The [ecological] life and times of
David Schimel
By:
Steve Hasstedt
Caroline Melle
Heather Scott
Kevin Wilcox
Education
• BA in Biology and Applied Mathematics: 1977,
Hampshire College, Amherst, Massachusetts
• Entry point into ecology was taking intro classes
to be better informed for general
backpacking/camping trips
– Drawn to the science of ecology, switched emphasis
from math/stats and came to CSU
• PhD in Rangeland Ecosystem Science: 1982,
Colorado State University
– Advisor: Dr. Bob Woodmansee
– PhD Dissertation: The Effects of
Hillslope Processes on Nutrient and
Organic Matter Dynamics in a Shortgrass Steppe. 1982
Education & Professional Development
• Key phrases/words: large scale
and international collaboration,
increase the general knowledge,
integration, synthesis
• Broad ecosystem based
perspectives fostered here at CSU
– International relationships developed
early
– Working with Bob Woodmansee
• Maintains contact & active
collaboration with PhD advisor,
faculty colleagues and students
Professional Experience
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‘76-77: Statistical Consultant, U Mass, Research Computing Center, Amhers
‘77-79: Research Assoc, Marine Biological Laboratory, Ecosystems Center, Woods
Hole, Mass.
‘79-82: Grad Research Asst, NREL, CSU
‘82-83: Postdoctoral Fellow, NREL, CSU
‘83-86: Research Assoc, NREL, CSU
‘86-present: Research Scientist, NREL, CSU
‘88-89: National Research Council Senior Fellow, NASA/Ames Research Center
‘89-95: Associate Prof, Dept of Forest & Wood Science, CSU
‘90-06: Project Scientist, Climate System Modeling Program, Univ Corp for
Atmospheric Research
‘92-93: Scientist III, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
‘92-97: Section Head, Climate and Global Dynamics Division, NCAR
‘95: Senior Research Scientist, NREL, CSU
‘95-present: Senior Scientist, NCAR
‘97-00: Professor and Director, Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
‘06: Chief Executive Officer for National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)
Journal/Research Affiliations
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REVIEWER:
Agronomy Journal
Department of Energy
Ecology
Geoderma
Geophyscial Research Letters
Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Global Change Biology
Journal of Climate
Journal of Geophysical Research
Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres
Journal of Range Management
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Panelist
Nature
Science
Soil Biology and Biochemistry
Soil Science Society of America Journal
CONSULTING EDITOR:
Biogeochemistry
Ecological Applications
Global Change Biology
EDITOR‐IN‐CHIEF
Ecological Applications
Editorial Board Annual Reviews of Ecology and
Systematics
Notable Advisees
• Dennis Ojima: professor in the Department of
Forest, Rangelands and Watershed Stewardship
and senior research scientist at the Natural
Resource Ecology Laboratory
• Karyn Coppinger: Sr. Development Mgr for
Invenenergy & Chairman of Wyoming Power
Producers Coalition, wind energy
generation
– Daughter of his undergrad advisor!
• Harald Buggman: Professur fur Waldokologie,
specializing in ecology of mountain regions and
dendrochronology at ETH, Zurich (Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology)
Publications Overview
• Contributed to over 400 publications
from 1978-2010 (Google Scholar)
• Cumulative works cited over 8500
times
• Published in over 50 forums
• Contributed to 6 books and 5 book
series
Year
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
1979
1978
Published Articles in Each Year
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9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
First Author Publications by Year
4
First Author Publications
3
2
1
0
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Year
Most Cited Publications
• Analysis of factors controlling soil organic matter levels in greatplains grasslands 1987
– 2nd author
– Published in Soil Society of America
– Citations: 1444 times - 60/year
• Terrestrial ecosystems and the carbon-cycle 1995
– First author
– Published in Global Change Biology
– Citations: 577 - 36/year
• Title: Observations and modeling of biomass and soil organicmatter dynamics for the grassland biome worldwide 1993
– 3rd author +
– Published in Global Biogeochemical Cycles
– Citations: 438 - 24/year
Citations of Works by Year Published
Analysis of factors controlling soil organic
matter levels in great-plains grasslands
Terrestrial
Ecosystems and the
Carbon-Cycle
1600
Observations
and modeling of
biomass and soil
organic-matter
1400
1200
Citations
1000
Total Citations of All Publications
800
Average Citations per Publication
600
400
200
0
1983
1988
1993
1998
Year Published
2003
2008
ANALYSIS OF FACTORS CONTROLLING SOIL ORGANIC-MATTER
LEVELS IN GREAT-PLAINS GRASSLANDS
Summary Information
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Most cited publication: 1444 Citations
Schimel 2nd Author, Parton 1st Author
Published 1987 in Soil Society of America
Study done in the US Great Plains
Climatic and textural controls of SOC & N examined
Model of SOM quantity and composition and
productivity over climatic gradients
• Regional trends of SOM based on temperature,
moisture, soil texture, and plant lignin
• N inputs and grazing controls of SOM also considered
ANALYSIS OF FACTORS CONTROLLING SOIL ORGANIC-MATTER
LEVELS IN GREAT-PLAINS GRASSLANDS
David Schimel’s Take: Why Cited So Often?
• Many existing publications on controls of SOM at the
time, but 2 novel features of this publication:
– First quantitative theory to explain amount &
distribution of soil C based on climate factors
– First to incorporate both spatial and temporal
variability on large scales
• Became the foundation for subsequent work by
explaining patterns of variability on regional scales
• Schimel originally wanted to publish model based on
intensive sites, but was glad Parton won the argument to
publish the model on regional scale
Common Subjects of Publications
Number of Publication Titles Containing Frequent Themes
74
113
Carbon
Nitrogen
Methane
Climate Change
Modeling
99
48
22
17
Grasslands
Publications by Journal
Prominent and Most Published Journals
• Ecology
– 4 Publications
– 1991-2001
– Articles cited 369 times
• Global Biogeochemical
Cycles
– 12 Publications
– 1993-2002
– Articles cited 1661 times
• Global Change Biology
– 7 Publications
– 1995-2008
– Articles cited 853 times
• Nature
– 3 Publications
– 1998-2008
– Articles cited 459 times
• Science
– 3 Publications
– 1997-2010
– Articles cited 338 times
IPCC
• 1994 – 95:Convening lead
author for chapters on Carbon
cycling and impacts in North
America
• Awarded Nobel Prize in 2007
• Described experience as, “
fun, exciting, terrific” and that
he was “doing research not
assessment”
• The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is, in
Dr. Schimel’s opinion, “…an opportunity to fill the data
deficit.”
• NEON will:
– Collect data uniformly across the United States
– Use large spatial and temporal scales to look at the impacts of:
• Climate change
• Land use change
• Invasive species on natural resources and biodiversity.
• Described by Science as, “The biggest project in the history
of ecology… The Hubble telescope of ecology.” Data will be
open source
• Dr. Schimel is doing, at NEON, a lot of “what [he] got into
Ecology to avoid” (managerial work) because he believes
strongly in what NEON is trying to achieve.
Affiliations and Awards (the big stuff)
• 1992 – Present - National Center for
Atmospheric Research, Climate and Global
Dynamics Division
• Committee on Global Change Research in
China, National Academy of Sciences
• NASA
– Earth Observing System Project
• Chairman of the Biogeochemistry Panel
– Topographic Science Working Group
Dr. Schimel’s thoughts on CSU
• “so many outstanding graduates because of
large amount of collaboration”
• Coming to CSU
– Nov. 19
– 11:00am – noon Francis Clark Conference room
B215 NESB
– Insights across the decades: the development of
biogeochimistry at and around CSU