Chad R. Zirbel, PhD
Chad Zirbel is a Biologist with the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center and works at the Madison, Wisconsin duty station.
Chad Zirbel is a plant ecologist whose research aims to understand the drivers of community assembly, diversity-ecosystem function relationships, and the coupling of this knowledge with concepts in and approaches to restoration ecology. He does this by translating knowledge and beliefs about ecological processes and the data generating process into causal models and uses these models to help decision makers manage and restore imperiled ecosystems.
Professional Experience
Present: Biologist, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Plant Biology, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, Michigan State University, 2018
B.S., Conservation biology, Geography, Environmental studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2012
Science and Products
Expert perspectives on global biodiversity loss and its drivers and impacts on people
Despite substantial progress in understanding global biodiversity loss, major taxonomic and geographic knowledge gaps remain. Decision makers often rely on expert judgement to fill knowledge gaps, but are rarely able to engage with sufficiently large and diverse groups of specialists. To improve understanding of the perspectives of thousands of biodiversity experts worldwide, we conducted a survey
Authors
Forest Isbell, Patricia Balvanera, Akira S. Mori, Jin-Sheng He, James M. Bullock, Ganga Ram Regmi, Eric W. Seabloom, Simon Ferrier, Osvaldo E. Sala, Nathaly R. Guerrero-Ramírez, Julia Tavella, Daniel J. Larkin, Bernhard Schmid, Charlotte L. Outhwaite, Pairot Pramua, Elizabeth T. Borer, Michel Loreau, Taiwo Crossby Omotoriogun, David O. Obura, Maggie Anderson, Cristina Portales-Reyes, Kevin Kirkman, Pablo M Vergara, Adam Thomas Clark, Kimberly J Komatsu, Owen L. Petchey, Sarah R. Weiskopf, Laura J. Williams, Scott L. Collins, Nico Eisenhauer, Christopher H Trisos, Delphine Renard, Alexandra J. Wright, Poonam Tripathi, Jane Cowles, Jarrett E. K. Byrnes, Peter B. Reich, Andy Purvis, Zati Sharip, Mary I. O'Connor, Clare E. Kazanski, Nick M. Haddad, Eulogio H. Soto, Laura E. Dee, Sandra Díaz, Chad R. Zirbel, Meghan L. Avolio, Shaopeng Wang, Zhiyuan Ma, Jingjing Liang, Hanan C. Farah, Justin Andrew Johnson, Brian W. Miller, Yann Hautier, Melinda D. Smith, Johannes M. H. Knops, Bonnie Myers, Zuzana Harmáčková, Jorge Cortés, Mike Harfoot, Andrew Gonzalez, Tim Newbold, Jacqueline Oehri, Marina Mazón, Cynnamon Dobbs, Meredith S. Palmer
A graphical causal model for resolving species identity effects and biodiversity–ecosystem function correlations: Reply
No abstract available.
Authors
Donald Schoolmaster, Chad R Zirbel, James P. Cronin
A graphical causal model for resolving species identity effects and biodiversity–ecosystem function correlations
Identifying and clearly communicating the drivers of ecosystem function is a crucially important goal for both basic and applied ecology. This has proven difficult because the putative causes (e.g., environment, species identity, biodiversity, and functional traits) are numerous and correlated. The problem is exacerbated by a lack of a formal framework for unambiguously relating theoretical langua
Authors
Donald R. Schoolmaster, Chad R Zirbel, James P. Cronin
Non-USGS Publications**
Connolly, B., Zirbel, C., Orrock, J. (2024). Rodent-mediated seed limitation affects woody seedling establishment more than invasive shrubs and downed woody debris. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 54(4): 421-430. doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2023-0131
Catano, C.P., Bassett, T.J., Bauer, J.T., Grman, E., Groves, A.M., Zirbel, C.R., Brudvig, L.A. (2022). Soil resources mediate the strength of species but not trait convergence across grassland restorations. Journal of Applied Ecology. 59, 384–393. doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13929
