Our Environment at Berkeley

Whendee Silver

Professor and Rudy Grah Chair

Dr. Whendee Silver is the Rudy Grah Chair and Professor of Ecosystem Ecology and Biogeochemistry in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at U.C. Berkeley. She received her PhD in Ecosystem Ecology from Yale University. Her work seeks to determine the biogeochemical effects of climate change and human impacts on the environment, and the potential for mitigating these effects. The Silver Lab is currently working on drought and hurricane impacts on tropical forests, climate change mitigation potential of grasslands, and greenhouse gas dynamics of peatlands and wetlands. Professor Silver is the lead scientist of the Marin Carbon Project, which is determining the potential for land-based climate change mitigation, particularly by composting high-emission organic waste for soil amendments to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide. The Silver Lab was recently awarded the Innovation Prize by the American Carbon Registry. Professor Silver is a fellow of the Ecological Society of America and was named a University of California Climate Champion for 2016 for outstanding teaching, research and public service in the areas of climate change solutions, action and broad engagement.

Education

PhD Ecosystem Ecology Yale University, 1992
MS Forest Science Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, 1987
B.I.S. Environmental Studies School for International Training, 1982

Research Interests / Specializations:

Ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry

Research Description:

My research seeks to determine the biogeochemical effects of climate change and human impacts on the environment, and the potential for mitigating these effects. My current research program has three primary foci: (1) the impacts of deforestation, reforestation, grazing, and other land-use practices on carbon losses, carbon sequestration, and biogeochemical cycling, (2) retention and loss of carbon and nitrogen under variable redox conditions and (3) the impacts of water and agricultural management on greenhouse gas emissions.

Selected Publications

146. Richter, D. D., Billings, S. A., Groffman, P. M., Kelly, E. F., Lohse, K. A., McDowell, W. H., Riebe, C., Silver, W. L., White, T. S., Anderson, S., Brantley, S., Brecheisen, Z. S., Chadwick, O. A., Hartnett, H. E., Hobbie, S. E., Kazanski, C. E., Markewitz, D., O'Neill, K., Schroeder, P., and Thompson, A. 2018. Elevating the biogeosciences within environmental research networks. Biogeosciences. doi.org/10.5194/bg-2018-67.

145.*Mayer, A., Z. Hausfather, A. D. Jones, and W. L. Silver. 2018. The Potential of Agricultural Land Management to Contribute to Lower Global Surface Temperatures. Sciences Advances. In Press.

144.*Maga, G. D.M.A. Rozendaal, L. Poorter, F. Bongers, J.I. Sprent, M.D. Garner, T.M. Aide, J.L.  Andrade, P. Balvanera, J.M. Becknell1, P. Brancalion1, G.A.L. Cabral1, R.G. César1, R.L. Chazdon, R.J. Cole, G. Dalla Colletta, B. de Jong, J.S. Denslow, D.H. Dent, S.J. DeWalt, J.M. Dupuy, S.M. Durán, M. Marcos do Espírito Santo, G.W. Fernandes, Y.R. Ferreira Nunes, B. Finegan, V. Granda Moser, J.S. Hall, J. Hernández-Stefanoni, A.B. Junqueira, D. Kennard, E. Lebrija-Trejos, S.G. Letcher, M. Lohbeck, E. Marín-Spiotta, M. Martínez-Ramos, J.A. Meave, Duncan N. L. Menge, Francisco Mora, Rodrigo Muñoz, Robert Muscarella, Susana Ochoa-Gaona, E. Orihuela-Belmonte, R.a Ostertag, M. Peña-Claros , E.A. Pérez- García, D. Piotto, P.B. Reich, C. Reyes-García, J. Rodríguez- Velázquez, I.E. Romero-Pérez, L. Sanaphre-Villanueva, A. Sanchez-Azofeifa, N.B. Schwartz, A. Silva de Almeida, J. Silva de Almeida Cortez, W.L. Silver, V. Souza Moreno, B.W. Sullivan, N.G. Swenson, M. Uriarte, M. van Breugel, H. van der Wal, M. das Dores Magalhães Veloso, H.F.M. Vester, I. Célia Guimarães Vieira, J.K. Zimmerman, J.S. Powers. 2018. Legume abundance along successional and rainfall gradients in neotropical forests. Nature Ecology and EvolutionDOI: 10.1038/s41559-018-0559-6.

143.* Chamberlain, S. D., T. L. Anthony, W. L. Silver, E. Eichelmann, K. S. Hemes, P. Y. Oikawa, C. Sturtevant, D. J. Szutu, J. G. Verfaillie, and D. D. Baldocchi. 2018. Soil properties and sediment accretion modulate methane fluxes from restored wetlands. Global Change BiologyDOI: 10.1111/gcb.14124.

142.*O’Connell, C., L. Ruan, and W.L. Silver. 2018. Drought drives rapid shifts in tropical rainforest soil biogeochemistry and greenhouse gas emissions. Nature Communications DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03352-3.

141.*Gutierrez del Arroyo, O. and W. L. Silver. 2017. Disentangling the long-term effects of disturbance on soil biogeochemistry in a humid tropical forest in Puerto Rico. Global Change BiologyDOI: 10.1111/gcb.14027.

140.*Yang, W. H., G. McNicol, Y. A. Teh, K. Estera, T. E. Wood, and W. L. Silver. 2017. Evaluating the classical versus emerging conceptual model of peatland methane dynamics. Global Biogechemical Cycles31: 1435–1453. Highlighted in EOS.

139.* Harden, J., Hugelius, G., Ahlström, A., Blankinship, J., Bond-Lamberty, B., Lawrence, C., Loisel, J., Malhotra, A., Jackson, R., Ogle, S., Phillips, C., Ryals, R., Todd-Brown, K., Vargas, R., Vergara, S., Cotrufo, F., Keiluweit, M., Heckman, K., Crow, S., Silver, W.L., DeLonge, M., Nave, L. 2017. Networking our science to characterize the state, vulnerabilities, and management opportunities of soil organic matter. Global Change BiologyDOI: 10.1111/gcb.13896.

