Alexandra Contosta

Alexandra Contosta

Research Associate Professor
Earth Systems Research Center
Phone: (603) 862-4204
Office: Earth Systems Research Center, Morse Hall, Durham, NH 03824
Websites:

Courses Taught

  • MARI 802: Arctic Research Methods I
  • MARI 902: Arctic Research Methods II
  • NR 403: Intro to Environmental Science
  • NR 501: Studio Soils
  • NR 744/844: Biogeochemistry

Education

  • Ph.D., Environmental Science, University of New Hampshire
  • M.S., Conservation Biology, Antioch New England
  • B.A., French, Villanova University
  • B.A., Philosophy, Villanova University

Selected Publications

  • Pastore, M. A., Nelson, S. J., Burakowski, E. A., Contosta, A. R., D'Amato, A. W., Garlick, S., . . . Weiskittel, A. (2025). Snow refugia: Managing temperate forest canopies to maintain winter conditions. Ecosphere, 16(7). doi:10.1002/ecs2.70302

  • Blais, N. D., O’Brien, J. M., Holland-Moritz, H., Farnsworth, L., Barbato, R. A., Douglas, T. A., . . . Ernakovich, J. G. (2025). Permafrost pore structure and its influence on microbial diversity: Insights from X-ray computed tomography. Geoderma, 454, 117192. doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117192

  • Knorr, M. A., Contosta, A. R., Morrison, E. W., Muratore, T. J., Anthony, M. A., Stoica, I., . . . Frey, S. D. (2024). Unexpected sustained soil carbon flux in response to simultaneous warming and nitrogen enrichment compared with single factors alone.. Nat Ecol Evol, 8(12), 2277-2285. doi:10.1038/s41559-024-02546-x

  • Ziadeh, C. P., Ziadeh, S. B., Aflague, B. H., Townley, M. A., Ayres, M. P., Contosta, A. R., & Garnas, J. R. (2024). Distinct communities under the snow: describing characteristics of subnivium arthropod communities.. Environ Entomol, 53(3), 383-397. doi:10.1093/ee/nvae017

  • Isaacson, A., Contosta, A., Smith, R. G., Stamplis, C., & Lowry, C. J. (2024). Effect of increasing temperature and temperature fluctuations on alfalfa and orchardgrass in the establishment year. Ecosphere, 15(6). doi:10.1002/ecs2.4905

  • Jilling, A., Keiluweit, M., Contosta, A. R., Frey, S., Schimel, J., Schnecker, J., . . . Grandy, A. S. (2018). Minerals in the rhizosphere: overlooked mediators of soil nitrogen availability to plants and microbes. BIOGEOCHEMISTRY, 139(2), 103-122. doi:10.1007/s10533-018-0459-5

  • Lerman, S. B., Contosta, A. R., Milam, J., & Bang, C. (2018). To mow or to mow less: Lawn mowing frequency affects bee abundance and diversity in suburban yards. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION, 221, 160-174. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2018.01.025

  • Contosta, A. R., Frey, S. D., & Cooper, A. B. (2015). Soil microbial communities vary as much over time as with chronic warming and nitrogen additions. SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY, 88, 19-24. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.04.013

  • Contosta, A. R., Frey, S. D., & Cooper, A. B. (2011). Seasonal dynamics of soil respiration and N mineralization in chronically warmed and fertilized soils. ECOSPHERE, 2(3). doi:10.1890/ES10-00133.1

  • Sinsabaugh, R. L., Lauber, C. L., Weintraub, M. N., Ahmed, B., Allison, S. D., Crenshaw, C., . . . Zeglin, L. H. (2008). Stoichiometry of soil enzyme activity at global scale. ECOLOGY LETTERS, 11(11), 1252-1264. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01245.x

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  • Most Cited Publications