Eight UVA Researchers Featured at Leading Ecology Conference

Eight environmental scientists from the University of Virginia’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences were among the presenters at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America (ESA), held August 10–15 in Baltimore, Maryland.

The ESA Annual Meeting is one of the largest gatherings of ecological scientists in the world, attracting more than 3,000 researchers, educators and students to share cutting-edge science and collaborate on pressing environmental issues. This year’s theme, “Ecology is Everywhere,” focused on the idea that ecological processes are found in all environments, from urban center to wilderness areas, highlighting the role ecology plays in addressing global challenges. 

UVA’s contingent of faculty and student researchers delivered a series of oral and poster presentations on topics ranging from plant-insect interactions and species resilience to the impact of tree planting and soil salinity. Their participation underscores the strength of UVA’s research community in advancing ecological science.

“The ESA meeting is the largest and most influential gathering of ecologists in the world, bringing together thousands of scientists to share discoveries and define the direction of the field,” said Max Castorani, associate professor in UVA’s Department of Environmental Sciences. “I was proud to see UVA students and faculty leading research that advances ecological knowledge and informs solutions to pressing environmental challenges.”

Castorani presented new findings from his research group in a session on ecosystem stability and resilience. His talk, “Spatial synchrony of kelp forests: causes and consequences from populations to ecosystems,” explored how environmental changes affect the dynamics of kelp forests across large geographic areas and many decades. These underwater forests are critical ecosystems that support biodiversity, fisheries and coastal protection, and Castorani’s work sheds light on the mechanisms driving their stability over time.

Other UVA presentations included:

• Jemima Elsherbini, a Ph.D. student, discussed how increasing salinity in terrestrial environments affects interactions between plants and herbivores.
• Elise Heffernan, a Ph.D. student, presented long-term vegetation data from the Northwest Territories of Canada, highlighting plant functional trait responses to climate change.
• Stephanie Petrovick, an M.S. student, shared results from a study of how disturbance and nutrient addition influence plant communities and soil seed banks in early successional ecosystems.
• Hannah Russell, an undergraduate student, discussed how black-eyed pea plants and their mutualist partners respond to salinity stress, offering insights into plant resilience under changing environmental conditions.
• Pinky Rani Sarkar, a Ph.D. student, presented a poster evaluating Virginia’s potential for carbon dioxide reduction through afforestation.
• Kyle Haynes, research professor, contributed a poster exploring how visual cues in aquatic environments can mislead insect species into unsuitable habitats—a phenomenon known as an “evolutionary trap.”
• Ethan Skuches, a master's student in environmental sciences, participated in a panel on engaging public and private lands. He spoke about his efforts to collect, propagate and distribute native seeds.

For the students, presenting at ESA was an opportunity to gain feedback from leading scientists, make professional connections and engage in broader conversations about the future of ecological science.

UVA’s presence at the conference reflects its commitment to fostering the next generation of ecologists and advancing research that addresses the challenges of a rapidly changing planet.