138.*Yang, W.H., R. Ryals, D.F. Cusack, and W.L. Silver. 2017. Cross-biome assessment of gross soil nitrogen cycling in California ecosystems. Soil Biology and Biochemistry107:144-155.

137. *Dialynas, Y. G., S. Bastola, R. L. Bras, E. Marin-Spiotta, W. L. Silver, E. Arnone, and L. V. Noto. 2016.Impact of hydrologically driven hillslope erosion and landslide occurrence on soil organic carbon dynamics in tropical watersheds. Water Resources Research52: 8895–8919

136. Cayuela, M.L., Aguilera E., Sanz-Cobena, A., Adams D.C., Abalos, D., Ryals, R., Silver, W.L., Barton, L.,  Alfaro M., Pappa, V., Smith, P., Garnier, J., Billen, G., Bouwman, L., Bondeau, A., Lassaletta, L. 2017. Direct nitrous oxide emissions in Mediterranean climate cropping systems: emission factors based on a meta-analysis of available measurement data. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment.  238:25-35.

135. *McNicol, G., C.S. Sturtevant, S.H. Knox, I. Dronova, D.D. Baldocchi, and W. L.Silver. 2017. Effects of seasonality, transport-pathway, and spatial structure on restored wetland greenhouse gas fluxes. Global Change Biology DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13580.

134. *Owen, J. J., and W. L. Silver. 2016. Greenhouse gas emissions from dairy manure management in a Mediterranean environment. Ecological Applications27: 545-559.

133. *Hall, S. J., D. Liptzin, H. Buss, K. DeAngelis, and W. L. Silver. 2016. Drivers and patterns of iron redox cycling from surface to bedrock in a deep tropical forest soil: a new conceptual model. Biogeochemistry130:177-190.

132.* Bouskill, N. J., T. E. Wood, R. Baran, Z. Ye, B. P. Bowen, H. C. Lim, J. Zhou, D Van Nostrand, P. Nico, T. R. Northen, W. L. Silver, E. L. Brodie. 2016. Belowground response to drought in a weathered tropical forest soil. I. Functional changes in microbial composition are induced by decreasing water potential. Frontiers in Microbiology 7:525. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00525.

131.* Bouskill, N. J., T. E. Wood, R. Baran, Z. Hao, Z. Ye, B. P. Bowen, H. C. Lim, P. Nico, H-Y Holman, B. Gilbert, W. L. Silver, T. R. Northen, E. L. Brodie. 2016. Belowground response to drought in a tropical forest soil. II. Change in microbial function impacts carbon composition. Frontiers in Microbiology 7:323. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00323.

130.* Hall, S. J., W. L. Silver, V. I. Timokhin, and K. E. Hammel. 2016. Iron addition suppressed mineralization of lignin methoxyls but did not impact total respiration from a humid tropical forest soil. Soil Biology & Biochemistry98: 95-98.

129* Yang, W. H. and W. L. Silver. 2016. Net soil–atmosphere fluxes mask patterns in gross production and consumption of nitrous oxide and methane in a managed ecosystem. Biogeosciences 13: 1705-1715.

128.* Yang, W. H. and W. L. Silver. 2016. Gross nitrous oxide production drives net nitrous oxide fluxes across a salt marsh landscape. Global Change Biology22: 2228-2237.

127.* Ryals, R., V. T. Eviner, C. Stein, K. N. Suding, and W. L. Silver. 2016. Managing for multiple ecosystem services: are there tradeoffs between carbon sequestration, plant production and plant diversity in grasslands amended with compost? Ecosphere doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1270.

126.* Hall, S. J., W. L. Silver, V. I. Timokhin, and K. E. Hammel. 2015. Lignin decomposition is sustained under fluctuating redox conditions in humid tropical forest soils. Global Change Biology 21:2818-2828.

125.* Owen, J., W. J. Parton, and W. L. Silver. 2015. Long-term impacts of manure amendments on carbon and greenhouse gas dynamics of rangelands. Global Change Biology 21:4533–4547.

124.*Liptzin, D. and W. L. Silver. 2015. Spatial patterns in oxygen and redox sensitive biogeochemistry in tropical forest soils. Ecosphere6: 1-14.

123.*Hall, S. J., G. McNicol, T. Natake, and W. L. Silver. 2015. Large fluxes and rapid turnover of mineral-associated carbon across topographic gradients in a humid tropical forest: insights from paired 14C analysis.  Biogeosciences doi:10.5194/bg-12-2471-2015.

122.*McNicol, G. and W. L. Silver. 2015. High sensitivity of CO2and CH4emissions to low oxygen availability in a peatland soil. Biogeochemistry123:299-306.

121.* Hall, S. H. and W. L. Silver. 2015. Synergisms among reactive minerals and reducing conditions explain spatial patterns of soil carbon in humid tropical forest soils. Biogeochemistry125:149-165.

120.* Yang, W. H., B. Traut, and W. L. Silver. 2015.Microbially-mediated nitrogen retention and loss in a salt marsh soil. Ecosphere 6(1):7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/ES14-00179.1.

119.* Owen, J. and W. L. Silver. 2015. Greenhouse gas emissions from dairy manure management: a review of field-based studies. Global Change Biology 21: 550-565.

118. Silver, W. L. 2016. On being a Luquillo LTER Scientist. PP In, Willig, W.R. and L. R. Walker (eds) Long-Term Environmental Research: Changing the Nature of Science.Oxford University Press, New York, N.Y.

