Dr. Stephen K. Hamilton

Ecosystem Ecologist, Biogeochemist | PhD, University of California at Santa Barbara

Expertise
wetlands, streams, rivers and lakes, agricultural ecology, water quality, tropical rivers, floodplains

845 677-7600 x237

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Stephen Hamilton’s principal research interests involve ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry, with particular emphasis on water. He has studied wetlands, streams, lakes, reservoirs, and watersheds, as well as agricultural cropping systems and their effects on water and climate. His research draws on multiple disciplines to understand and mitigate environmental problems and inform environmental protection and conservation.

Hamilton’s research publications include studies of nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, invasive species, food webs, remote sensing, conservation planning, and hydrology. He has received awards for his engagement with environmental issues from the Michigan Environmental Council and the Society for Freshwater Science, and is a Fellow of that society.

Hamilton has conducted a variety of studies in tropical floodplain and river ecosystems of South America and Australia, and presently works with several research groups in Brazil on hydropower effects on river systems.

As of 2024, Hamilton is retired from both Cary Institute and from his long-time position as a Professor at Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station, though he will remain academically active. At Michigan State, Hamilton was a principal investigator for the National Science Foundation’s Long Term Ecological Research site and a Project Leader in the Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. He now lives in northern Michigan.

Empirical Evidence for the Potential Climate Benefits of Decarbonizing Light Vehicle Transport in the U.S. with Bioenergy from Purpose-Grown Biomass with and without BECCS
Gelfand, Ilya, Stephen K. Hamilton, Alexandra N. Kravchenko, Randall D. Jackson, Kurt D. Thelen, and Philip Robertson. 2020. “Empirical Evidence for the Potential Climate Benefits of Decarbonizing Light Vehicle Transport in the U.S. With Bioenergy from Purpose-Grown Biomass With and Without BECCS”. Environmental Science & Technology 54 (5). American Chemical Society (ACS): 2961-74. doi:10.1021/acs.est.9b07019.
Parasite and pathogen effects on ecosystem processes: A quantitative review
Fischhoff, Ilya R., Tao Huang, Stephen K. Hamilton, Barbara A. Han, Shannon L. LaDeau, Richard S. Ostfeld, Emma J. Rosi, and Christopher T. Solomon. 2020. “Parasite and Pathogen Effects on Ecosystem Processes: A Quantitative Review”. Ecosphere 11 (5). Wiley. doi:10.1002/ecs2.3057.
Alternative Biogeochemical States of River Pools Mediated by Hippo Use and Flow Variability
Dutton, Christopher L., Amanda L. Subalusky, Stephen K. Hamilton, Ella C. Bayer, Laban Njoroge, Emma J. Rosi, and David M. Post. 2020. “Alternative Biogeochemical States of River Pools Mediated by Hippo Use and Flow Variability”. Ecosystems. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1007/s10021-020-00518-3.
Leaching losses of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen from agricultural soils in the upper US Midwest
Hussain, Mir Zaman, Philip Robertson, Bruno Basso, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2020. “Leaching Losses of Dissolved Organic Carbon and Nitrogen from Agricultural Soils in the Upper US Midwest”. Science of The Total Environment 734. Elsevier BV: 139379. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139379.
Hydropeaking Operations of Two Run-of-River Mega-Dams Alter Downstream Hydrology of the Largest Amazon Tributary
Almeida, R. M., Stephen K. Hamilton, Emma J. Rosi, N. Barros, C. R. C. Doria, A. S. Flecker, A. S. Fleischmann, A. J. Reisinger, and F. Roland. (2024) 2020. “Hydropeaking Operations of Two Run-of-River Mega-Dams Alter Downstream Hydrology of the Largest Amazon Tributary”. Frontiers in Environmental Science 8.
Measuring Floodplain Inundation Using Diel Amplitude of Temperature
Celi, J. E., and Stephen K. Hamilton. (2024) 2020. “Measuring Floodplain Inundation Using Diel Amplitude of Temperature”. Sensors 20 (21).
Long‐term evapotranspiration rates for rainfed corn versus perennial bioenergy crops in a mesic landscape
Abraha, Michael, Jiquan Chen, Stephen K. Hamilton, and Philip Robertson. 2020. “Long‐term Evapotranspiration Rates for Rainfed Corn Versus Perennial Bioenergy Crops in a Mesic Landscape”. Hydrological Processes 34 (3). Wiley: 810-22. doi:10.1002/hyp.13630.
Further Development of Small Hydropower Facilities Will Significantly Reduce Sediment Transport to the Pantanal Wetland of Brazil
Fantin-Cruz, I., M. D. de Oliveira, J. A. Campos, M. M. de Campos, L. D. Ribeiro, R. Mingoti, M. L. de Souza, O. Pedrollo, and Stephen K. Hamilton. (2024) 2020. “Further Development of Small Hydropower Facilities Will Significantly Reduce Sediment Transport to the Pantanal Wetland of Brazil”. Frontiers in Environmental Science 8.
