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New Mexico State University

Heather Throop
heather throop

Heather Throop


Title: Assistant Professor
Research area: Ecosystem Ecology
Office location: FH 377
Laboratory Location: FH 341
Email Address: throop@nmsu.edu
Office Phone: 575-646-5970
Lab Phone: 575-646-2934
Lab Webpage: http://biology-web.nmsu.edu/throop


Education:

  • Ph.D., SUNY Stony Brook
  • B.A., Carleton College

Courses Taught:

  • BIOL 301   Principles of Ecology
  • BIOL 408   Ecology of Plants
  • BIOL 568   Ecosystem Ecology

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Research Interests:
I am broadly interested in understanding how plants respond to environmental variability and influence ecosystem processes. In particular, my research explores the patterns by which plants respond to environmental variation and the patterns and mechanisms by which individual plants affect ecosystem-level processes. I am especially interested in understanding how these organism-ecosystem links are affected by abiotic and biotic perturbations (e.g. changes in nutrient availability, herbivory, and land management). I address these questions through research that integrates manipulative field experiments with modeling techniques. My experimental approach spans a broad a range of techniques, from the physiological level to the ecosystem level, allowing me to explore links among different levels of ecological organization.

Selected Publications:

  • Throop, H.L. and S. Archer.  2007.  Interrelationships among shrub encroachment, land management and leaf litter decomposition in a semi-desert grassland.  Ecological Applications in press.
  • Throop, H.L.  2005.  Nitrogen deposition and herbivory affect biomass production and allocation in annual plant.  Oikos 111:91-100.
  • Fay, P.A. and H.L. Throop.  2005.  Branching in Silphium integrifolium (Asteraceae) with meristem damage and competition.  American Journal of Botany 92:954-959.
  • Funk, J.L., C.G. Jones, D.W. Gray, H.L. Throop, L.A. Hyatt, and M. T. Lerdau.  2005.  Variation in isoprene emission from Quercus rubra: sources, causes, and consequences for estimating fluxes.  Journal of Geophysical Research 110(D4), D04301.
  • Throop, H.L., E.A. Holland, W.J. Parton, D.S. Ojima, and C.A. Keough.  2004.  Effects of nitrogen deposition and herbivory on ecosystem-level carbon and nitrogen dynamics:  results from the CENTURY model.  Globval Change Biology 10:1092-1105.
  • Throop, H.L. and M.T. Lerdau.  2004.  Effects of nitrogen deposition on insect herbivory:  implications for community and ecosystem processes.  Ecosystems 7:109-133. 
  • Lerdau, M. and H.L. Throop.  2000.  Sources of variability in isoprene emission and photosynthesis in tropical tree species.  Biotropica 32:670-676.
  • Lerdau, M. and H.L. Throop.  1999.  Isoprene emission and photosynthesis in a tropical wet forest canopy:  implications for model development.  Ecological Applications 9:1109-1117.
  • Throop, H.L. and P.A. Fay.  1999.  Effects of fire, browsers, and gallers on New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus herbaceous) growth and reproduction.  American Midland Naturalist 141:51-58.
  • Hinman, K.E., H.L. Throop, K.L. Adams, A.J. Dake, K. McLauchlan, and M.J. McKone.  1997.  Predation by free-ranging birds on partial coral snake mimics:  the importance of ring width and color.  Evolution 51:1011-1014.