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.

Modeling the potential distribution of the invasive golden mussel <i>Limnoperna fortunei</i> in the Upper Paraguay River system using limnological variables
Oliveira, M. D., Stephen K. Hamilton, D. F. Calheiros, C. M. Jacobi, and R. O. Latini. 2010. “Modeling the Potential Distribution of the Invasive Golden Mussel <i>Limnoperna fortunei< i> In the Upper Paraguay River System Using Limnological Variables”. Brazilian Journal of Biology 70 (3): 831-40. doi:10.1590/S1519-69842010000400014.
Oxygen depletion events control the invasive golden mussel (<i>Limnoperna fortunei</i>) in a tropical floodplain
Oliveira, Marcia D., Stephen K. Hamilton, Debora F. Calheiros, and Claudia M. Jacobi. 2010. “Oxygen Depletion Events Control the Invasive Golden Mussel (<i>Limnoperna fortunei< I>) in a Tropical Floodplain”. Wetlands 30 (4): 705-16. doi:10.1007/s13157-010-0081-3.
Small-scale spatial variation of inundation dynamics in a floodplain of the Pantanal (Brazil)
Girard, Pierre, Ibraim Fantin-Cruz, Simoni M. Loverde de Oliveira, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2010. “Small-Scale Spatial Variation of Inundation Dynamics in a Floodplain of the Pantanal (Brazil)”. Hydrobiologia 638 (1): 223-33. doi:10.1007/s10750-009-0046-9.
Biogeochemical implications of climate change for tropical rivers and floodplains
Hamilton, Stephen K. 2010. “Biogeochemical Implications of Climate Change for Tropical Rivers and Floodplains”. Hydrobiologia 657 (1): 19-35. doi:10.1007/s10750-009-0086-1.
Forecasting the expansion of the invasive golden mussel <i>Limnoperna fortunei</i> in Brazilian and North American rivers based on its occurrence in the Paraguay River and Pantanal wetland of Brazil
Oliveira, Marcia D., Stephen K. Hamilton, and Claudia M. Jacobi. 2010. “Forecasting the Expansion of the Invasive Golden Mussel <i>Limnoperna fortunei< i> In Brazilian and North American Rivers Based on Its Occurrence in the Paraguay River and Pantanal Wetland of Brazil”. Aquatic Invasions 5 (1): 59-73. doi:10.3391/ai.2010.5.1.8.
Biogenic calcite-phosphorus precipitation as a negative feedback to lake eutrophication
Hamilton, Stephen K., Denise A. Bruesewitz, Geoffrey P. Horst, David B. Weed, and Orlando Sarnelle. 2009. “Biogenic Calcite-Phosphorus Precipitation As a Negative Feedback to Lake Eutrophication”. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 66 (2): 343-50. doi:10.1139/F09-003.
Inorganic carbon isotope systematics in soil profiles undergoing silicate and carbonate weathering (Southern Michigan, USA)
Jin, Lixin, Nives Ogrinc, Stephen K. Hamilton, Kathryn Szramek, Tjasa Kanduc, and Lynn M. Walter. 2009. “Inorganic Carbon Isotope Systematics in Soil Profiles Undergoing Silicate and Carbonate Weathering (Southern Michigan, USA)”. Chemical Geology 264 (1-4): 139-53. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2009.03.002.
Nitrate removal in stream ecosystems measured by <sup>15</sup>N addition experiments: Denitrification
Mulholland, Patrick J., Robert O. Hall, Daniel J. Sobota, Walter K. Dodds, Stuart E. G. Findlay, Nancy B Grimm, Stephen K. Hamilton, et al. 2009. “Nitrate Removal in Stream Ecosystems Measured by <sup>15< Sup>N Addition Experiments: Denitrification”. Limnology and Oceanography 54 (3): 666-80. doi:10.4319/lo.2009.54.3.0666.
Nitrate removal in stream ecosystems measured by <sup>15</sup>N addition experiments: Total uptake
Hall, Robert O., Jennifer L. Tank, Daniel J. Sobota, Patrick J. Mulholland, Jonathan M. O’Brien, Walter K. Dodds, Jackson R. Webster, et al. 2009. “Nitrate Removal in Stream Ecosystems Measured by <sup>15< Sup>N Addition Experiments: Total Uptake”. Limnology and Oceanography 54 (3): 653-65. doi:10.4319/lo.2009.54.3.0653.
