Current Research

I pursue two main science thrusts: (1) climate change adaptation; and (2) ecosystem carbon cycling. Each thrust integrates information, lessons, and perspectives from the other. The climate change thrust includes collaborative research and service as Director of the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS) and the USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub. I lead NIACS and Hub staff in the development of vulnerability assessments, adaptation strategy and planning documents, and other climate and carbon science delivery in support of natural resource planning, management, and decision making. The carbon cycle thrust encompasses basic research on soil carbon from multiple ecosystems using a variety of tools and methods, creating information about soil carbon movement and stabilization, and conversely, vulnerability to loss by landuse and climate change. I also study strategies for carbon stewardship in forests, which considers effects of forest managment on forest carbon stocks and cycling.

Major NIACS and Hubs efforts include the

• Climate Change Response Framework, an integrated set of tools, partnerships, and actions to support climate-informed conservation and forest management. The Framework is deployed in more than 20 states and includes more than 150 partner organizations.
• Climate Change Resource Center, a web-based platform providing relevant, credible information about climate change and adaptation to forest managers. NIACS helps manage the site in close collaboration with all five USFS Research Stations and Forest Service Research and Development.
• Adaptation Workbook, a web-based planning tool that helps land managers create climate-informed management plans.

Research Interests

I intend to continue studying approaches to climate adaptation and carbon stewardship in forests in partnership with numerous organizations from across the forest sector.

Why This Research is Important

Climate is changing and is likely to have increasing impacts on many forests as continues to change. Land managers need specific information, strategies, and tools to address increased societal emphasis on carbon management and the unique challenges of managing forests given uncertainty about the range of future climate and ensuing ecosystem responses. There is thus a clear and pressing need to bridge the gaps between broad-scale climate predictions, academic discussions of ecosystem responses, and actual management activities in forests. My work with NIACS and the Hub helps bridge those gaps. My work with carbon stewardship - soil carbon in particular, also addresses this need. Soil carbon is a fundamental component of forest productivity and structure, strongly influencing soil fertility, resistance to erosion and compaction, and water storage and availability. Soil carbon also plays a large role in global fluxes of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. Globally, there is at least twice as much carbon in the soil as in the atmosphere, and two thirds of forest carbon is in the soil. Understanding the forms and fate of forest soil carbon can help us predict, mitigate, and adapt to the effects of disturbance at wide spatial and temporal scales. Understanding and applying approaches to carbon stewardship more broadly can help us mitigate greehouse gas emissions and slow the pace of climate change.

Education

• Oregon State University, Ph.D. Forest Science 2000
• Oregon State University, M.S. Forest Science 1996
• Humboldt State University, B.S. Forest Ecology and Soils (NRPI) 1993

Professional Experience

Professional Organizations

• North American Carbon Program, Member (2010 - Current)
  Member.
• International Soil Carbon Network, Member (2009 - Current)
  Past Chair of SSG
• Ecosystem Science Center, Member (2007 - Current)
  member
• American Geophysical Union, Member (2002 - Current)
  member
• Soil Science Society of America, Member (1993 - Current)
  member

