Color headshot of Wilfred Wollheim, PROFESSOR CO-DIRECTOR, WATER SYSTEMS ANALYSIS GROUP of the EOS Earth Systems Research Center.

Wilfred Wollheim

Professor
Co-director, Water Systems Analysis Group
Phone: (603) 862-5022
Office: James Hall, Room 276, Durham, NH 03824
Websites:
Pronouns: He/Him/His
In understanding the environment as an integrated system, WSAG explores the physical, chemical and biological processes that shape hydrological systems, with emphasis on the unique role of humans as agents of change. Our research and educational programs cross the boundaries of traditional scientific disciplines to foster interdisciplinary understanding of environmental change. Through field monitoring, whole ecosystem experiments, novel in situ sensor deployments, and dynamic hydrological and ecosystem modeling, we attempt to understand hydrological and biogeochemical dynamics at scales ranging from individual ecosystems, to whole river systems, to the global systems of inland waters. Built on strong collaborations that are national and international in scope, our group also serves as a teaching platform for the next generation of ecosystem and earth system scientists.

The success of the Water Systems Analysis Group reflects a rapidly emerging scientific field which pursues integrative studies of hydrology, biogeochemistry, and human-water interactions that is necessary to analyze the full dimension of anthropogenic change at local, regional, and global scales.

Courses Taught

  • NR 400: Professional Perspective NR
  • NR 504: Freshwater Resources
  • NR 707: Environmental Modeling
  • NR 707/807: Environmental Modeling
  • NR 751/851: Aquatic Ecosystems
  • NR 807: Environmental Modeling
  • NR 905: Grant Writing

Education

  • Ph.D., Earth Sciences, University of New Hampshire
  • M.S., Zoology/Physiology, University of Wyoming
  • B.S., Natural Resources, Cornell University

Selected Publications

  • Li, Y., Yang, X., Lischeid, G., Wollheim, W. M., Jomaa, S., Zhou, X., & Rode, M. (2025). Responses of Wetted River Network Contraction and Expansion Dynamics to Prolonged Drought. Water Resources Research, 61(6). doi:10.1029/2024wr038938

  • Regier, P., Son, K., Chen, X., Fang, Y., Jiang, P., Taylor, M., . . . Stegen, J. (2025). Allometric Scaling of Hyporheic Respiration Across Basins in the Pacific Northwest United States. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 130(3). doi:10.1029/2024jg008344

  • Johnson, K., Jankowski, K. J., Carey, J., Lyon, N. J., McDowell, W. H., Shogren, A., . . . Sullivan, P. L. (2024). Establishing fluvial silicon regimes and their stability across the Northern Hemisphere. Limnology and Oceanography Letters, 9(3), 237-246. doi:10.1002/lol2.10372

  • Zuidema, S., Wollheim, W. M., Kucharik, C. J., & Lammers, R. B. (2024). Existing wetland conservation programs miss nutrient reduction targets.. PNAS Nexus, 3(4), pgae129. doi:10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae129

  • Robison, A. L., Koenig, L. E., Potter, J. D., Snyder, L. E., Hunt, C. W., McDowell, W. H., & Wollheim, W. M. (2024). Lotic‐SIPCO2: Adaptation of an open‐source CO2 sensor system and examination of associated emission uncertainties across a range of stream sizes and land uses. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 22(4), 191-207. doi:10.1002/lom3.10600

  • Deegan, L. A., Johnson, D. S., Warren, R. S., Peterson, B. J., Fleeger, J. W., Fagherazzi, S., & Wollheim, W. M. (2012). Coastal eutrophication as a driver of salt marsh loss. NATURE, 490(7420), 388-+. doi:10.1038/nature11533

  • Beaulieu, J. J., Tank, J. L., Hamilton, S. K., Wollheim, W. M., Jr, H. R. O., Mulholland, P. J., . . . Thomas, S. M. (2011). Nitrous oxide emission from denitrification in stream and river networks. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 108(1), 214-219. doi:10.1073/pnas.1011464108

  • Harrison, J. A., Maranger, R. J., Alexander, R. B., Giblin, A. E., Jacinthe, P. -A., Mayorga, E., . . . Wollheim, W. M. (2009). The regional and global significance of nitrogen removal in lakes and reservoirs. BIOGEOCHEMISTRY, 93(1-2), 143-157. doi:10.1007/s10533-008-9272-x

  • Pellerin, B. A., Wollheim, W. M., Feng, X., & Vorosmarty, C. J. (2008). The application of electrical conductivity as a tracer for hydrograph separation in urban catchments. HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, 22(12), 1810-1818. doi:10.1002/hyp.6786

  • Peterson, B. J., Wollheim, W. M., Mulholland, P. J., Webster, J. R., Meyer, J. L., Tank, J. L., . . . Morrall, D. D. (2001). Control of nitrogen export from watersheds by headwater streams. SCIENCE, 292(5514), 86-90. doi:10.1126/science.1056874

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  • Most Cited Publications