117. *Ryals, R., M. D. Hartman, W. J. Parton, and M. S. DeLonge, and W. L. Silver. 2015. Long-term climate change mitigation potential with organic matter management on grasslands. Ecological Applications 25: 531-545.

116. *Hall, S. J., J. Treffkorn, and W. L. Silver. 2014. Breaking the enzymatic latch: Impacts of reducing conditions on hydrolytic enzyme activity in tropical forest soils. Ecology95: 2964-2973.

115.* Silver, W. L., S. J. Hall, and G. González. 2014. Differential effects of canopy trimming and litter deposition on litterfall and nutrient dynamics in a wet subtropical forest. Forest Ecology and Management332: 47-55.

114. *McNicol, G. and W. L. Silver. 2014. Separate effects of flooding and anaerobiosis on soil greenhouse gas emissions and redox sensitive biogeochemistry. JGR-Biogeosciences119: 557-566.

113.*Yang, W. H., W. C. McDowell, P. D. Brooks, and W. L. Silver. 2014. New high precision approach for measuring 15N-N2gas fluxes from terrestrial ecosystems. Soil Biology and Biochemistry69: 234-241..

112.*Ryals, R. M. Kaiser, M. S. Torn, A. A. Berhe, and W. L. Silver. 2014. Impacts of organic matter amendments on carbon and nitrogen dynamics in grassland soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry68: 52-61.

111.*Wood, T. E., M. Detto, and. W. L. Silver. 2013. Sensitivity of soil respiration to short-term variability in soil moisture and temperature in a humid tropical forest. PLOS ONE8(12): e80965. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0080965

110.*DeAngelis, K. M., D. Chivian, J. L. Fortney, A. P. Arkin, B. Simmons, T. C. Hazen, and W. L. Silver. 2013. Changes in microbial dynamics during long term decomposition in tropical forests. Soil Biology and Biochemistry66: 60-68.

109.  Waide, R. B., D. E. Comarazamy, J. E. González, C. A. S. Hall, A. E. Lugo, J. C. Luvall, D. J. Murphy, J. R. Ortíz-Zayas, N. D. Ramírez-Beltran, F. N. Scatena and W. L. Silver. 2013. Climate variability at multiple spatial and temporal scales in the Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico. Ecological Bulletins54:21-42.

108.*Hall, S. J. and W. L. Silver. 2013. Iron oxidation stimulates organic matter decomposition in humid tropical forest soils. Global Change Biology19: 2804-2819.

107.*Delonge, M, R. Ryals, and W. L. Silver. 2013. A lifecycle model to evaluate carbon sequestration potential and greenhouse gas dynamics of managed grasslands. Ecosystems16: 962-979.

106.*Hall, S. J., W. H. McDowell, and W. L. Silver2013. When wet gets wetter: decoupling of moisture, redox biogeochemistry, and greenhouse gas fluxes in a humid tropical forest soil. Ecosystems16: 576-589.

105.* Yang, W. H.. Y. A. Teh, and W. L. Silver. 2013.Measuring gross N2O production in soil: a reply to Well andButterbach-Bahl. Global Change Biology,doi: 10.1111/gcb.12097.

104.* Bouskill, N. J., H. C. Lim, S. Borglin, R. Salve, T. E. Wood, W. L. Silver, and E. L. Brodie. 2013. Pre-exposure to short-term drought increases the resistance of subtropical forest soil bacterial communities to extended drought. ISME Journal7: 384-394.

103.* Ryals, B. and W. L. Silver. 2013. Effects of organic matter amendments on net primary productivity and greenhouse gas emissions in annual grassland ecosystems. Ecological Applications 23: 46-59.

102.* Yang, W. H., K. A. Weber, and W. L. Silver. 2012. Nitrogen loss from soil via anaerobic ammonium oxidation coupled to iron reduction. Nature GeoScience5: 538-541.

101. Lugo, A. E., N. L. Harris, and W. L. Silver. 2012. Nutrient cycling in the Luquillo Experimental Forest. Chapter 15 in Harris, N.L.; Lugo, A.E.; Brown, S.; and Heartsill Scalley, T. (Eds.). Luquillo Experimental Forest: Research history and opportunities. EFR-1. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 152 p.

100. * Rubol, S. W. L. Silver, A. Bellin. 2012. Hydrologic control on redox and nitrogen dynamics in a peatland soil. Science of the Total Environment432:37-46.

99. * DeAngelis, K. M., J. L. Foutney, S. Borglin, W. L. Silver, B. A. Simmons, and T. Hazen. 2012.Anaerobic decomposition of switchgrass by tropical soil-derived feedstock adapted consortia. mBio. doi:10.1128/ mBio.00249-11

98. *Yang, W. H. and W. L. Silver. 2012. Application of the N2/Ar technique to soil-atmosphere N2fluxes. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry26:449-459.

97.* Yang, W. H. D. J. Herman, D. Liptzin, and W. L. Silver. 2012. A new approach for removing interference from soil nitrate analyses.  Soil Biology and Biochemistry46:123-128.

96.* Wood, T. E. and W. L. Silver. 2012. Drought creates a negative feedback to climate change in humid tropical forests. Global Biogeochemical CyclesVOL. 26, GB3005, doi:10.1029/2010GB004014. Featured in Nature News and Views Sept. 2012.

95. McDowell, W. H., F. N. Scatena, R. B. Waide, N. Brokaw, G. R. Camilo, A. P. Covich, T. A. Crowl, G. González, E. A. Greathouse, P. Klawinski, D. J. Lodge, A. E. Lugo, C. M. Pringle, B. A. Richardson, M. J. Richardson, D. A. Schaefer, W. L. Silver, J. Thompson, D. J. Vogt, K. A. Vogt, M. R. Willig, L. L. Woolbright, X. Zou, J. K. Zimmerman. 2012. Geographic and Ecological Setting of the Luquillo Mountains. Pages 72-163 In Brokaw, N., T. A. Crowl, A. E. Lugo, W. H. McDowell, F. N. Scatena, R. B. Waide, and M. R. Willig (eds.).  A Caribbean Forest Tapestry: The Multidimensional Nature of Disturbance and Response. Oxford University Press. Oxford, U.K.

