Dr. Mike Koontz

Dr. Koontz leads the development of plant ecology and climate change science at Vibrant Planet by operationalizing existing research and leading new investigations into the dynamics of disturbance-prone systems. His work informs estimates of natural hazard potential, ecological responses to disturbance, departure from target conditions, and opportunities for ecosystem restoration. He combines a firm grounding in ecological theory, cutting edge geospatial data analytics, and a collaborative, open science ethos to understand how disturbance and demography operate across scales to shape ecosystem resilience in a changing climate.