My research interests lie in how microbial communities and soil chemistry interact to affect ecosystem function. I use genomics and stable isotopes as my main tools. I have worked in a variety of ecosystems from the Australian Outback to permafrost-affected Arctic tundra. I am currently developing projects exploring how agricultural management affects microbial diversity and function in New Hampshire.

Courses Taught

  • INCO 790: Adv Rsrch Exp/Natural Res
  • NR 435: Contemporary Conservatn Issues
  • NR 600: Work Experience
  • NR 706/806: Soil Ecology
  • NR 743/843: Arctic Ecology and Society

Education

  • Ph.D., Ecology, Colorado State University
  • B.S., Chemistry, California Polytechnic State University

Research Interests

  • Biogeochemistry
  • Ecology
  • Ecosystem Health
  • Ecosystems
  • Isotope Geochemistry
  • Microbial Degradation
  • Microbial Processes
  • Microbiome

Selected Publications

  • McDonald, M. D., Owusu-Ansah, C., Ellenbogen, J. B., Malone, Z. D., Ricketts, M. P., Frolking, S. E., . . . Weissman, J. L. (2024). What is microbial dormancy?. Trends Microbiol, 32(2), 142-150. doi:10.1016/j.tim.2023.08.006

  • Teixeira, C. D. S., Castillo, B. T., Bernhardt, L., Warren, N. D., Petry, C., Ernakovich, J. G., . . . Frey, S. D. (2023). Frequent defoliation of perennial legume-grass bicultures alters soil carbon dynamics. Plant and Soil, 490(1-2), 423-434. doi:10.1007/s11104-023-06091-7

  • Lynch, L., Margenot, A., Calderon, F., & Ernakovich, J. (2023). Greater regulation of permafrost organic matter composition by enzymes and redox than temperature. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 180, 108991. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2023.108991

  • Mackay, J. E., Bernhardt, L. T., Smith, R. G., & Ernakovich, J. G. (2023). Tillage and pesticide seed treatments have distinct effects on soil microbial diversity and function. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 176, 108860. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108860

  • Bernhardt, L. T., Smith, R. G., Grandy, A. S., Mackay, J. E., Warren, N. D., Geyer, K. M., & Ernakovich, J. G. (2022). Soil microbial communities vary in composition and functional strategy across soil aggregate size class regardless of tillage. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, 10(1). doi:10.1525/elementa.2022.00023

  • Rocca, J. D., Simonin, M., Blaszczak, J. R., Ernakovich, J. G., Gibbons, S. M., Midani, F. S., & Washburne, A. D. (2019). The Microbiome Stress Project: Toward a Global Meta-Analysis of Environmental Stressors and Their Effects on Microbial Communities. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, 9. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.03272

  • Schadel, C., Bader, M. K. -F., Schuur, E. A. G., Biasi, C., Bracho, R., Capek, P., . . . Wickland, K. P. (2016). Potential carbon emissions dominated by carbon dioxide from thawed permafrost soils. NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE, 6(10), 950-+. doi:10.1038/NCLIMATE3054

  • Treat, C. C., Natali, S. M., Ernakovich, J., Iversen, C. M., Lupascu, M., McGuire, A. D., . . . Waldrop, M. P. (2015). A pan-Arctic synthesis of CH4 and CO2 production from anoxic soil incubations. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, 21(7), 2787-2803. doi:10.1111/gcb.12875

  • Ernakovich, J. G., Hopping, K. A., Berdanier, A. B., Simpson, R. T., Kachergis, E. J., Steltzer, H., & Wallenstein, M. D. (2014). Predicted responses of arctic and alpine ecosystems to altered seasonality under climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, 20(10), 3256-3269. doi:10.1111/gcb.12568

  • Wallenstein, M., Allison, S. D., Ernakovich, J., Steinweg, J. M., & Sinsabaugh, R. (2011). Controls on the Temperature Sensitivity of Soil Enzymes: A Key Driver of In Situ Enzyme Activity Rates. In SOIL ENZYMOLOGY (Vol. 22, pp. 245-258). doi:10.1007/978-3-642-14225-3_13

  • Most Cited Publications