94. Scatena, F. N., F. Blanco, K. Beard, R. Waide, A. E. Lugo, N. Brokaw, W. L. Silver, B. Haines, and J. Zimmerman.  2012.  Disturbance regime.  Pages 164-200 in Brokaw, N., T. A. Crowl, A. E. Lugo, W. H. McDowell, F. N. Scatena, R. B. Waide, and M. R. Willig (eds.).  A Caribbean Forest Tapestry: The Multidimensional Nature of Disturbance and Response. Oxford University Press.  Oxford, U.K.

93. Brokaw, N., J. Zimmerman, G. Camilo, A. Covich, T. Crowl, N. Fetcher,B. Haines, M. Gannon, J. Lodge, A. Lugo, R. Myster, C. Pringle, J.Sharpe, F. Scatena, T. Schowalter, W. L. Silver, J. Thompson, D. Vogt, K.Vogt, R. Waide, L. Walker, M. Willig, L. Woolbright, J. Wunderle, and X. Zou.  2012.  Response to disturbance.  Pages 201-271 inBrokaw, N., T. A. Crowl, A. E. Lugo, W. H. McDowell, F. N. Scatena, R. B. Waide, and M. R. Willig (eds.).  A Caribbean Forest Tapestry: The Multidimensional Nature of Disturbance and Response.  Oxford University Press.  Oxford, U.K.

92. Willig, M. R., C. P. Bloch, A. P. Covich, C A. S. Hall, D. J. Lodge, A. E. Lugo, W. L. Silver, R. B. Waide, L. R. Walker, and J. K. Zimmerman.  2012.  Long-term research in the Luquillo Mountains: Synthesis and foundations for the future.  Pages 361-442 in Brokaw, N., T. A. Crowl,A. E. Lugo, W. H. McDowell, F. N. Scatena, R. B. Waide, and M. R. Willig (eds.).  A Caribbean Forest Tapestry: The Multidimensional Nature of Disturbance and Response.  Oxford University Press.  Oxford, U.K.

91.* Johnson, K. D., F. N. Scatena, and W. L. Silver. 2011. Atypical soil carbon distribution across a tropical steepland forest catena. Catena87:391-397.

90.* Cleveland, C.C. A.R. Townsend, P. Taylor, S. Alvarez-Clare, M.M.C. Bustamante, G. Chuyong, S.Z. Dobrowski, P. Grierson, K.E. Harms, B.Z. Houlton, A. Marklein, W. Parton, S. Porder, S.C. Reed, C.A. Sierra, W.L. Silver, E.V.J. Tanner & W.R. Wieder. 2011.Relationships among net primary productivity, nutrients and climate in tropical rain forest: A pan-tropical analysis. Ecology Letters doi: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2011.01658.x.

89.* Yang, W. H., Y. A. Teh, and W. L. Silver.2011. Nitrous oxide production and consumption in a peatland pasture: a test of a field-based 15N-nitrous oxide pool dilution technique. Global Change Biology17: 3577-3588.

88. McGroddy, M, E., and W. L. Silver. 2011. Biogeochemical cycling in tropical forests. Pages 315-141 in M. Bush and J. Flenly eds, Tropical Rainforest Responses to Climatic Change. Praxis-Springer Verlag, Berlin 2nd edition.

87.* Silver, W.L., D. Liptzin, and M. Almaraz. 2013. Soil redox dynamics and biogeochemistry along a tropical elevation gradient. Ecological Bulletins 4:195–209.

86.* DeAngelis, K. M. M. Allgaier, Y. Chavarria, J. L. Fortney, P. Hugenholtz, B. Simmons, K. Sublette, W. L. Silver, T. C. Hazen. 2012. Characterization of trapped lignin-degrading microbes in tropical forest soil. PLoS ONE 6(4): e19306. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0019306.

85.* Baldocchi, D. B., D. Detto, O. Sonnentag, J. Verfaillie, Y. A. Teh.W. L. Silver, and N. M Kelly. 2012. The Trials and Tribulations of Measuring Methane Fluxes and Concentrations over a Peatland Pasture in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of California. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology153:177-187.

84.* Hall, S. J., W. L. Silver, and R. Amundson. 2011. Greenhouse gas fluxes from Atacama Desert Soils: A test of biogeochemical potential at the Earth’s arid extreme. BiogeochemistryDOI 10.1007/s10533-011-9650-7.

83.* Teh, Y. T., W. L. Silver, O. Sonnentag, M. Detto, M. Kelly, and D. D. Baldocchi. 2011. Large greenhouse gas emissions from a temperate peatland pasture. Ecosystems 14: 311-325.

82.* Sonnentag, O., M. Detto, B. R. K. Runkle, Y. A. Teh, W. L. Silver, M. Kelly, and D. D. Baldocchi. 2011. Carbon dioxide exchange of a pepperweed (*Lepidium latifolium* L.) infestation: How do flowering and mowing affect canopy photosynthesis and autotrophic respiration?, J. Geophys. Res., 116, G01021, doi:10.1029/2010JG001522.

81.* Liptzin, D., W. L. Silver, and M. Detto. 2011. Temporal dynamics in soil oxygen and trace gases in two tropical rain forests. Ecosystems14: 171-182.

80.* Cusack, D. F., W. L. Silver, M. S. Torn, S. D. Burton, and M. K. Firestone. 2011. Changes in microbial community characteristics and soil organic matter with nitrogen additions in two tropical forests. Ecology92: 621-632.

