Molly Smith Cross

	Molly Smith Cross BSI Visiting Scientist Environmental Science, Policy & Management University of California, Berkeley Ph.D. candidate, University of California, Berkeley B.Sc., 1997, Brown University   Room 232E AJM Johnson Hall Montana State University (406) 994-7023 msmith@nature.berkeley.edu

Molly Smith Bio

I am broadly interested in the ecosystem impacts of global environmental change. My Ph.D. research has focused on the consequences of climate warming, plant species loss and increased nitrogen availability in a subalpine meadow in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Using field experiments, my advisor and I have addressed such questions as: 1) how will plant species diversity be affected by future warming?; 2) how will the loss of warming-sensitive plant species affect important ecosystem functions such as productivity and nutrient cycling?; and 3) how will the loss of warming-sensitive plant species affect the ecosystem’s response to increased nitrogen availability? I am currently developing a proposal to examine how future changes in climate and land-use could affect the distribution of non-native plant species throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

In addition to exploring ecosystem responses to human-induced environmental changes, I am also interested in how this type of scientific information is used in setting environmental policy. Improved communication is needed between the scientific and environmental communities on issues ranging from climate change mitigation and adaptation, land conservation, forest management, wildlife habitat protection, etc. Ultimately, I would like to be an advocate for the use of science in developing environmental policies and land conservation strategies.