Overview
Swenson's research tracks changes in terrestrial Earth's living surface at the landscape to region scale with remote sensing and geospatial analysis. Her interest include: how patterns and canopy structure are effected by drought, afforestation, and deforestation, patterns and climate shifts of ecosystem biodiversity, and providing access to practitioners to remotely sensed data and analysis. Prior to her 15 years in Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment, she held positions in NGOs (NatureServe in DC, EcoCiencia in Quito, Ecuador), as well as in the US Federal Government (US Forest Service-Oregon, National Park Service-Colorado). Her research has been supported by NASA, NSF, USDA and other institutions.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Adjunct Professor in the Division of Environmental Science and Policy
·
2023 - Present
Environmental Sciences and Policy,
Nicholas School of the Environment
In the News
View All News
Recent Publications
A leaf-level field physiological tool linking non-invasive leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements applicable at larger ecophysiological scales.
Journal Article Tree physiology · December 2024 Full text CiteThe Relationship Between Maturation Size and Maximum Tree Size From Tropical to Boreal Climates.
Journal Article Ecology letters · September 2024 The fundamental trade-off between current and future reproduction has long been considered to result in a tendency for species that can grow large to begin reproduction at a larger size. Due to the prolonged time required to reach maturity, estimates of tr ... Full text CiteRemotely sensed crown nutrient concentrations modulate forest reproduction across the contiguous United States.
Journal Article Ecology · August 2024 Global forests are increasingly lost to climate change, disturbance, and human management. Evaluating forests' capacities to regenerate and colonize new habitats has to start with the seed production of individual trees and how it depends on nutrient acces ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
DISES RCN: SWISLR - Saltwater Intrusion and Sea Level Rise in rural landscapes: Assessing Risk and Identifying Mitigation and Adaptation Options for Rural Coastal Plain Communities.
ResearchSteering Committee Member · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2021 - 2025Collaborative Research: Combining NEON and remotely sensed habitats to determine climate impacts on community dynamics
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2018 - 2022The bridge from canopy condition to continental scale biodiversity forecasts, including the rare species of greatest conservation concern
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 2020 - 2022View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Oregon State University ·
2003
Ph.D.
San Diego State University ·
1995
M.A.
University of California, Santa Barbara ·
1990
B.A.