Seth Munson, Ph.D.
Seth Munson is an ecologist with the Southwest Biological Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona. His research focuses on plant-soil interactions in dryland ecosystems and how these interactions are affected by climate and land use changes.
Much of Dr. Munson's research aims to understand the dynamics of dryland ecosystems at long temporal and broad spatial scales, and employs a multidisciplinary approach. His work seeks to improve the management of arid and semi-arid lands, including determining effective ecological restoration strategies, and is done in close collaboration with several land management agencies.
Check the Science Tab Below for a List of Current Research Projects.
Research Interests: Plant Ecology, Ecosystem Ecology, Dryland Ecology, Restoration Ecology, Soil Erosion
Professional Experience
Research Ecologist, US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ
Adjunct Faculty, Northern Arizona University, Department of Biological Sciences, Flagstaff, AZ
Adjunct Faculty, Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Phoenix, AZ
Jan 2011 - Dec 2013: Research Ecologist (Mendenhall Fellow), US Geological Survey, Geology and Environmental Change Science Center, Denver, CO
Dec 2008 - Jan 2011: Ecologist, US Geological Survey, Canyonlands Research Station, Moab, Utah
May 2004 - Nov 2008; Research Assistant, Colorado State University, Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Fort Collins, CO
Sep 2002 – May 2004; Research Associate, University of New Mexico, Biology Department, Albuquerque, NM
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, May 2009
B.A. Biology, Earlham College, Richmond, IN, May 2001
Science and Products
Plant responses, climate pivot points, and trade-offs in water-limited ecosystems
Regional signatures of plant response to drought and elevated temperature across a desert ecosystem
Employing lidar to detail vegetation canopy architecture for prediction of aeolian transport
Forecasting climate change impacts to plant community composition in the Sonoran Desert region
Aeolian and fluvial processes in dryland regions: The need for integrated studies
On the brink of change: Plant responses to climate on the Colorado Plateau
Responses of wind erosion to climate-induced vegetation changes on the Colorado Plateau
A comparison of methods to assess long-term changes in Sonoran Desert vegetation
Soil carbon flux following pulse precipitation events in the shortgrass steppe
Plant population and habitat characteristics of the endemic Sonoran Desert cactus Peniocereus striatus in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Plant responses, climate pivot points, and trade-offs in water-limited ecosystems
Regional signatures of plant response to drought and elevated temperature across a desert ecosystem
Employing lidar to detail vegetation canopy architecture for prediction of aeolian transport
Forecasting climate change impacts to plant community composition in the Sonoran Desert region
Aeolian and fluvial processes in dryland regions: The need for integrated studies
On the brink of change: Plant responses to climate on the Colorado Plateau
Responses of wind erosion to climate-induced vegetation changes on the Colorado Plateau
A comparison of methods to assess long-term changes in Sonoran Desert vegetation
Soil carbon flux following pulse precipitation events in the shortgrass steppe
Plant population and habitat characteristics of the endemic Sonoran Desert cactus Peniocereus striatus in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.