Alice Besterman, Ph.D.

she/her/hers

Assistant Professor

Name

Contact Info

Phone:
Office:
Science Complex, Room 4101H

Education

Ph.D., Environmental Science, University of Virginia

B.S., Environmental Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University

Areas of Expertise

Estuarine and coastal ecology

Ecosystems

Landscapes

Biography

I am an ecologist generally interested in the role of landscape-scale, physical drivers (e.g., tidal flooding dynamics) on habitat formation in ecosystems, and the resulting organization of biological communities and ecosystem functions. I use diverse methods integrating theory and techniques from many fields including ecosystem ecology, geomorphology, hydrology and population/community ecology.  

I am interested in socially relevant research and global changes provide the context for much of my work. In both my research and teaching I emphasize diverse perspectives. My collaborations include applied scientists, land trusts, and natural resource managers. In order to better understand local ecology and the problems that human communities face I work closely with community organizations.

Selected Publications

  • Besterman, A.F., Jakuba, R.W., Ferguson, W. et al. for Salt Marshes. Estuaries and Coasts 45, 1491–1501 (2022). 
  • Tassone, S.J., Besterman, A.F., Buelo, C.D., Ha, D.T., Walter, J.A. and Pace, M.L. (2023), I. Limnol. Oceanogr. Lett. 
  • Besterman, A. F., and Pace, M. L.. 2021. . Ecology 102( 12):e03540. 
  • Besterman AF, Karpanty SM, Pace ML (2020) PLoS ONE 15(4): e0231337.

Teaching

  • BIOL 402/502: General Ecology