Awards & Recognition

Featured Publications & Products

• Swanston, Christopher W.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler, Patricia R.; Handler, Stephen D.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Derby Lewis, Abigail; Hall, Kimberly; Fahey, Robert T.; Scott, Lydia; Kerber, Angela; Miesbauer, Jason W.; Darling, Lindsay; Parker, Linda; St. Pierre, Matt. 2016. Forest Adaptation Resources: climate change tools and approaches for land managers, 2nd edition.
• Janowiak, Maria K.; Iverson, Louis R.; Fosgitt, Jon; Handler, Stephen D.; Dallman, Matt; Thomasma, Scott; Hutnik, Brad; Swanston, Christopher W. 2017. Assessing stand-level climate change risk using forest inventory data and species distribution models.
• Swanston, Chris; Brandt, Leslie A.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Handler, Stephen D.; Butler-Leopold, Patricia; Iverson, Louis; Thompson, Frank R.; Ontl, Todd A.; Shannon, P. Danielle. 2018. Vulnerability of forests of the Midwest and Northeast United States to climate change.
• Angel, J. ; Swanston, C. ; Boustead, B.M. ; Conlon, K.C. ; Hall, K.C. ; Jorns, J.L. ; Kunkel, K.E. ; Lemos, M.C. ; Lofgren, B. ; Ontl, T.A. ; Posey, J. ; Stone, K. ; Takle, G. ; Todey, D. . 2018. Midwest.
• Nave, Lucas E.; Domke, Grant M.; Hofmeister, Kathryn L.; Mishra, Umakant; Perry, Charles H.; Walters, Brian F.; Swanston, Christopher W. 2018. Reforestation can sequester two petagrams of carbon in US topsoils in a century.
• Ontl, Todd A.; Swanston, Chris; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler, Patricia R.; D’Amato, Anthony W.; Handler, Stephen D.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Shannon, P. Danielle. 2018. Adaptation pathways: ecoregion and land ownership influences on climate adaptation decision-making in forest management.
• Domke, G.M.; Perry, C.H.; Walters, B.F.; Nave, L.E.; Woodall, C.W.; Swanston, C.W. 2017. Toward inventory-based estimates of soil organic carbon in forests of the United States.
• ​Nagel, Linda M.; Palik, Brian J.; Battaglia, Michael A.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Guldin, James M.; Swanston, Chris; Janowiak, Maria K.; Powers, Matthew P.; Joyce, Linda A.; Millar, Constance I.; Peterson, David L.; Ganio, Lisa M.; Kirschbaum, Chad; Roske, Molly R. 2017. Adaptive silviculture for climate change: a national experiment in manager-scientist partnerships to apply an adaptation framework.

