Jorge Duran Humia
Forest Ecologist Ph.D., 2009
Pablo de Olavide University

Dr. Duran´s research focuses on effects of perturbations on soil nutrient cycling and  on plant-soil relationships in forest ecosystems. His PhD dissertation addressed the long-term effects of wildfires on the biogeochemistry of pine forests of La Palma Island (Canary Islands, Spain). Wildfires can significantly alter soil nutrient cycles and forest nutritional status, affecting ecosystem function and productivity. The effects of this perturbation on several ecosystems is gaining interest since climate change is expected to increase fire frequency and intensity in many forest systems. His current research focuses on how changing climate will alter patterns of snow depth, soil freezing and carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles in forest ecosystems.

Current Research

As a Fulbright postdoctoral scientist, Dr. Duran has joined Dr. Groffman’s research group, and is currently investigating how changing climate will alter patterns of snow depth, soil freezing and the processing of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in forest ecosystems. This research project is being carried out in an elevation gradient located in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF), which encompasses the range of climate variability that has been predicted for the northeastern U.S. over the next 50-100 years. Measurements of soil temperature, moisture and frost, soil solution chemistry and transport, and microbial biomass and activity will be made at these sites to explore critical uncertainties surrounding soil freezing events and their effects on C processing and N retention.