Seasonal effects of zebra mussels on littoral nitrogen transformation rates in Gull Lake, Michigan, USA
Bruesewitz, Denise A., Jennifer L. Tank, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2009. “Seasonal Effects of Zebra Mussels on Littoral Nitrogen Transformation Rates in Gull Lake, Michigan, USA”. Freshwater Biology 54 (7): 1427-43. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.2009.02195.x.
Sediment nitrate manipulation using porewater equilibrators reveals potential for N and S coupling in freshwaters
Payne, E. K., Amy J. Burgin, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2009. “Sediment Nitrate Manipulation Using Porewater Equilibrators Reveals Potential for N and S Coupling in Freshwaters”. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 54: 233-41. doi:10.3354/ame01272.
Primary production in tropical streams and rivers
Davies, Peter M., Stuart E. Bunn, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2008. “Primary Production in Tropical Streams and Rivers”. In Tropical Stream Ecology, 23-42. doi:10.1016/B978-012088449-0.50004-2.
Sources and transport of carbon and nitrogen in the River Sava watershed, a major tributary of the River Danube
Ogrinc, Nives, Roland Markovics, Tjasa Kanduc, Lynn M. Walter, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2008. “Sources and Transport of Carbon and Nitrogen in the River Sava Watershed, a Major Tributary of the River Danube”. Applied Geochemistry 23 (12): 3685-98. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2008.09.003.
Stream denitrification across biomes and its response to anthropogenic nitrate loading
Mulholland, Patrick J., Ashley M. Helton, Geoffrey C. Poole, Robert O. Hall, Stephen K. Hamilton, Bruce J. Peterson, Jennifer L. Tank, et al. 2008. “Stream Denitrification across Biomes and Its Response to Anthropogenic Nitrate Loading”. Nature 452: 202-5. doi:10.1038/nature06686.
Assimilatory uptake rather than nitrification and denitrification determines nitrogen removal patterns in streams of varying land use
Arango, Clay P., J.L. Tank, L. T. Johnson, and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2008. “Assimilatory Uptake Rather Than Nitrification and Denitrification Determines Nitrogen Removal Patterns in Streams of Varying Land Use”. Limnology and Oceanography 53 (6): 2558-72. doi:10.4319/lo.2008.53.6.2558.
Invasive zebra mussels (<i>Dreissena polymorpha</i>) increase cyanobacterial toxin concentrations in low-nutrient lakes
Knoll, Lesley B., Orlando Sarnelle, Stephen K. Hamilton, Carrie E. H. Kissman, Alan E. Wilson, Joan B. Rose, and Mechelle R. Morgan. 2008. “Invasive Zebra Mussels (<i>Dreissena polymorpha< I>) Increase Cyanobacterial Toxin Concentrations in Low-Nutrient Lakes”. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65 (3): 448-55. doi:10.1139/F07-181.
Mineral weathering rates in glacial drift soils (SW Michigan, USA): New constraints from seasonal sampling of waters and gases at soil monoliths
Jin, Lixin, Stephen K. Hamilton, and Lynn M. Walter. 2008. “Mineral Weathering Rates in Glacial Drift Soils (SW Michigan, USA): New Constraints from Seasonal Sampling of Waters and Gases at Soil Monoliths”. Chemical Geology 249 (1-2): 129-54. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2007.12.002.
NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>-driven SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup> production in freshwater ecosystems: Implications for N and S cycling
Burgin, Amy J., and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2008. “NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>-Driven/SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup>/Production/in/Freshwater/Ecosystems:/Implications/for/N/and/S/Cycling”. Ecosystems 11 (6): 908-22. doi:10.1007/s10021-008-9169-5.
The production and emission of nitrous oxide from headwater streams in the Midwestern United States
Beaulieu, J. J., Clay P. Arango, Stephen K. Hamilton, and J.L. Tank. 2008. “The Production and Emission of Nitrous Oxide from Headwater Streams in the Midwestern United States”. Global Change Biology 14 (4): 878-94. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2007.01485.x.
Rates of anaerobic microbial metabolism in wetlands of divergent hydrology on a glacial landscape
Whitmire, Stefanie L., and Stephen K. Hamilton. 2008. “Rates of Anaerobic Microbial Metabolism in Wetlands of Divergent Hydrology on a Glacial Landscape”. Wetlands 28 (3): 703-14. doi:10.1672/06-126.1.