John Drake

I am a plant physiologist and ecosystem ecologist.

Much of my current work relates to tree physiological adjustments to changes in means and extremes of temperature and water availability, and how these changes influence ecosystem C storage. I am expanding my body of research to include how to manage forests to be resistent and resilient to climate change. Specific areas of interest and expertise include:

• Physiological acclimation of photosynthesis and respiration, particularly to temperature
• The allocation and use of C by trees
• Stable isotopes, particularly 13C and 18O
• Modeling photosynthesis in response to the environment, particularly in the context of drought
• Forest C stocks and fluxes
• Forest C storage under elevated concentrations of atmospheric CO2
• Trace gas emissions from soil, including CO2, N2O, and CH4
• Root-soil interactions as drivers of soil nutrient availability

We study how the physiology of trees interacts with the environment to drive forest function.

John is excited about how trees work, and how trees contribute to the production of natural resources such as wood production and C storage.

Research Projects:

• Experimental warming
• Elevated carbon dioxide concentration
• Drought and tree water relations
• Forest production across an age gradient
• The hidden half: roots