79.* Burgin, A. J., W. H. Yang, S. K. Hamilton, and W. L. Silver. 2011. Beyond C and N: How the microbial energy economy couples elemental cycles in diverse ecosystems. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 9: 44-52.

78.* Cusack, D. F., W. L. Silver, M. S. Torn, and W. H. McDowell. 2011. Effects of nitrogen additions on above- and belowground carbon dynamics in two tropical forests. Biogeochemistry. DOI 10.1007/s10533-010-9496-4

77. Silver, W. L., A. W. Thompson, D. J. Herman, and M. K. Firestone. 2011. Is there evidence for limitations to nitrogen mineralization in upper montane tropical forests? Pages 418-427 in Bruijnzeel, L.A., Juvik, J., Scatena, F.N., Hamilton, L.S. & Bubb, P. (editors), Forests in the Mist: Science for Conserving and Managing Tropical Montane Cloud Forests. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu.

76.* DeAngelis K. M, W. L. Silver, A.W. Thompson, M.K. Firestone. 2010. Microbial community response to recurring changes in soil redox status. Environmental Microbiologydoi:10.1111/j.1462-2920.2010.02286.x.

75.* DeAngelis, K. M., J. M. Gladden, M. Allgaier, P. D'haeseleer, J. L. Fortney, A. Reddy, P. Hugenholtz, S. W. Singer, J. S. Vander Gheynst, W. L. Silver,B. A. Simmons, T. C. Hazen. 2010. Strategies for Enhancing the Effectiveness of Metagenomic-based Enzyme Discovery in Lignocellulolytic Microbial Communities. BioEnergy Research. DOI 10.1007/s12155-010-9089-z.

74.* Silver, W. L., R. Ryals, and V. Eviner. 2010. Soil carbon pools in California's annual grassland ecosystems. Rangeland Ecology and Management 63: 128-136.

73.* Dubinsky, E. A., W. L. Silver, and M. K. Firestone. 2010. Microbial ecology drives coupled iron – carbon biogeochemistry in tropical forest ecosystems. Ecology91: 2604-2612.

72.* Cusack, D. F. M. S. Torn, W. H. McDowell, and W. L. Silver. 2010. The Response of Heterotrophic Activity and Carbon Cycling to Nitrogen Additions and Warming in Two Tropical Soils. Global Change Biology16:2555–2572.

71.* Liptzin, D. and W. L. Silver. 2009. Effects of carbon additions on iron reduction and phosphorus availability in a humid tropical forest soil. Soil Biology and Biochemistry41: 1969-1702.

70.* Cusack, D. F., W. L. Silver, and W. H McDowell. 2009. Biological nitrogen fixation in two tropical forests: ecosystem-level patterns and effects of nitrogen fertilization. Ecosystems12: 1299-1315.

69. Currie, W. S., M. E. Harmon, I. Burke, S. C. Hart, W. J. Parton, and W. L. Silver. 2009. Extension and limitation of the climate-litter quality paradigm to predict controls on plant litter decomposition over a decade.Global Change Biology. 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2009.02086.x

68.* Teh, Y. A., W. L. Silver, and F. N. Scatena. 2009. A decade of ecosystem reorganization following multiple disturbances in a wet tropical forest. Plant and Soil:393:197-212.

67.* Cusack, D. F., W. W. Chou. W. H. Yang. M. E. Harmon, and W. L. Silver. 2009. Controls on long-term root and leaf litter decomposition in neotropical forests. Global Change Biology15:1339-1355.

66.* Marin-Spiotta, W. L. Silver, C. W. Swanston, and R. Ostertag. 2009. Soil carbon gain and loss during 80 years of reforestation of tropical pastures. Global Change Biology15:1587-1594.

65. Harmon, M. E., W. L. Silver, B. Fasth, H. Chen, W. J. Parton, & LIDET. 2009. Long-term patterns of mass loss during the decomposition of leaf and fine root litter: An intersite comparison. Global Change Biology15: 1320-1338.

64.* McGroddy, M. E., W. L. Silver, R. Cosme de Oliveira Jr., W. Zamboni de Mello, and M. Keller. 2008. The fate of phosphorus in a highly weathered Amazonian forest ecosystem: biological versus geochemical cycling. JGR-Biogeosciences113 doi:10.1029/2008JG000756.

63.* Ostertag, R., E. Marin-Spiotta, W. L. Silver, and J. Shulten. 2008. Litterfall and decomposition in relation to soil carbon pools along a secondary forest chronosequence in Puerto Rico. Ecosystems11: 701-714.

62.* Templer, P. M., W. L. Silver, J. Pett-Ridge, and M. K. Firestone. 2008. Plant and microbial controls on nitrogen retention and loss in tropical forest soils. Ecology89: 3030-3040.

61.* Chou, W. C., W. L. Silver, R. D. Jackson, A. W. Thompson, and B. Allen-Diaz. 2008. The sensitivity of annual grassland carbon cycling to the amount and timing of rainfall. Global Change Biology14: 1382-1394.

60.* Marín-Spiotta, E., D.F. Cusack, R. Ostertag, and W.L. Silver. 2008. Trends in above and belowground carbon with forest regrowth after agricultural abandonment in the Neotropics. Chapter 2 In: R. Myster, ed. Post-agricultural Succession in the Neotropics. Springer, New York, NY. Pp 22-72.

59.* Teh, Y. A., E. A. Dubinski, W. L. Silver, and C. M. Carlson. 2008. Suppression of methanogenesis by dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing bacteria in tropical rain forest soils: implications for ecosystem methane flux. Global Change Biology14:413-422.

58.* Marin-Spiotta, E., C. W. Swanston, M. S. Torn, W. L. Silver, and S. D. Burton. 2008. Chemical and mineralogical control of soil carbon storage during tropical reforestation. Geoderma143: 49-62.