Publications

• Nave, L.E. ; Walters, B.F. ; Hofmeister, K.L. ; Perry, C.H. ; Mishra, U. ; Domke, G.M. ; Swanston, C.W. . 2019. The role of reforestation in carbon sequestration.
• Domke, G. ; Williams, C. A.; Birdsey, R. ; Coulston, J. ; Finzi, A. ; Gough, C. ; Haight, B. ; Hicke, J. ; Janowiak, M. ; de Jong, B. ; Kurz, W. A.; Lucash, M. ; Ogle, S. ; Olguín-Álvarez, M. ; Pan, Y. ; Skutsch, M. ; Smyth, C. ; Swanston, C. ; Templer, P. ; Wear, D. ; Woodall, C. W. 2018. Chapter 9: Forests.
• Butler-Leopold, Patricia R.; Iverson, Louis R.; Thompson, Frank R.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Handler, Stephen D.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Christopher W.; Bearer, Scott ; Bryan, Alexander M.; Clark, Kenneth L.; Czarnecki, Greg ; DeSenze, Philip ; Dijak, William D.; Fraser, Jacob S.; Gugger, Paul F.; Hille, Andrea ; Hynicka, Justin ; Jantz, Claire A.; Kelly, Matthew C.; Krause, Katrina M.; La Puma, Inga Parker; Landau, Deborah ; Lathrop, Richard G.; Leites, Laura P.; Madlinger, Evan ; Matthews, Stephen N.; Ozbay, Gulnihal ; Peters, Matthew P.; Prasad, Anantha ; Schmit, David A.; Shephard, Collin ; Shirer, Rebecca ; Skowronski, Nicholas S.; Steele, Al ; Stout, Susan ; Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa ; Thompson, John ; Turcotte, Richard M.; Weinstein, David A.; Yáñez, Alfonso . 2018. Mid-Atlantic forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Mid-Atlantic Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Janowiak, Maria K.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Iverson, Louis; Thompson, Frank R.; Dijak, William D.; Matthews, Stephen; Peters, Matthew P.; Prasad, Anantha; Fraser, Jacob S.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler-Leopold, Patricia; Handler, Stephen D.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Burbank, Diane; Campbell, John; Cogbill, Charles; Duveneck, Matthew J.; Emery, Marla R.; Fisichelli, Nicholas; Foster, Jane; Hushaw, Jennifer; Kenefic, Laura; Mahaffey, Amanda; Morelli, Toni Lyn; Reo, Nicholas J.; Schaberg, Paul G.; Simmons, K. Rogers; Weiskittel, Aaron; Wilmot, Sandy; Hollinger, David; Lane, Erin; Rustad, Lindsey; Templer, Pamela H. 2018. New England and northern New York forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the New England Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Nave, Lucas ; Heckman, Katherine ; Muñoz, Alexandra ; Swanston, Christopher W. 2018. Radiocarbon Suggests the Hemiparasitic Annual Melampyrum Lineare Desr. May Acquire Carbon from Stressed Hosts.
• Heckman, Katherine ; Throckmorton, Heather ; Horwath, William ; Swanston, Christopher ; Rasmussen, Craig . 2018. Variation in the Molecular Structure and Radiocarbon Abundance of Mineral-Associated Organic Matter across a Lithosequence of Forest Soils.
• Heckman, Katherine; Torres, Dorisel; Swanston, Christopher; Lehmann, Johannes. 2017. Carbon and nitrogen molecular composition of soil organic matter fractions resistant to oxidation.
• Brandt, Leslie A.; Derby Lewis, Abigail; Scott, Lydia; Darling, Lindsay; Fahey, Robert T.; Iverson, Louis; Nowak, David J.; Bodine, Allison R.; Bell, Andrew; Still, Shannon; Butler, Patricia R.; Dierich, Andrea; Handler, Stephen D.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Miesbauer, Jason W.; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Shannon, P. Danielle; Stotz, Douglas; Swanston, Christopher W. 2017. Chicago Wilderness region urban forest vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Urban Forestry Climate Change Response Framework Chicago Wilderness pilot project.
• Reinhardt, Jason R.; Nagel, Linda M.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Keough, Heather . 2017. Community-Level Impacts of Management and Disturbance in Western Michigan Oak Savannas.
• Janowiak, M.; Connelly, W.J.; Dante-Wood, K.; Domke, G.M.; Giardina, C.; Kayler, Z.; Marcinkowski, K.; Ontl, T.; Rodriguez-Franco, C.; Swanston, C.; Woodall, C.W.; Buford, M. 2017. Considering Forest and Grassland Carbon in Land Management.
• Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler, Patricia R.; Handler, Stephen D.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Christopher W. 2017. Integrating Science and Management to Assess Forest Ecosystem Vulnerability to Climate Change.
