A headshot of Alix Contosta, research assistant professor in the Earth Systems Research Center.

Alexandra Contosta

Research Associate Professor
ESRC Assistant Director
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

  • 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

  • Contosta, A. R., Battles, J. J., Campbell, J. L., Driscoll, C. T., Garlick, S. R., Holmes, R. T., . . . Groffman, P. M. (2023). Early warning signals of changing resilience in the biogeochemistry and biology of a northern hardwood forest. Environmental Research Letters, 18(9), 094052. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/acf3fe

  • Contosta, A. R., Asbjornsen, H., Orefice, J., Perry, A., & Smith, R. G. (2022). Climate consequences of temperate forest conversion to open pasture or silvopasture. AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT, 333. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2022.107972

  • Arndt, K. A., Campbell, E. E., Dorich, C. D., Grandy, A. S., Griffin, T. S., Ingraham, P., . . . Contosta, A. R. (2022). Initial soil conditions outweigh management in a cool-season dairy farm's carbon sequestration potential. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, 809. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152195

  • 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