Long‐term variability and density dependence in Hudson River Dreissena populations
Strayer, David L., David T. Fischer, Stephen K. Hamilton, Heather M. Malcom, Michael L. Pace, and Christopher T. Solomon. 2020. “Long‐term Variability and Density Dependence in Hudson River Dreissena Populations”. Freshwater Biology 65 (3). Wiley: 474-89. doi:10.1111/fwb.13444.
Nitrate Leaching from Continuous Corn, Perennial Grasses, and Poplar in the US Midwest
Hussain, Mir Zaman, Ajay K. Bhardwaj, Bruno Basso, Philip Robertson, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2019. “Nitrate Leaching from Continuous Corn, Perennial Grasses, and Poplar in the US Midwest”. Journal of Environmental Quality 48 (6). Wiley: 1849-55. doi:10.2134/jeq2019.04.0156.
Complex interactions between climate change, sanitation, and groundwater quality: a case study from Ramotswa, Botswana
McGill, Bonnie, Yvan Altchenko, Stephen K. Hamilton, Piet K. Kenabatho, Steven R. Sylvester, and Karen G. Villholth. 2019. “Complex Interactions Between Climate Change, Sanitation, and Groundwater Quality: A Case Study from Ramotswa, Botswana”. Hydrogeology Journal 27 (3): 997-1015. doi:10.1007/s10040-018-1901-4.
Evapotranspiration and water use efficiency of continuous maize and maize and soybean in rotation in the upper Midwest U.S.
Hussain, M. Z., Stephen K. Hamilton, Ajay K. Bhardwaj, B. Basso, Kurt D. Thelen, and G. P. Robertson. 2019. “Evapotranspiration and Water Use Efficiency of Continuous Maize and Maize and Soybean in Rotation in the Upper Midwest U.S”. Agricultural Water Management 221: 92-98. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2019.02.049.
Widespread diminishing anthropogenic effects on calcium in freshwaters
Weyhenmeyer, Gesa A., Jens Hartmann, Dag O. Hessen, Jiří Kopáček, Josef Hejzlar, Stéphan Jacquet, Stephen K. Hamilton, et al. 2019. “Widespread Diminishing Anthropogenic Effects on Calcium in Freshwaters”. Scientific Reports 9 (1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-46838-w.
Seasonal and Long-Term Dynamics in Stream Water Sodium Chloride Concentrations and the Effectiveness of Road Salt Best Management Practices
Kelly, Victoria R., Stuart E. G. Findlay, Stephen K. Hamilton, Gary M. Lovett, and Kathleen C. Weathers. 2019. “Seasonal and Long-Term Dynamics in Stream Water Sodium Chloride Concentrations and the Effectiveness of Road Salt Best Management Practices”. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 230 (1). doi:10.1007/s11270-018-4060-2.
Characterizing seasonal dynamics of Amazonian wetlands for conservation and decision making
Reis, Vanessa, Virgilio Hermoso, Stephen K. Hamilton, Stuart E. Bunn, Etienne Fluet‐Chouinard, Bill Venables, and Simon Linke. 2019. “Characterizing Seasonal Dynamics of Amazonian Wetlands for Conservation and Decision Making”. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 29 (7). Wiley: 1073-82. doi:10.1002/aqc.3051.
Limnological effects of a large Amazonian run-of-river dam on the main river and drowned tributary valleys
Almeida, Rafael M., Stephen K. Hamilton, Emma J. Rosi, João Durval Arantes, Nathan Barros, Gina Boemer, Anderson Gripp, et al. 2019. “Limnological Effects of a Large Amazonian Run-of-River Dam on the Main River and Drowned Tributary Valleys”. Scientific Reports 9 (1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-53060-1.
Evapotranspiration is resilient in the face of land cover and climate change in a humid temperate catchment
Hamilton, Stephen K., M. Z. Hussain, Christopher Lowrie, B. Basso, and G. P. Robertson. 2018. “Evapotranspiration Is Resilient in the Face of Land Cover and Climate Change in a Humid Temperate Catchment”. Hydrological Processes 32 (5): 655-63. doi:10.1002/hyp.11447.
The greenhouse gas cost of agricultural intensification with groundwater irrigation in a Midwest U.S. row cropping system
McGill, Bonnie, Stephen K. Hamilton, N. Millar, and G. P. Robertson. 2018. “The Greenhouse Gas Cost of Agricultural Intensification With Groundwater Irrigation in a Midwest U.S. Row Cropping System”. Global Change Biology 24 (12): 5948-60. doi:10.1111/gcb.14472.
Legacy effects of land use on soil nitrous oxide emissions in annual crop and perennial grassland ecosystems
Abraha, Michael, Ilya Gelfand, Stephen K. Hamilton, Jiquan Chen, and Philip Robertson. 2018. “Legacy Effects of Land Use on Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Annual Crop and Perennial Grassland Ecosystems”. Ecological Applications 28 (5): 1362-69. doi:10.1002/eap.1745.
Organic matter loading by hippopotami causes subsidy overload resulting in downstream hypoxia and fish kills
Dutton, Christopher L., Amanda L. Subalusky, Stephen K. Hamilton, Emma J. Rosi, and D.M. Post. 2018. “Organic Matter Loading by Hippopotami Causes Subsidy Overload Resulting in Downstream Hypoxia and Fish Kills”. Nature Communications 9 (1). doi:10.1038/s41467-018-04391-6.