• Iverson, Louis R.; Thompson, Frank R.; Matthews, Stephen ; Peters, Matthew ; Prasad, Anantha ; Dijak, William D.; Fraser, Jacob ; Wang, Wen J.; Hanberry, Brice ; He, Hong ; Janowiak, Maria ; Butler, Patricia ; Brandt, Leslie ; Swanston, Christopher . 2017. Multi-model comparison on the effects of climate change on tree species in the eastern U.S.: results from an enhanced niche model and process-based ecosystem and landscape models.
• Nave, Lucas E.; Gough, Christopher M.; Perry, Charles H.; Hofmeister, Kathryn L.; Le Moine, James M.; Domke, Grant M.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Nadelhoffer, Knute J. 2017. Physiographic factors underlie rates of biomass production during succession in Great Lakes forest landscapes.
• Nave, Lucas E.; Drevnick, Paul E.; Heckman, Katherine A.; Hofmeister, Kathryn L.; Veverica, Timothy J.; Swanston, Christopher W. 2017. Soil hydrology, physical and chemical properties and the distribution of carbon and mercury in a postglacial lake-plain wetland.
• Brandt, Leslie; Derby Lewis, Abigail; Fahey, Robert; Scott, Lydia; Darling, Lindsay; Swanston, Chris. 2016. A framework for adapting urban forests to climate change.
• Butler, Patricia R.; Iverson, Louis; Thompson, Frank R.; Brandt, Leslie; Handler, Stephen; Janowiak, Maria; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Chris; Karriker, Kent; Bartig, Jarel; Connolly, Stephanie; Dijak, William; Bearer, Scott; Blatt, Steve; Brandon, Andrea; Byers, Elizabeth; Coon, Cheryl; Culbreth, Tim; Daly, Jad; Dorsey, Wade; Ede, David; Euler, Chris; Gillies, Neil; Hix, David M.; Johnson, Catherine; Lyte, Latasha; Matthews, Stephen; McCarthy, Dawn; Minney, Dave; Murphy, Daniel; O’Dea, Claire; Orwan, Rachel; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Randall, Cotton; Reed, Jason; Sandeno, Cynthia; Schuler, Tom; Sneddon, Lesley; Stanley, Bill; Steele, Al; Stout, Susan; Swaty, Randy; Teets, Jason; Tomon, Tim; Vanderhorst, Jim; Whatley, John; Zegre, Nicholas. 2015. Central Appalachians forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Central Appalachians Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Domke, Grant M.; Perry, Charles H. (Hobie); Walters, Brian F.; Woodall, Christopher W.; Nave, Lucas E.; Swanston, Chris. 2015. Estimating carbon in forest soils of the United States using the national forest inventory.
• Butler, Patricia R.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Handler, Stephen D.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Shannon, Patricia D.; Swanston, Chris W. 2014. A framework for assessing climate change vulnerability and identifying adaptation responses in the central hardwoods region.
• Janowiak, Maria K.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Nagel, Linda M.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler, Patricia R.; Handler, Stephen D.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Iverson, Louis R.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Prasad, Anantha; Peters, Matthew P. 2014. A practical approach for translating climate change adaptation principles into forest management actions.
• Millar, Constance I.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Peterson, David L. 2014. Adapting to climate change.
• Swanston, Christopher W.; Preston, Caroline M. 2014. Availability of residual fertilizer 15N from forest floor and mineral soil to Douglas-fir seedlings ten years after fertilization.
• Brandt, Leslie; He, Hong; Iverson, Louis; Thompson, Frank R.; Butler, Patricia; Handler, Stephen; Janowiak, Maria; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Chris; Albrecht, Matthew; Blume-Weaver, Richard; Deizman, Paul; DePuy, John; Dijak, William D.; Dinkel, Gary; Fei, Songlin; Jones-Farrand, D. Todd; Leahy, Michael; Matthews, Stephen; Nelson, Paul; Oberle, Brad; Perez, Judi; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Schneiderman, Jeffrey E.; Shuey, John; Smith, Adam B.; Studyvin, Charles; Tirpak, John M.; Walk, Jeffery W.; Wang, Wen J.; Watts, Laura; Weigel, Dale; Westin, Steve. 2014. Central Hardwoods ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Central Hardwoods Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Handler, Stephen D.; Swanston, Chris W.; Butler, Patricia R.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Powers, Matthew D.; Shannon, P. Danielle. 2014. Climate change vulnerabilities within the forestry sector for the Midwestern United States.
