Thomas G. Pypker

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Thomas G. Pypker

Assistant Professor, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

  • PhD, Forest Micrometeorology and Ecohydrology, Oregon State University
  • MS, Natural Resource Management, University of Northern BC
  • BS, Geography and Environmental Science, McMaster University
"How can something as small as a lichen possibly affect the hydrology of a forest?"

Forest Hydrologist and Micrometeorologist

One my most rewarding moments while conducting research occurs when I begin to see how two seemingly unrelated components of the environment affect one another. My research focuses on improving our knowledge of how biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem interact to affect the exchange of matter and energy between plants and the atmosphere.

The ultimate goal of my research is to improve our knowledge of how changes in climate and/or land-use will affect ecosystems and water resources. My research uses state-of-the-art techniques (e.g. sap flow, stable isotopes, micrometeorology) to reveal patterns and processes at scales ranging from the leaf to the ecosystem. Current research projects include: carbon and water dynamics in peatlands and the effect of emerald ash borer on the hydrology and ecology of black ash swamps.

Recent Publications

  • Licata, JA, TG Pypker, M Weigandt, MH Unsworth, JE Gyenge, ME Fernandez, TM Schichter and BJ Bond (2011) Decreased rainfall interception balances increased transpiration in exotic ponderosa pine plantations compared with native cypress stands in Patagonia, Argentina. Ecohydrology 4, 83-93
  • Harless, ML, CJ Huckins, JB Grant and TG Pypker (2011) Effects of six chemical deicers on larval wood frogs (Rana sylvatica). Environmental Toxicity and Chemistry 30, 1637-1641.
  • Tarasoff, CS, DA Ball, TG Pypker, CA Mallory-Smith and KM Irvine (2010) Site characteristics associated with Nutallâs and weeping alkaligrass in northeastern Oregon. Northwest Science 84, 351-360.
  • Kayler, ZE, L Ganio, M Hauck, TG Pypker, EW Sulzman, AC Mix and BJ Bond (in press) Bias and uncertainty of 13CO2 isotopic mixing models applied to experimental conditions in small vs. large CO2 concentration regimes. Oecologia.
  • (Invited) Pypker, TG, HR Barnard, M Hauck, EW Sulzman, MH Unsworth, AC Mix, A Kennedy and BJ Bond (2009) Can carbon isotopes be used to predict watershed scale transpiration? Water Resources Research 45, W00D35.
  • Pypker, TG, M Hauck, EW Sulzman, M H Unsworth, A C Mix, Z Kayler, D Conklin, A Kennedy, HR Barnard, C Phillips and BJ Bond (2008) Toward using δ13C of ecosystem respiration to monitor canopy physiology in complex terrain. Oecologia 158, 399-41.
  • Pypker TG, MH Unsworth, B Lamb, G Allwine, S Edburg, E Sulzman, AC Mix and BJ Bond (2007) Cold air drainage in a forested valley: investigating the feasibility of monitoring ecosystem metabolism. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 145, 149-166.
  • Pypker, TG, MH Unsworth, AC Mix, W Rugh, T Ocheltree, K Alstad and BJ Bond (2007) Using nocturnal cold air drainage flow to monitor ecosystem processes in complex terrain. Ecological Applications 17, 702-714.
  • USDA - Future of black ash wetlands in the northern Great Lakes Region. (2011-2012) ($476,976) (Pypker, Kolka, D'Amato, Storer, Sebestyen, Palik, Fedora, Tarasoff)
  • US Forest Service. Carbon, water and soils research support. (2011-2012) ($137,454) (Schmidt, Pypker, Chimner, Burton)
  • CMD: Private Company - Inventory of vegetation communities on select restored stamp sands within the Torch Lake Superfund site. (2011-2011) ($36,236) (Tarasoff, Pypker)
  • DOE - Carbon-water Cycling in the Critical Zone: Understanding Ecosystem Process Variability Across Complex Terrain (2011-2014) ($647,020) (Barnard, Brooks, Pypker)