Expert Source: Amy L. Downing, Ph.D.

Amy Downing teaches courses in conservation biology, marine biology, invertebrate zoology, and animals and their environment. Her current research explores how biological diversity and the loss of species influence ecosystem processes in freshwater ponds. Her goal is to help to determine the consequences of biodiversity loss as humans continue to alter both species richness and species composition at rapid rates in ecosystems around the world.

Education:

• B.S., Lawrence University
• M.S., University of Chicago
• Ph.D., University of Chicago

Areas of Expertise:

• Conservation biology
• Marine biology
• Invertebrate zoology
• Animals and their environment
• Freshwater ecology

Selected Publications:

• Downing, Amy L., et al. “Community and Ecosystem Responses to a Pulsed Pesticide Disturbance in Freshwater Ecosystems.” Ecotoxicology. 17 (2008): 539-548.
• Downing, Amy L., et al. “Diversity has Stronger Top-Down than Bottom-Up Effects on Decomposition.” Ecology. 90 (2009): 1073-1083.
• Downing, Amy L., et al. “Effects of Biodiversity on the Functioning of Ecosystems: A Summary of 164 Experimental Manipulations of Species Richness.” Ecology. 90 (2009): 854.
• Downing, Amy L., et al. “Environmental Fluctuations Induce Scale-Dependent Compensation and Increase Stability    in Plankton Ecosystems.” Ecology. 89 (2009): 3204-3214.
• Cardinale, B.J., D.S. Srivastava, J.E. Duffy, J.P. Wright, A.L. Downing, M. Sankaran, and C. Jouseau. 2006. “Effects of Biodiversity on the Functioning of Trophic Groups and Ecosystems,” Nature 443.7114: 989-992.
• Downing, A.L. 2005. “Relative effects of species composition and richness on pond ecosystem properties in ponds.” Ecology 86(3): 701-715.
• Solan, M., B.J. Cardinale, A.L. Downing, K.A.M. Engelhardt, J.L. Ruesink, D.S. Srivastava. 2004. “Extinction and ecosystem function in the marine benthos.” Science 306: 1177-1180.