Current Research

My research focuses on understanding the response of ecological systems to changing and altered landscapes. I work at a variety of scales and use a multitude of quantitative tools to address questions of climate change impacts and avian migration.

Climate Change research: our efforts have focused specifically on modeling the response of 147 bird species' habitats and 134 tree species' habitats to climate change across the Eastern United States. As our modeling efforts continue, we are striving to create decision support tools to integrate and synthesize this work for the public and land managers.

Avian Migration: I am exploring questions on the habitat requirements and behavioral decisions of migrant birds during migratory stopover within rapidly urbanizing metropolitan areas.

Research Interests

I plan to continue my current research, and I would like to expand the breadth of my focus to include other taxa. In addition, I hope to contribute to new research areas where I can apply my interest of quantitative ecology to gain further perspective of how landscape changes may influence ecological communities.

Why This Research is Important

With greater awareness that global climate change is becoming reality and that urbanization is increasing worldwide, both of these research avenues represent areas of increased importance within the field of landscape ecology.

Education

• Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, Ph.D. Natural Resources 2008
• University of Maine, Orono, Maine, M.S. Wildlife Ecology 2003
• Frostburg State University, Frostburg, Maryland, B.S. Wildlife Biology 1997

Professional Organizations

• International Association for Landscape Ecology
• Ecological Society of America

Featured Publications & Products

• 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.
• Matthews, Stephen; Iverson, Louis; Prasad, Anantha; Peters, Matthew. 2010. Potential impacts of climate change on bird and tree habitats within the Appalachian Mountains.
• Iverson, Louis; Prasad, Anantha; Matthews, Stephen; Peters, Matthew; Hoover, Ceoli. 2010. Potential changes in habitat suitability under climate change: lessons learned from 15 years of species modelling.
• Prasad, Anantha M.; Iverson, Louis R.; Peters, Matthew P.; Bossenbroek, Jonathan M.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Sydnor, T. Davis; Schwartz, Mark W. 2010. Modeling the invasive emerald ash borer risk of spread using a spatially explicit cellular model.
• Iverson, Louis R.; Prasad, Anantha M.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Peters, Matthew P. 2010. Merger of three modeling approaches to assess potential effects of climate change on trees in the eastern United States.