57.* Adair, E. C. W.J. Parton, S.J. DelGrosso, W.L. Silver, S.A. Hall, M.E. Harmon, and S.C. Hart. 2008. A simple three pool model accurately describes patterns of long term, global decomposition in the Long Term Intersite Decomposition Experiment Team (LIDET) data set. Global Change Biology14: 2636-2660.* Top 3 % of cited papers 2008-2010 GCB

56.* Parton*, W, W. L. Silver#, I. C. Burke, L. Grassens, M. E. Harmon, W. S. Currie, J. Y. King, E. C. Adair, L. A. Brandt, S. C. Hart, and B. Fasth. 2007. Global-scale similarities in nitrogen release patterns during long-term decomposition. Science315:362-364. #Co-lead authors.

55.* Marin-Spiotta, E., R. Ostertag, and W. L. Silver. 2007. Long term patterns in reforestation of tropical pastures: plant community composition and aboveground biomass accumulation. Ecological Applications17: 828-839.

54.* McGroddy, M. E. and W. L. Silver. 2007. Nutrient Cycling and Climate Change in Tropical Forests. Pages 295-316 in M. Bush and J. Flenly eds,Tropical Rainforest Responses to Climatic Change. Praxis-Springer Verlag, Berlin.

53.* Pett-Ridge, J., W. L. Silver, and M. K. Firestone. 2006. Redox fluctuations in a humid tropical forest soil impact N-cycling rates by framing the composition of the soil microbial community. Biogeochemistry81:95-110.

52.* Teh, Y. A., W. L. Silver, M. E. Conrad, S. E. Borglin, and C. M. Carlson. 2006. Carbon isotope fractionation by methane-oxidizing bacteria in tropical rain forest soils, J. Geophys. Res., 111, G02001, doi:10.1029/2005JG000053.

51.* Chacon, N. W. L. Silver, E. A. Dubinsky, and D. F. Cusack. 2006. Iron reduction and soil phosphorus solubilization in humid tropical forests soils: the roles of labile carbon pools and an electron shuttle compound. Biogeochemistry78: 67-84.

50. Lugo, A.E., R.B. Waide, M.R. Willig, T. Crowl, F.N. Scatena, J.Thompson, W.H. McDowell, N.V.L. Brokaw, and W.L. Silver. 2012. Ecological Paradigms for the Tropics: Old Questions and Continuing Challenges. Pages 3-41 in Brokaw, N., T. A. Crowl, A. E. Lugo, W. H. McDowell, F. N. Scatena, R. B. Waide, and M. R. Willig (eds.).  A Caribbean Forest Tapestry: The Multidimensional Nature of Disturbance and Response. Oxford University Press.  Oxford, U.K.

49.* Teh, Y. A., and W. L. Silver. 2006. Effects of soil structure destruction on methane production and carbon partitioning between methanogenic pathways in tropical rain forest soils. Journal of Geophysical Research-BiogeosciencesIII doi:10.1029/2005jg000020.

48. Chambers, J. Q., and W. L. Silver. 2005. Ecophysiological and biogeochemical responses to atmospheric change. Pages 57-65 in O. Phillips and Y. Mahli, Tropical forests and global atmospheric change. Oxford University Press, Oxford, England.

47. Silver, W. L., A. W. Thompson, M. K. Firestone, A. Reich, and J. J. Ewel. 2005. Nitrogen retention and loss in tropical plantations and old growth forests. Ecological Applications15: 1604-1614.

46. Trumbore, S. E, E. Salazar da Costa, P. Barbosa de Camargo, L. A. Martinelli, D. Nepstad, D. Ray, and W. L. Silver.  2006. Dynamics of fine root carbon in Amazonian tropical ecosystems. Global Change Biology12: 217-229.

45.* Teh, Y. A., W. L. Silver, and M. E. Conrad. 2005. Oxygen effects on methane production and oxidation in humid tropical forest soils. Global Change Biology 11:1283-1297.

44.* Silver, W. L., A. W. Thompson, M. E. McGroddy, R. K. Varner, J. R. Robertson, J. D. Dias, H. Silva, P. Crill, and M. Keller. 2005. Fine roots dynamics and trace gas fluxes in two lowland tropical forest soils. Global Change Biology11: 290-306.

43.* Ostertag, R., W. L. Silver, and A. E. Lugo. 2005. Factors affecting mortality and resistance to damage following hurricanes in a subtropical moist forest.Biotropica37: 16-24.

42.* Silver, W.L., L. Kueppers, A. E. Lugo, R. Ostertag, and V. Matzek. 2004. Carbon sequestration and plant community dynamics with reforestation of tropical pasture.  Ecological Applications 14: 1115-1127.

41. Chambers, J. Q., and W. L. Silver. 2004. Some ecophysiological and biogeochemical responses of tropical forests to atmospheric change. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, Series B. 359: 463–476.

40.* McGroddy, M. E., W. L. Silver, and R. Cosme de Oliviera, Jr. 2004. The effect of phosphorus availability on decomposition dynamics in a seasonal lowland Amazonian forest. Ecosystems7: 172-179.

39. Lugo, A. E., W. L. Silver, and S. Molina Colon. 2004. Biomass and nutrient dynamics of restored tropical forests. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution4: 731-746.

38.* Ostertag, R., F. N. Scatena, and W. L. Silver. 2003. Forest floor decomposition following hurricane litter inputs in several Puerto Rican forests. Ecosystems6: 261-273.

37.* Varner, R. K., M. Keller, J. R. Robertson, J. D. Dias , H. Silva, P. M. Crill, M. McGroddy, and W. L. Silver. 2003. Experimentally induced root mortality increased nitrous oxide emission from tropical forest soils. Geophysical Research Letters30: 1141-1145.