• Janowiak, Maria K.; Iverson, Louis R.; Mladenoff, David J.; Peters, Emily; Wythers, Kirk R.; Xi, Weimin; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler, Patricia R.; Handler, Stephen D.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Chris; Parker, Linda R.; Amman, Amy J.; Bogaczyk, Brian; Handler, Christine; Lesch, Ellen; Reich, Peter B.; Matthews, Stephen; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Khanal, Sami; Liu, Feng; Bal, Tara; Bronson, Dustin; Burton, Andrew; Ferris, Jim; Fosgitt, Jon; Hagan, Shawn; Johnston, Erin; Kane, Evan; Matula, Colleen; O'Connor, Ryan; Higgins, Dale; St. Pierre, Matt; Daley, Jad; Davenport, Mae; Emery, Marla R.; Fehringer, David; Hoving, Christopher L.; Johnson, Gary; Neitzel, David; Notaro, Michael; Rissman, Adena; Rittenhouse, Chadwick; Ziel, Robert. 2014. Forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis for northern Wisconsin and western Upper Michigan: a report from the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Halofsky, Jessica E.; Peterson, David L.; Joyce, Linda A.; Millar, Constance I.; Rice, Janine M.; Swanston, Christopher W. 2014. Implementing climate change adaptation in forested regions of the United States.
• Handler, Stephen; Duveneck, Matthew J.; Iverson, Louis; Peters, Emily; Scheller, Robert M.; Wythers, Kirk R.; Brandt, Leslie; Butler, Patricia; Janowiak, Maria; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Chris; Eagle, Amy Clark; Cohen, Joshua G.; Corner, Rich; Reich, Peter B.; Baker, Tim; Chhin, Sophan; Clark, Eric; Fehringer, David; Fosgitt, Jon; Gries, James; Hall, Christine; Hall, Kimberly R.; Heyd, Robert; Hoving, Christopher L.; Ibáñez, Ines; Kuhr, Don; Matthews, Stephen; Muladore, Jennifer; Nadelhoffer, Knute; Neumann, David; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Sands, Matt; Swaty, Randy; Wonch, Leiloni; Daley, Jad; Davenport, Mae; Emery, Marla R.; Johnson, Gary; Johnson, Lucinda; Neitzel, David; Rissman, Adena; Rittenhouse, Chadwick; Ziel, Robert. 2014. Michigan forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Handler, Stephen; Duveneck, Matthew J.; Iverson, Louis; Peters, Emily; Scheller, Robert M.; Wythers, Kirk R.; Brandt, Leslie; Butler, Patricia; Janowiak, Maria; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Chris; Barrett, Kelly; Kolka, Randy; McQuiston, Casey; Palik, Brian; Reich, Peter B.; Turner, Clarence; White, Mark; Adams, Cheryl; D'Amato, Anthony; Hagell, Suzanne; Johnson, Patricia; Johnson, Rosemary; Larson, Mike; Matthews, Stephen; Montgomery, Rebecca; Olson, Steve; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Rajala, Jack; Daley, Jad; Davenport, Mae; Emery, Marla R.; Fehringer, David; Hoving, Christopher L.; Johnson, Gary; Johnson, Lucinda; Neitzel, David; Rissman, Adena; Rittenhouse, Chadwick; Ziel, Robert. 2014. Minnesota forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Birdsey, Richard; Pan, Yude; Janowiak, Maria; Stewart, Susan; Hines, Sarah; Parker, Linda; Gower, Stith; Lichstein, Jeremy; McCullough, Kevin; Zhang, Fangmin; Chen, Jing; Mladenoff, David; Wayson, Craig; Swanston, Chris. 2014. Past and prospective carbon stocks in forests of northern Wisconsin: a report from the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Climate Change Response Framework.
• Millar, Constance I.; Heckman, Katherine; Swanston, Christopher; Schmidt, Karena; Westfall, Robert D.; Delany, Diane L. 2014. Radiocarbon dating of American pika fecal pellets provides insights into population extirpations and climate refugia.
• Peterson, David L.; Wolken, J.M.; Hollingsworth, Teresa; Giardina, Christian; Littell, J.S.; Joyce, Linda; Swanston, Chris; Handler, Stephen; Rustad, Lindsey; McNulty, Steve. 2014. Regional Highlights of Climate Change.
• Nave, L.E.; Swanston, C.W.; Mishra, U.; Nadelhoffer, K.J. 2013. Afforestation effects on soil carbon storage in the United States: a synthesis.
• Heckman, Katherine; Campbell, John L.; Powers, Heath; Law, Beverly E.; Swanston, Chris. 2013. The influence of fire on the radiocarbon signature and character of soil organic matter in the Siskiyou national forest, Oregon, USA.
• Millar, Constance I.; Skog, Kenneth E.; McKinley, Duncan C.; Birdsey, Richard A.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Hines, Sarah J.; Woodall, Christopher W.; Reinhardt, Elizabeth D.; Peterson, David L.; Vose, James M. 2012. Adaptation and mitigation.
• Janowiak, Maria; Butler, Patricia; Swanston, Chris; St. Pierre, Matt; Parker, Linda. 2012. Adaptation illustrations: Chapter 4.
• Butler, Patricia; Swanston, Chris; Janowiak, Maria; Parker, Linda; St. Pierre, Matt; Brandt, Leslie. 2012. Adaptation strategies and approaches: Chapter 2.