Publications

• Moser, W. Keith; Butler-Leopold, Patricia ; Hausman, Constance ; Iverson, Louise ; Ontl, Todd ; Brand, Leslie ; Matthews, Stephen ; Peters, Matthew ; Prasad, Anantha . 2020. The impact of climate change on forest systems in the northern United States: Projections and implications for forest management Chapter 8.
• Iverson, Louis R.; Peters, Matthew P.; Prasad, Anantha M.; Matthews, Stephen N. 2019. Analysis of Climate Change Impacts on Tree Species of the Eastern US: Results of DISTRIB-II Modeling.
• Iverson, Louis R.; Prasad, Anantha M.; Peters, Matthew P.; Matthews, Stephen N. 2019. Facilitating Adaptive Forest Management under Climate Change: A Spatially Specific Synthesis of 125 Species for Habitat Changes and Assisted Migration over the Eastern United States.
• Iverson, Louis R.; Bartig, Jarel L.; Nowacki, Gregory J.; Peters, Matthew P.; Dyer, James M.; Hutchinson, Todd F.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Adams, Bryce T. 2019. USDA Forest Service section, subsection, and landtype descriptions for southeastern Ohio.
• Peters, Matthew P.; Iverson, Louis R.; Prasad, Anantha M.; Matthews, Stephen N. 2019. Utilizing the density of inventory samples to define a hybrid lattice for species distribution models: DISTRIB II for 135 eastern U.S. trees.
• Matthews, Stephen N.; Iverson, Louis R.; Peters, Matthew P.; Prasad, Anantha M. 2018. Assessing potential climate change pressures across the conterminous United States: mapping plant hardiness zones, heat zones, growing degree days, and cumulative drought severity throughout this century.
• 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.
• Iverson, Louis R.; Peters, Matthew P.; Bartig, Jarel L.; Rebbeck, Joanne; Hutchinson, Todd F.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Stout, Susan. 2018. Spatial modeling and inventories for prioritizing investment into oak-hickory restoration.
• 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.
• Matthews, Stephen N.; Iverson, Louis R. 2017. Managing for delicious ecosystem service under climate change: can United States sugar maple (Acer saccharum) syrup production be maintained in a warming climate.
• 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.
• Prasad, Anantha M.; Iverson, Louis R.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Peters, Matthew P. 2016. A multistage decision support framework to guide tree species management under climate change via habitat suitability and colonization models, and a knowledge-based scoring system.
• Nelson, Mark D.; Barnett, Charles J.; Brewer, Matt; Butler, Brett J.; Crocker, Susan J.; Domke, Grant M.; Gormanson, Dale D.; Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Lister, Tonya W.; Matthews, Stephen; McWilliams, William H.; Meneguzzo, Dacia M.; Miles, Patrick D.; Morin, Randall S.; Piva, Ronald J.; Riemann, Rachel; Smith, James E.; Walters, Brian F.; Westfall, Jim; Woodall, Christopher W. 2016. Iowa Forests, 2013.
• Clark, James S.; Iverson, Louis; Woodall, Christopher W.; Allen, Craig D.; Bell, David M.; Bragg, Don C.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Davis, Frank W.; Hersh, Michelle H.; Ibanez, Ines; Jackson, Stephen T.; Matthews, Stephen; Pederson, Neil; Peters, Matthew; Schwartz, Mark W.; Waring, Kristen M.; Zimmermann, Niklaus E. 2016. The impacts of increasing drought on forest dynamics, structure, and biodiversity in the United States.
• 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.
• Peters, Matthew P.; Iverson, Louis R.; Matthews, Stephen N. 2015. Long-term droughtiness and drought tolerance of eastern US forests over five decades.
• Iverson, Louis; Knight, Kathleen S.; Prasad, Anantha; Herms, Daniel A.; Matthews, Stephen; Peters, Matthew; Smith, Annemarie; Hartzler, Diane M.; Long, Robert; Almendinger, John. 2015. Potential species replacements for black ash (Fraxinus nigra) at the confluence of two threats: Emerald ash borer and a changing climate.
• 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.
• Matthews, Stephen N.; Iverson, Louis R.; Peters, Matthew P.; Prasad, Anantha M.; Subburayalu, Sakthi. 2014. Assessing and comparing risk to climate changes among forested locations: implications for ecosystem services.
• 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.
• Iverson, Louis R.; Prasad, Anantha M.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Peters, Matthew P. 2014. Climate as an agent of change in forest landscapes.
• 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.
• 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.
• Ojima, Dennis S.; Iverson, Louis R.; Sohngen, Brent L.; Vose, James M.; Woodall, Christopher W.; Domke, Grant M.; Peterson, David L.; Littell, Jeremy S.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Prasad, Anantha M.; Peters, Matthew P.; Yohe, Gary W.; Friggens, Megan M. 2014. Risk assessment Chapter 9.
• Peters, Matthew P.; Iverson, Louis R.; Matthews, Stephen N. 2014. Spatio-temporal trends of drought by forest type in the conterminous United States, 1960-2013.
• Iverson, Louis R.; Peters, Matthew P.; Matthews, Stephen; Prasad, Anantha. 2013. An overview of some concepts, potentials, issues, and realities of assisted migration for climate change adaptation in forests.
• Yaussy, Daniel A.; Iverson, Louis R.; Matthews, Stephen N. 2013. Competition and climate affects US hardwood-forest tree mortality.
• Peters, Matthew P.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Iverson, Louis R.; Prasad, Anantha M. 2013. Delineating generalized species boundaries from species distribution data and a species distribution model.