36.* Silver, W. L., A. E. Lugo, and D. Farmer. 2002. Soil organic carbon in tropical forests of the U. S.  Pages 363-382 in J. Kimble, R. Birdsey, L. Heath, R. Follett, and R. Ratan (eds). The Potential of U.S. Forest Soils to Sequester Carbon and Mitigate the Greenhouse Effect.

35.* Pett-Ridge, J. and W.L. Silver. 2002. Effects of substrate and micro-climate change on the survival and growth of the bromeliad Guzmania berteronianain a montane tropical forest. Biotropica34: 211-224.

34. Lugo, A.E., F.N. Scatena, W.L.Silver, S. Molina Colon, and P.G. Murphy. 2002. Pages 195-225 in L. H. Gunderson and L. Pritchard Jr (eds) Resilience and the Behavior of Large-Scale Systems. Island Press. Washington DC.

33.* Silver, W. L., and R. Miya. 2001. Global patterns in root decomposition: comparisons of climate and litter quality effects.  Oecologia 129: 407-419.

32. Silver, W.L., D.J. Herman, and M.K. Firestone. 2001. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium in tropical forest soils.  Ecology82: 2410-2416.

31. Lugo, A.E, W.L. Silver, S. Brown, F.N. Scatena, and J.J. Ewel. 2001. Managed ecosystems deserve greater attention. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America82: 91-93.

30.* Silver,W.L, E. Marin-Spiotta, and A.E. Lugo. 2001. The Caribbean. Pages 155-181 in Kapella, M. and A. Brown eds. Bosques Neotropicales Montanos Nubosos. IUCN Press, Holland.

29.* Silver, W.L., R. Ostertag, and A.E. Lugo. 2000. The potential for carbon sequestration through reforestation of tropical agricultural and pasture lands.  Restoration Ecology8:394-407.

28.* McGroddy, M. and W.L. Silver. 2000. Variations in belowground carbon storage and soil COB2Bflux rates along a wet tropical climate gradient. Biotropica32:614-624.

27.* Silver, W.L., J. Neff, E. Veldkamp, M. Mcgroddy, M. Keller, and R. Cosme. 2000. The effects of soil texture on belowground carbon and nutrient storage in a lowland Amazonian forest ecosystem. Ecosystems3: 193-209.

26. Wolter, V. W. L. Silver, D.C. Coleman, P. Lavelle, W.van der Putten, P. deruiter, D.H. Wall, D.U. Hooper, J.M. Dangerfield, L. Brussard, D.E. Bignell, V.K. Brown, K. Giller, J. Van der Koppel, J. Rusek, O. Sala, J. Tiedje, J.A. van Veen, and D. Wardle. 2000. Global change effects on above- and belowground biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems: interactions and implications for ecosystem functioning. BioScience50: 1089-1098.

25. D.U. Hooper, J.M. Dangerfield, L. Brussaard, D.H. Wall, D. Wardle, D.E. Bignell, V.K. Brown, D. Coleman, K. Giller, P. Lavelle, G.J. Masters, W.H. van der Putten, P.C. de Ruiter, J. Rusek, W. Silver, J. Tiedje, V. Wolters. 2000. Interactions between above and belowground biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems: patterns, mechanisms, and feedbacks. BioScience50: 1049-1061.

24. Keller, M., A.M. Weitz, B. Bryan, M.M. Rivera, and W.L. Silver. 2000. Soil-atmosphere nitrogen oxide fluxes: effects of root disturbance. Journal of Geophysical Research105: 17,693-17,698.

23. Rainey, S., K. Nadelhoffer, W.L.Silver, and M. Downs. 1999. The effects of chronic nitrogen additions on understory species abundance and nutrient content in a red pine plantation. Ecological Applications9: 949-957.

22. Silver, W.L., A.E. Lugo, and M. Keller. 1999. Soil oxygen availability and biogeochemical cycling along elevation and topographic gradients in Puerto Rico. Biogeochemistry44: 301-328.

21. Silver, W.L. 1998. The potential effects of elevated COB2Band climate change on tropical forest biogeochemical cycling. Climatic Change39: 337-361.

20. Olander, L., F.N. Scatena, and W.L.Silver. 1998. Effects of road construction on upper montane forest composition and succession in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. Forest Ecology and Management109: 33-49.

19. Silver, W.L., F.N. Scatena, A.H. Johnson, T.G. Siccama, and F. Watt. 1996. At what temporal scales does disturbance affect belowground nutrient pools? Biotropica28: 441-457.

18. Zimmerman, J., M. Willig, L. Walker, and W.L. Silver. 1996. Disturbances and Caribbean Ecosystems. Biotropica: 28: 414-423.

17. Walker, L. W.L. Silver, M. Willig, and J. Zimmerman. (EDS). 1996. Long Term Responses of Caribbean Ecosystems to Disturbance. Biotropica28:414-614.

16. Silver, W.L., S. Brown, and A.E. Lugo. 1996. Effects of changes in biodiversity on ecosystem function in tropical forests. Conservation Biology10:17-24.

15. Silver, W.L., S. Brown, and A.E. Lugo. 1996. Biodiversity and Biogeochemical Cycling. Pages 49-67 in G. Orians, R. Dirzo, and H. Cushman eds. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Processes in Tropical Forests.Springer. Heidleberg.

14. Vogt, K., D. Vogt, S. Brown, J. Tilley, R. Edmonds, W. Silver, and T. Siccama.  1995. Dynamics of forest floor and soil organic matter accumulation in boreal, temperate, and tropical forests. In R. Lal, J. Kimble, E. Levine, and B.A. Stewart eds., Soil Management and the Greenhouse Effect,Advances in Soil Science, CRC Press Boca Raton. Pages 159-178.

13. Silver, W.L. and A.E. Lugo. 1995. Life in the cloud forest. In R. Folch, ed, Biosfera 2. Selves tropicals. Enciclopedia Catalana. Barcelona, Spain.