• Janowiak, Maria; Butler, Patricia; Swanston, Chris; Parker, Linda; St. Pierre, Matt; Brandt, Leslie. 2012. Adaptation workbook: Chapter 3.
• Swanston, Chris; Janowiak, Maria; Butler, Patricia. 2012. Climate change response framework overview: Chapter 1.
• Brandt, Leslie; Swanston, Chris; Parker, Linda; Janowiak, Maria; Birdsey, Richard; Iverson, Louis; Mladenoff, David; Butler, Patricia. 2012. Climate change science applications and needs in forest ecosystem management: a workshop organized as part of the northern Wisconsin Climate Change Response Framework Project.
• Swanston, Chris; Janowiak, Maria, eds. 2012. Forest adaptation resources: Climate change tools and approaches for land managers.
• Swanston, Chris; Furniss, Michael J.; Schmitt, Kristen; Guntle, Jeffrey; Janowiak, Maria; Hines, Sarah, eds. 2012. Forest and grassland carbon in North America: A short course for land managers.
• Swanston, Chris; Janowiak, Maria; Iverson, Louis; Parker, Linda; Mladenoff, David; Brandt, Leslie; Butler, Patricia; St. Pierre, Matt; Prasad, Anantha; Matthews, Stephen; Peters, Matthew; Higgins, Dale; Dorland, Avery. 2011. Ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Climate Change Response Framework Project in northern Wisconsin.
• Nave, Lucas E.; Vance, Eric D.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Curtis, Peter S. 2011. Fire effects on temperate forest soil C and N storage.
• Janowiak, Maria K.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Nagel, Linda M.; Webster, Christopher R.; Palik, Brian J.; Twery, Mark J.; Bradford, John B.; Parker, Linda R.; Hille, Andrea T.; Johnson, Sheela M. 2011. Silvicultural decisionmaking in an uncertain climate future: a workshop-based exploration of considerations, strategies, and approaches.
• Shrestha, Gyami; Traina, Samuel J.; Swanston, Christopher W. 2010. Black carbon's properties and role in the environment: a comprehensive review.
• Parton, William J.; Hanson, Paul J.; Swanston, Chris; Torn, Margaret; Trumbore, Susan E.; Riley, William; Kelly, Robin. 2010. ForCent model development and testing using the Enriched Background Isotope Study experiment.
• Nave, L.E.; Vance, E.D.; Swanston, C.W.; Curtis, P.S. 2010. Harvest impacts on soil carbon storage in temperate forests.
• Nagel, Linda M.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Janowiak, Maria K. 2010. Integrating climate change considerations into forest management tools and training.
• Virto, I.; Moni, C.; Swanston, C.; Chenu, C. 2010. Turnover of intra- and extra-aggregate organic matter at the silt-size scale.
• Nave, L.E.; Vance, E.D.; Swanston, C.W.; Curtis, P.S. 2009. Impacts of elevated N inputs on north temperate forest soil C storage, C/N, and net N-mineralization.
• Bauer, Ilka E.; Bhatti, Jagtar S.; Swanston, Christopher; Wieder, R. Kelman; Perston, Caroline M. 2009. Organic matter accumulation and community change at the peatland-upland interface: inferences from 14C and 210Pb dated profiles.
• Marin-Spiotta, Erika; Silver, Whendee L.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Ostertag, Rebecca. 2009. Soil organic matter dynamics during 80 years of reforestation of tropical pastures.
• Crow, Susan E.; Lajtha, Kate; Filley, Timothy R.; Swanston, Chris; Bowden, Richard D.; Caldwell, Bruce A. 2009. Sources of plant-derived carbon and stability of organic matter in soil: Implications for global change.
• Fissore, Cinzia; Giardina, Christian P.; Swanston, Christopher W.; King, Gary M.; Kolka, Randall K. 2009. Variable temperature sensitivity of soil organic carbon in North American forests.
• Marin-Spiotta, Erika; Swanston, Christopher W.; Torn, Margaret S.; Silver, Whendee L.; Burton, Sarah D. 2008. Chemical and mineral control of soil carbon turnover in abandoned tropical pastures.
• Marín-Spiotta, Erika; Swanston, Christopher W.; Torn, Margaret S.; Silver, Whendee L.; Burton, Sarah D. 2007. Chemical and mineral control of soil carbon turnover in abandoned tropical pastures..
• Crow, Susan E.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Lajtha, Kate; Brooks, J. Renee; Keirstead, Heath. 2007. Density fractionation of forest soils: methodological questions and interpretation of incubation results and turnover time in an ecosystem context.
• Sollins, Phillip; Swanston, Chris; Kramer, Marc. 2007. Stabilization and destabilization of soil organic matter--a new focus.

