Dr. Emily Palmquist is a plant ecologist with the Southwest Biological Science Center, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Station. Emily studies riparian plant ecology in drylands of the western U.S. with particular emphasis on providing scientific information that addresses land management and stakeholder needs.
Emily conducts research with direct applications to improving land stewardship in a changing environment. Her research examines how environmental pressures, plant genetics, plant traits, and interactions among these factors affect plant community structure and change. This research often provides information needed to make management decisions, for example, characterizing floristic patterns, choosing plants for restoration, and evaluating taxonomic relationships. These studies also often characterize the effect of management decisions, for example, dam operations or grazing. Since her research sits at the interface of conservation and land use, she aims to contribute to creating solutions for living sustainably in drylands.
Her current research projects focus on the impact of river regulation on riparian vegetation communities, riparian plant population genetics in a restoration context, and physiological responses of riparian plants to flooding and climate.
Emily moved to the Southwest in 2006 after a variety of seasonal plant ecology positions in Minnesota, Indiana, and Western Australia. Since then, she has worked in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico assisting with research on rare plants, dryland plant ecology, spring vegetation, grazing, and riparian vegetation. Emily has been working in the Grand Canyon region since 2011, which has included conducting upland and riparian long-term vegetation monitoring and grazing assessments.
Professional Experience
2014 – present: Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Southwestern Biological Science Center, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, Flagstaff, AZ
2012 – 2014: Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Southwestern Biological Science Center, Moab, UT
2011: Botanist, National Park Service, Southern Colorado Plateau Inventory & Monitoring Network, Flagstaff, AZ
2011: Botanist, Grand Canyon Trust, Flagstaff, AZ
2006 – 2009: Biological Science Technician, National Park Service, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Page, AZ
Education and Certifications
2022 - PhD. in Biology with Distinction, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ. Co-advised by Drs. Kiona Ogle and Thomas Whitham
Dissertation: "Climate, genetics, and river flow interact to shape riparian plant community structure"
2010 - M.S. in Biology with Distinction, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ. Advised by Dr. Tina Ayers.
Thesis: Phylogeny and evolutionary history of Anticlea vaginata Rydb. (Melanthiaceae): a hanging garden endemic
2005 - B.Sc. in Environmental Science: Resource Conservation and Management (Second Major: English), summa cum laude, Carroll University, Waukesha, WI
Science and Products
Is timing really everything? Evaluating Resource Response to Spring Disturbance Flows
Terrestrial Riparian Vegetation Monitoring: How One Square Meter Can Tell the Story of 245 River Miles
Overview of Riparian Vegetation in Grand Canyon
Science and Products
- Science
Is timing really everything? Evaluating Resource Response to Spring Disturbance Flows
Glen Canyon Dam has altered ecological processes of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. Before the dam was built, the Colorado River experienced seasonable variable flow rates, including springtime flooding events. These spring floods scoured the river bottom and enhanced natural processes that sustained the Colorado River ecosystem. Since the dam’s construction in 1963, springtime floods have...Terrestrial Riparian Vegetation Monitoring: How One Square Meter Can Tell the Story of 245 River Miles
The goal of Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center’s (part of the Southwest Biological Science Center) riparian vegetation monitoring program is to assess changes and trends in plant species composition and cover and relate those changes to Glen Canyon Dam operations, river hydrology, climate, and geomorphology. Monitoring is done by annual field-data collection on plant cover and diversity...Overview of Riparian Vegetation in Grand Canyon
Riparian areas are conspicuous belts of dense, green vegetation along streams and rivers, and can be considered “ribbons of life”. Despite covering less than 2 percent of the land area in the southwestern U.S., riparian areas tend to have high species diversity and population density, making them valuable to managers, scientists, and the public. These unique ecosystems act as a link between dry... - Data
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