Pamela Kittelson

My work is driven by a curiosity about the processes and organisms that make life on our planet so unique.  While humans are an amazing species, our interactions with other living beings have a large and negative impact. My research focuses on how habitat fragmentation and loss affect plant populations, specifically how variability can change when population sizes are reduced. My research students and I document changes to genetic diversity, plant traits and functional responses.  We have found that small and/or isolated habitats can erode genetic variability over time, which can result in populations less able to make a living or respond to change. When populations lose variability they also may lose connective threads to the continuum of life.  My lab also has published work that can help land managers understand these patterns and define strategies for maintaining diversity. 

I take great joy in sharing my love of biology with students in the classes I teach and via the research I do.  I am fascinated by how plants make a living from light and they use it to tell time or if neighbors are nearby, or how they can communicate with other organisms using diverse biochemicals.  Over the years, I have labeled myself as an evolutionary ecologist, a botanist, a population ecologist and a physiological ecologist.  These variable identities are correct and yet incomplete. I enjoy opportunities for experiential education, where we muck about in the field, observe patterns, learn from one another, collect interesting data, wonder, respect and make connections. 

I also advise and support students applying for nationally-competitive scholarships and fellowships such as Fulbright, Truman, Udall, and Goldwater among many others.  I help students develop a narrative that connects their skills, interests and contributions with their future goals. 

Courses Taught