uncontaminated sediments of shallow freshwaters: The prevalence of sulfide, ammonia, and reduced iron
Kinsman-Costello, Lauren E., Jonathan M. O’Brien, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2015. “Natural Stressors in Uncontaminated Sediments of Shallow Freshwaters: The Prevalence of Sulfide, Ammonia, and Reduced Iron”. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 34 (3): 467-79. doi:10.1002/etc.2801.
Colonization and Spread of <i>Limnoperna fortunei</i> in South America
Oliveira, Marcia D., Monica C. S. Campos, Esteban M. Paolucci, Maria C. D. Mansur, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2015. “Colonization and Spread of <i>Limnoperna fortunei< i> In South America”. In <i>Limnoperna Fortunei< I>: The Ecology, Distribution and Control of a Swiftly Spreading Invasive Fouling Mussel, 333-55. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-13494-9_19.