Citations of non US Forest Service Publications

• • Fröberg, M.; Jardine, P.M.; Hanson, P.J.; Swanston, C.W.; Todd, D.E.; Tarver, J.R.; Garten Jr., C.T. 2007. Low dissolved organic carbon input from fresh litter to deep mineral soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 71(2):347-354.
  • Krull, E.S.; Swanston, C.W.; Skjemstad, J.O.; McGowan, J.A. 2006. The importance of charcoal in determining the age and chemistry of organic carbon in surface soils. Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeochemistry. 111(G04001):doi:10.1029/2006JG000194.
  • Sollins, P.; Swanston, C.; Kleber, M.; Filley, T.; Kramer, M.; Crow, S.; Caldwell, B.A.; Lajtha, K.; Bowden, R. 2006. Organic C and N stabilization in a forest soil: Evidence from sequential density fractionation. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 38(11):3313-3324.
  • Hanson, P.J.; Swanston, C.W.; Garten Jr., C.T.; Todd, D.E.; Trumbore, S.E. 2005. Reconciling change in Oi-horizon carbon-14 with mass loss for an oak forest. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 69(5):1492-1502.
  • Swanston, C.W.; Torn, M.S.; Hanson, P.J.; Southon, J.R.; Garten, C.T.; Hanlon, E.M.; Ganio, L. 2005. Initial characterization of processes of soil carbon stabilization using forest stand-level radiocarbon enrichment. Geoderma. 128(1-2):52-62.
  • Swanston, C.; Homann, P.S.; Caldwell, B.A.; Myrold, D.D.; Ganio, L.; Sollins, P. 2004. Long-term effects of elevated nitrogen on forest soil organic matter stability. Biogeochemistry. 70(2):229-252.
  • Swanston, C.W.; Caldwell, B.A.; Homann, P.S.; Ganio, L.; Sollins, P. 2002. Carbon dynamics during a long-term incubation of separate and recombined density fractions from seven forest soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 34(8):1121-1130.
  • Homann, P.S.; Caldwell, B.A.; Chappell, H.N.; Sollins, P.; Swanston, C.W. 2001. Douglas-fir soil C and N properties a decade after termination of urea fertilization. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 31(12):2225-2236.
  • Sollins, P.; Glassman, C.A.; Paul, E.A.; Swanston, C.; Lajtha, K.; Heil, J.W.; Elliott, E.T. 1999. Soil Carbon and Nitrogen: Pools and Fractions. In: G. P. Robertson, C. S. Bledsoe, D. C. Coleman and P. Sollins, eds. Standard Soil Methods for Long-Term Ecological Research. New York: Oxford University Press. 89-105.
  • Swanston, C.W.; Myrold, D.D. 1998. Evaluation of the stem injection technique and subsequent 15N partitioning in red alder crowns. Plant and Soil. 198(1):63-69.
  • Swanston, C.W.; Myrold, D.D. 1997. Incorporation of nitrogen from decomposing red alder leaves into plants and soil of a recent clearcut in Oregon. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 27(9):1496-1502.

Research Highlights

Highlight	Title	Year
NRS-2014-018	Adaptation Demonstrations Provide Real World Examples of Climate Change Response Climate change will have long-term effects on forest ecosystems, and the services they provide. High-quality scientific information is critical, ...	2014
NRS-2017-26	Adapting urban forests to a changing climate A framework for urban forest vulnerability assessment and adaptation, piloted with partners in the Chicago region, is informing master planning ...	2017
NRS-2018-110	Another Benefit of Reforestation: Soil Carbon Sequestration The rate of carbon sequestration in forests is projected to decline in the decades ahead, largely because more forest land will be developed and ...	2018
NRS-2011-06	Assessing the Vulnerability of Northern Wisconsin's Forests to Climate Change A team of scientists and managers from the Forest Service and other organizations assessed the vulnerability of northern Wisconsin forests to cl ...	2011
NRS-2010-014	Climate Change Resource Center Website Now Includes Science Information from Northern and Southern Research Stations The Climate Change Resource Center (CCRC) website, which has provided practical, science-based information on managing ecosystems under climate ...	2010
NRS-2010-015	Climate Change Response Framework Project in Northern Wisconsin Models Strategies for Preparing for Global Climate Change Effects The Northern Research Station' Northern Institute of Applied Carbon Science and its cooperators---the Eastern Region, the Chequamegon-Nicolet Na ...	2010
NRS-2017-50	Radiocarbon sheds light on climate change and carbon cycle The Forest Service provides nationwide support for carbon and climate research through the Radiocarbon Collaborative, which has supported a wide ...	2017
NRS-2016-134	Resources Help Land Managers Adapt to a Changing Climate An adaptation planning tool developed by the Forest Service and its partners has helped generate more than 185 examples of climate change adapta ...	2016
NRS-2014-022	Scientists Collaborate to Deliver Best Science on Climate Change and Forests It's a challenge to bring partners together, but the Forest Service led more than 130 scientists and natural resource managers in the creation o ...	2014
NRS-2012-11	Scientists and Managers Work To Develop Climate-Smart Conservation Strategies Project that addresses the needs of land managers in a changing climate has expanded to nine States and more than 133 million acres	2012
NRS-2015-143	Urban Forestry Climate Change Response Framework Pilot Launched Forest Service scientists are working to incorporate climate change considerations into urban forest management in the Chicago area. Recently, t ...	2015