Grman, E., Zirbel, C.R., Bauer, J.T., Groves, A.M., Bassett, T., Brudvig, L.A. (2021). Super‐abundant C4 grasses are a mixed blessing in restored prairies. Restoration Ecology. Restoration Ecology, 29: e13281. doi: 10.1111/rec.13281
Zirbel, C.R. and L.A. Brudvig (2020). Trait-environment interactions affect plant establishment success during restoration. Ecology 00(00):e02971. 10.1002/ecy.2971
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Expert perspectives on global biodiversity loss and its drivers and impacts on people
Despite substantial progress in understanding global biodiversity loss, major taxonomic and geographic knowledge gaps remain. Decision makers often rely on expert judgement to fill knowledge gaps, but are rarely able to engage with sufficiently large and diverse groups of specialists. To improve understanding of the perspectives of thousands of biodiversity experts worldwide, we conducted a survey
Authors
Forest Isbell, Patricia Balvanera, Akira S. Mori, Jin-Sheng He, James M. Bullock, Ganga Ram Regmi, Eric W. Seabloom, Simon Ferrier, Osvaldo E. Sala, Nathaly R. Guerrero-Ramírez, Julia Tavella, Daniel J. Larkin, Bernhard Schmid, Charlotte L. Outhwaite, Pairot Pramua, Elizabeth T. Borer, Michel Loreau, Taiwo Crossby Omotoriogun, David O. Obura, Maggie Anderson, Cristina Portales-Reyes, Kevin Kirkman, Pablo M Vergara, Adam Thomas Clark, Kimberly J Komatsu, Owen L. Petchey, Sarah R. Weiskopf, Laura J. Williams, Scott L. Collins, Nico Eisenhauer, Christopher H Trisos, Delphine Renard, Alexandra J. Wright, Poonam Tripathi, Jane Cowles, Jarrett E. K. Byrnes, Peter B. Reich, Andy Purvis, Zati Sharip, Mary I. O'Connor, Clare E. Kazanski, Nick M. Haddad, Eulogio H. Soto, Laura E. Dee, Sandra Díaz, Chad R. Zirbel, Meghan L. Avolio, Shaopeng Wang, Zhiyuan Ma, Jingjing Liang, Hanan C. Farah, Justin Andrew Johnson, Brian W. Miller, Yann Hautier, Melinda D. Smith, Johannes M. H. Knops, Bonnie Myers, Zuzana Harmáčková, Jorge Cortés, Mike Harfoot, Andrew Gonzalez, Tim Newbold, Jacqueline Oehri, Marina Mazón, Cynnamon Dobbs, Meredith S. Palmer
A graphical causal model for resolving species identity effects and biodiversity–ecosystem function correlations: Reply
No abstract available.
Authors
Donald Schoolmaster, Chad R Zirbel, James P. Cronin
A graphical causal model for resolving species identity effects and biodiversity–ecosystem function correlations
Identifying and clearly communicating the drivers of ecosystem function is a crucially important goal for both basic and applied ecology. This has proven difficult because the putative causes (e.g., environment, species identity, biodiversity, and functional traits) are numerous and correlated. The problem is exacerbated by a lack of a formal framework for unambiguously relating theoretical langua
Authors
Donald R. Schoolmaster, Chad R Zirbel, James P. Cronin
Non-USGS Publications**
Connolly, B., Zirbel, C., Orrock, J. (2024). Rodent-mediated seed limitation affects woody seedling establishment more than invasive shrubs and downed woody debris. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 54(4): 421-430. doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2023-0131
Catano, C.P., Bassett, T.J., Bauer, J.T., Grman, E., Groves, A.M., Zirbel, C.R., Brudvig, L.A. (2022). Soil resources mediate the strength of species but not trait convergence across grassland restorations. Journal of Applied Ecology. 59, 384–393. doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13929
Grman, E., Zirbel, C.R., Bauer, J.T., Groves, A.M., Bassett, T., Brudvig, L.A. (2021). Super‐abundant C4 grasses are a mixed blessing in restored prairies. Restoration Ecology. Restoration Ecology, 29: e13281. doi: 10.1111/rec.13281
Zirbel, C.R. and L.A. Brudvig (2020). Trait-environment interactions affect plant establishment success during restoration. Ecology 00(00):e02971. 10.1002/ecy.2971
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.