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Melany C. Fisk

Biographical Information

I am a forest ecosystem scientist focusing on the study of multiple element interactions. 

Research interests

Our work focuses on plant and microbial responses to interactions among multiple nutrient elements (nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and carbon), to better understand controls of forest productivity and potential consequences of environmental change.

Education

• Ph.D., Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, 1995

Selected Publications

• *Blumenthal N, Stevens MH, Goswami S, Yanai RD, Fahey TJ, Fisk MC. 2025. N and P co-limitation of forest growth in northern hardwoods.  Ecology 106:e70217.
• *Goswami S, Fisk MC. 2024.  Elevated P availability slows N recycling in northern hardwood forests.  Forest Ecology and Management 570:122203.
• *Li S, Fisk MC, Yanai RD, Fahey TJ.  2023. Co-limitation of root growth by nitrogen and phosphorus in early successional northern hardwood forest. Ecosystems 27:33-44.  DOI: 10.1007/s10021-023-00869-7
• *Shan S, *Devens H, Fahey TJ, Yanai RD, Fisk MC.  2022. Fine root growth increases in response to nitrogen addition in phosphorus-limited northern hardwood forests. Ecosystems 25:1589-1600. doi.org/10.1007/s10021-021-00735-4
• *Mahon MB, Fisk MC, and Crist TO. 2020. Interactive effects of white-tailed deer, an invasive shrub, and exotic earthworms on leaf litter decomposition. Ecosystems 23: 1523-1535.
• *Goswami S, Fisk MC, Vadeboncoeur MA, Johnston M, Yanai RD, and Fahey TJ.  2018.  Phosphorus limitation of aboveground production in northern hardwood forests. Ecology 99: 438-449.
• Goswami S, Fisk MC, Vadeboncoeur MA, Johnston M, Yanai RD, and Fahey TJ.  2018.  Phosphorus limitation of aboveground production in northern hardwood forests.  Ecology 99: 438-449.
• Minick KJ, Fisk MC, Groffman PM.  2017. Soil calcium alters processes contributing to C and N retention in the Oa/A horizon of a northern hardwood forest.  Biogeochemistry 132:343-357.
• Locey KJ, Fisk MC, Lennon JT.  2017.  Micro-scale insight into microbial seed banks.  Frontiers in Microbiology 7:2040.  doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.02040.
• Ratliff TJ, Fisk MC.  2016.  Phosphatase activity is related to N availability but not P availability across hardwood forests in the northeastern United States.  Soil Biology and Biochemistry 94:61-69.
• Fisk MC, Santangelo S, Minick KJ.  2015.  Carbon mineralization is promoted by phosphorus and reduced by nitrogen addition in the organic horizon of northern hardwood forests. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 81: 212-218.
• Dempsey MA, Fisk MC, Fahey TJ, Yavitt JB, and Balser TC.  2013. Exotic earthworms alter soil microbial community composition and function.  Soil Biology and Biochemistry 67:263-270.
• Groffman, PM, Rustadt LE, Templer PH, Campbell JL, Christenson LM, Lany NK, Socci AM, Vadeboncouer MA, Schaberg PG, Wilson GF, Driscoll CT, Fahey TJ, Fisk MC, Goodale CL, Green MB, Hamburg SP, Johnson CE, Mitchell MJ, Morse JL, Pardo LH, Rodenhouse NL. 2012. Long-term integrated studies show that climate change effects are manifest in complex and surprising ways in the northern hardwood forest.  BioScience 62: 1056-1066.
• Fisk MC, Sobieraj JH, Fahey TJ, Costello AM, Crist TO. 2011.  Rhizosphere disturbance influences fungal colonization and community development on dead fine roots. Plant and Soil 341: 279-293.

Courses Taught

• BIO 205, Dendrology
• BIO 209, Ecology
• BIO 438/538, Soil ecology and sustainable use
• BIO 672, Ecosystem and global ecology

Back to Directory

• Center for Aquatic and Watershed Sciences
• Ecology Research Center
• Institute for the Environment and Sustainability