• Prasad, Anantha M.; Gardiner, Judith D.; Iverson, Louis R.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Peters, Matthew. 2013. Exploring tree species colonization potentials using a spatially explicit simulation model: implications for four oaks under climate change.
• Peters, Matthew P.; Iverson, Louis R.; Prasad, Anantha M.; Matthews, Steve N. 2013. Integrating fine-scale soil data into species distribution models: preparing Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) data from multiple counties.
• Peters, Matthew P.; Iverson, Louis R.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Prasad, Anantha M. 2013. Wildfire hazard mapping: exploring site conditions in eastern US wildland—ruban interfaces.
• Friggens, Megan M.; Matthews, Stephen N. 2012. Appendix 2: Risk-based framework and risk case studies. Risk Assessment for two bird species in northern Wisconsin..
• Iverson, Louis R.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Prasad, Anantha M.; Peters, Matthew P.; Yohe, Gary W. 2012. Appendix 2: Risk-based framework and risk case studies. Risk assessment for forested habitats in northern Wisconsin..
• Iverson, Louis R.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Prasad, Anantha M.; Peters, Matthew P.; Yohe, Gary. 2012. Development of risk matrices for evaluating climatic change responses of forested habitats.
• Friggens, Megan M.; Matthews, Stephen N. 2012. Risk assessment for two bird species in northern Wisconsin.
• Matthews, Stephen N.; Iverson, Louis R.; Prasad, Anantha M.; Peters, Matthew P. 2011. Changes in potential habitat of 147 North American breeding bird species in response to redistribution of trees and climate following predicted climate change.
• Iverson, Louis R.; Prasad, Anantha M.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Peters, Matthew P. 2011. Lessons learned while integrating habitat, dispersal, disturbance, and life-history traits into species habitat models under climate change.
• Matthews, Stephen N.; Iverson, Louis R.; Prasad, Anantha M.; Peters, Matthew P.; Rodewald, Paul G. 2011. Modifying climate change habitat models using tree species-specific assessments of model uncertainty and life history-factors.
• Iverson, Louis; Prasad, Anantha; Knight, Kathleen S.; Herms, Daniel A.; Matthews, Stephen; Peters, Matthew; Smith, Annemarie; Long, Robert. 2011. Potential replacements for northwoods black ash in a changing climate: the confluence of two challenges.
• Prasad, Anantha; Iverson, Louis; Peters, Matthew; Matthews, Steve. 2011. Using a cellular model to explore human-facilitated spread of risk of EAB in Minnesota.
• Hellmann, Jessica J.; Nadelhoffer, Knute J.; Iverson, Louis R.; Ziska, Lewis H.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Myers, Philip; Prasad, Anantha M.; Peters, Matthew P. 2010. Climate change impacts on terrestrial ecosystems in metropolitan Chicago and its surrounding, multi-state region.
• Prasad, Anantha; Iverson, Louis; Matthews, Stephen; Peters, Matthew. 2010. Climate change poses additional threat to the future of ash resources in the eastern United States.
• Prasad, Anantha; Iverson, Louis; S. Matthews, Stephen; Peters, Matt. 2009. Atlases of tree and bird species habitats for current and future climates.
• Iverson, Louis R.; Prasad, Anantha N.; Matthews, Stephen M.; Peters, Matthew P. 2009. Potential changes in tree habitat under Illinois climate change. Chapter 16.
• Iverson, Louis R.; Prasad, Anantha M.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Peters, Matthew. 2008. Estimating potential habitat for 134 eastern US tree species under six climate scenarios.
• Iverson, Louis; Prasad, Anantha; Matthews, Stephen. 2008. Modeling potential climate change impacts on the trees of the northeastern United States.
• Rodenhouse, N.L.; Matthews, S.N.; McFarland, K.P.; Lambert, J.D.; Iverson, L.R.; Prasad, A.; Stillett, T.S.; Holmes, R.T. 2008. Potential effects of climate change on birds of the Northeast.
• Iverson, L.R.; Prasad, A.M.; Matthews, S.N.; Peters, M.P. 2007. Potential impacts of climate change on birds and trees of the eastern United States: newest climate scenarios and species abundance modelling techniques.
• Schwartz, Mark W.; Iverson, Louis R.; Prasad, Anantha M.; Matthews, Stephen N.; O'Connor, Raymond J.; O'Connor, Raymond J. 2006. Predicting extinctions as a result of climate change.
• Iverson, Louis; Prasad, Anantha; Schwartz, Mark; Matthews, Steven. 2006. Statistical modeling of current and potential future habitat, then simulation of potential colonization within that habitat, for tree species in the Eastern US.
• Matthews, Stephen; O'Connor, Raymond; Iverson, Louis R.; Prasad, Anantha M. 2004. Atlas of climate change effects in 150 bird species of the Eastern United States.

Research Highlights

Highlight	Title	Year
NRS-2012-04	Assessing Climate Change Risk to Eastern Forests Using Climate Change Tree Atlas Data New tool makes for better informed forest management decisions	2012
NRS-2014-064	Indexing Climate Change and Ecosystem Services Across Eastern Forests The diverse forests of the eastern United States provide a multitude of benefits that enhance human well-being. Climate change has the potential ...	2014
NRS-2017-66	Managing for a delicious ecosystem service under climate change Maple syrup is a highly valued resource produced primarily from the sap of the sugar maple. Understanding how this resource may be impacted by c ...	2017
NRS-2018-107	Mapping U.S. Drought Projections Helps Foresters Plan for Sustainability Droughts are natural disturbances that can cause negative effects on natural ecosystems and also have important social and economic consequences ...	2018