Carol Wessman's聽research program seeks to gain insights on the understanding of feedback dynamics between ecosystem structure and function, and the influence of disturbance on trajectories of ecosystem processes. Her聽approach involves field studies, remote sensing methodologies investigating temporal and spatial heterogeneity in ecosystem properties, and landscape and ecosystem modeling. Carol's聽work incorporates theory in ecosystem and landscape ecology, with a recent emphasis on resilience and complex system theory. Current research projects include: biogeochemical dynamics of woody plant encroachment in the US Southwest, resilience of forest ecosystems under compound disturbance, and social-ecological systems in urban environments.
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1987