12. Silver, W.L. and A.E. Lugo. 1995. The kingdom of epiphytes. In R. Folch, ed, Biosfera 2. Selves tropicals. Enciclopedia Catalana. Barcelona, Spain.

11. Watt F., R. Beymer, F. N. Scatena, W. L. Silver, P. L. Weaver, and L. S. Hamilton. 1995. Comprehensive Bibliography on Tropical Montane Cloud Forest. Pages 247-260. in L.S. Hamilton, Juvik J., Scatena F.N., editors. Tropical Montane Cloud Forests. Ecological Studies 110. Springer-Verlag.

10. Silver, W.L. 1994.  Is nutrient availability related to plant nutrient use in humid tropical forests? Oecologia98: 336-343.

9. Silver, W.L., F.N. Scatena, A.H. Johnson, T.G. Siccama, and M.J. Sanchez. 1994.  Nutrient availability in a montane wet tropical forest in Puerto Rico: spatial patterns and methodological considerations. Plant and Soil164:129-145.

8. Silver, W.L., and K.A. Vogt. 1993.  Fine root dynamics following single and multiple disturbances in a subtropical wet forest ecosystem.  Journal of Ecology81:729-738.

7. Scatena, F.N., W.L. Silver, T.G. Siccama, A.H. Johnson and M.J. Sanchez.  1993. Biomass and nutrient content of the Bisley Experimental Watersheds, Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico, before and after Hurricane Hugo, 1989.  Biotropica25:15-27.

6. Vogt, K.A., D.A. Publicover, J. Bloomfield, J.M. Perez, D.J. Vogt, and W.L. Silver. 1993. Belowground responses as indicators of environmental change. Environmental and Experimental Botany 33: 189-205.

5. Berlyn, G.P., A.O. Anoruo, A.H. Johnson, D.R. Vann, R.L. Boyce, and W.L. Silver.  1992. Effects of filtered air and misting treatments on cuticles of red spruce needles on Whiteface Mountain, N.Y. Journal of Sustainable Forestry1: 25-48.

4. Silver, W.L., T.G. Siccama, A.H. Johnson, and C. Johnson. 1991. Changes in red spruce populations in the montane forests of the Appalachians. American Midland Naturalist125:340-347.

3. Silver, W.L.  1990. Disturbance and nutrient cycling. Belowground Ecology, Vol.1:2.

2. Johnson, A.H., T.G. Siccama, W.L. Silver, and J.J. Battles.  1989. Decline of Red  Spruce in High Elevation Forests of New York and New England. In D.C. Adriano and M. Havas eds. Acidic Deposition,Volume 1: Case Studies.  Springer-Verlag, N.Y. Pages 85-112.

1. Silver, W.L. Mangrove Factsheet,1980, Sierra Club International Earthcare Center, N.Y., N.Y.

Honors and Awards

- ESPM Distinguished Faculty Lecturer, 2017
- Fellow, Ecological Society of America, 2016
- University of California Climate Champion, U.C. Berkeley awardee, Berkeley, CA, 2015-16
- Distinguished Scholar, Social Environmental Synthesis Center, Annapolis, MD 2015
- Innovation Award, American Carbon Registry, Los Angeles, CA, 2015
- Awarded Rudy Grah Chair in Forestry and Sustainability, Berkeley, CA, 2013
- Plenary Speaker, International Critical Zone Network, Beijing China, 2014
- Keynote Speaker, Royal Geographic Society, London, England, 2013
- Tupper Lecture, Smithsonian Tropical Research Center, Panama City, Panama, 2013
- Google Science Communication Fellowship, Mountain View, CA, 2011
- Speaker, Commonwealth Club, San Francisco, CA, 2010
- Kavli Frontiers of Science Selected Participant, Irvine, CA, 2010
- Aldo Leopold Leadership Fellowship 2009
- Speaker, Biogeochemical cycling in tropical forests: feedbacks to climate change. 23rd New Phytologist Symposium, Guangzhou, China, 2009
- Speaker and Panelist, Carbon Capture and Sequestration: Emergent Approaches to CCS in California. Berkeley, CA, 2008
- Keynote Speaker, Multiple approaches for assessing processes in the critical zone: focus on watersheds around the world, Goldschmidt Conference, Vancouver, Canada, 2008
- Keynote Speaker, Denitrification Research Coordination Network, Advancing Methods for Measuring Denitrification in Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems. Horn Point MD, 2008.
- Keynote Speaker, Tropical Rainforests: Challenges and New Hopes, California Academy of Sciences, Oakland, CA, 2007
- Keynote Speaker, Tercentary of Carl Linnaeus, Institute for Governmental Studies, Berkeley, CA, 2007
- Visiting Scholar Fellowship, Massey University, Auckland New Zealand Dec. 2007
- Plenary Speaker, Clark Distinguished Lectureship Symposium, Centennial American Agronomy Association/CSSA/Soil Science Society of America meeting, 2007, New Orleans, LA
- Plenary Speaker, Gordon Research Conference on Catchment Science: Interactions of Hydrology, Biology, and Geochemistry, 2007, New London, NH.
- Plenary Speaker, Microscale Approaches to Macroscale Issues in Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology, 2007, Washington DC
- Keynote Speaker, Long Term Ecological Research Graduate Student Symposium, 2005, Eugene OR
- Biological Sciences Faculty Research Award, 2002, U. C. Berkeley
- Citation, Soil Science Society of America, for Excellence in Presentation of a Paper, 1999
- Stellar Course Award, College of Natural Resources 1998, U. C. Berkeley
- Clare Booth Luce Professorship in Science and Engineering 1995-1997, Boston University
- Global Change Distinguished Post Doctoral Fellow, 1991-1993, U. S. Department of Energy