Kristofer Covey

Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies and Sciences

Office: CIS 210F
Lab: CIS 327
Phone: 518.580.8011
Email: kcovey@skidmore.edu

Google Scholar Profile

EDUCATION

• Ph.D., Silviculture and Biogeochemistry (2016)
  School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
  Yale University, New Haven, CT
• Master of Forestry (2010)
  School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
  Yale University, New Haven, CT
• Bachelor of Arts, Physics (2003)
  State University of New York at Potsdam, Potsdam, NY

COURSES AT SKIDMORE

• ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
• ES 205 Forest Ecosystem Analysis
• ES 252D Managing Ecosystem Change
• ES 352D Science to Solutions
• ES 352D Wicked Problems and Systemic Solutions
• ES 252D Regenerative Environmental Systems
• ES 374 Research Capstone: Design and Methods
• ES 375 Research Capstone: Data Collection, Analysis, and Communication

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Dr. Covey studies terrestrial ecosystems and their role in climate and life. An Applied Ecologist, and a Biogeochemist, Kris works to integrate his research into solutions for managing human dominated landscapes for multiple values. After designing the global study that provided the first robust estimate of number of trees on earth (3.04 trillion), Kris turned his focus to large-scale soil carbon mapping using a novel combination of existing technologies. Prior to joining the faculty at Skidmore College, Dr. Covey was the Lead Scientist at the Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative and a Lecturer in Forest Dynamics at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. There, he co-founded the Western Research Fellowship at the Ucross Highplains Stewardship Initiative and the Quick Carbon research program, served as a member of the School's Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Committee, and as a member of Yale University’s Carbon Offset Task Force. Kris is a Co-Founder and President of The Soil Inventory Project, a non-profit building a national scale soil carbon inventory. As a contributor to the Global Carbon Project's Methane Working Group, Kris authored the vegetation section of the Global Methane Budget. He serves as a member of the Board of Trusties for The Adirondack Nature Conservancy and is an appointed member of the New York State Wood Products Development Council.

PUBLICATIONS

Peer Reviewed Research Manuscripts

• Jensen, K.H., Faehndrich, C.S.,Colzani, E., McClure, M.L., and K.R. Covey (2023) “Rapid soil harvesting using a novel soil auger system for farm-scale soil carbon estimates”Soil Science Society of America Journal, DOI: 10.1002/saj2.20603
• Bettigole, C ., Hanle, J., Wood, S., Kane, D., Szeto, S., Downey, M., Bradford, M., Basso, B., Pagliaro, Z. *, Kolodney, S. *, Szuhay, S. *, Chandler, M. *, Hersh, E. *, Hardy, S., Wolf, Z, and K.R. Covey (2023) “Optimizing sampling strategies for near-surface soil carbon inventory: One size doesn’t fit all.” Soil Systems, https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7010027
• Bradford, Mark A., Veen G.F. (Ciska), Bradford, E.M., Covey, K.R., Crowther, T.W., Fields, N., Frankson, P.T., González-Rivero, J., Jevon, F.V., Kuebbing, S.E., McBride, S., Mohan, J.E.,  Oldfield, E.E., Oliverio, A.A., Polussa, A., Steinrueck, C., Srickland, M.S., Ward, E.B., Wepking, C., Maynard, D.S. 2022 “Coarse woody debris accelerates the decomposition of fresh deadwood inputs across eastern U.S. temperate forest”, Biogeochemistry, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-023-01045-8
• Goodwin, D.J., Kane, D.A., Dhakal, K., Covey, K.R., Bettigole, C., Hanle, J., Ortega-S, J.A., Perotto-Baldivieso, H.L., Fox, W.E., Tolleson, D.R. (2022) “Can Low-Cost, Handheld Spectroscopy Tools Coupled with Remote Sensing Accurately Estimate Soil Organic Carbon in Semi-Arid Grazing Lands?”, Soil Systems, https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems6020038
• Gantz T.R., McMurray, K., Covey K.R., Bettigole C. and G. Benoit. (2021) “Chemical effects of snowmelt on an alpine lake in the Wind River Range, WY”, Limnology and Oceanography,https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-021-05284-z
• Saatchi, S., Longo ,M., Xu, L., Yang, Y., Abe, H., André, M., Aukema, J., Carvalhais, N., Cadillo-Quiroz, H., Cerbu, G.A., Janet, M., Chernela, J., Covey, K.R., Sánchez- Clavijo, L., Cubillos I., Davies S., De Sy, V., De Vleeschouwer, F., Duque, A., Durieux, A., Fernandes, K., Fernandez, L., Gammino, V., Garrity, D., Gibbs, D., Gibbon, L., Gowae, G., Hansen, M., Harris N.L., Healey, S., Hilton, R., Johnson, C., Kankeu, R., Laporte-Goetz, N., 27, Lee, H., Lovejoy, T., Lowman, M., Lumbuenamo R., Malhi Y., Martinez, J.-M., Nobre C., Pellegrini A., Radachowsky, J., Románe, F., Russell, D., Seymour, F., Sheil, R., Smith, T., Spencer, R., Stolle, F., Tata, H., del Castillo Torres, D., Tshimanga, R., Vargas, R., Venter, M., West, J., Widayati, A., Wilson, S., Brumby, S., and Elmore, A. (2021) “Detecting vulnerability of humid tropical forests to multiple stressors”, One Earth, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2021.06.002
• Covey, K., Soper, F., Pangala, S., Bernardino, A., Pagliaro, Z., Basso, L., Cassol, H., Fearnside, P., Navarrete, D., Novoa, S., Sawakuchi, H., Lovejoy, T., Marengo, J., Peres, C.A., Baillie, J., Bernasconi, P., Camargo, J., Freitas, C., Hoffman, B., Nardoto, G.B., Nobre, I., Mayorga, J., Mesquita, R., Pavan, S., Pinto, F., Rocha, F., de Assis Mello, R., Thuault, A., Bahl, A.A., Elmore, A., 2021. "Carbon and Beyond: The Biogeochemistry of Climate in a Rapidly Changing Amazon". Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 4, 11. 
• Saunois, M., Stavert, A. R., Poulter, B., Bousquet, P., Canadell, J. G., Jackson, R. B., Raymond, P. A., Dlugokencky, E. J., Houweling, S., Patra, P. K., Ciais, P., Arora, V. K., Bastviken, D., Bergamaschi, P., Blake, D. R., Brailsford, G., Bruhwiler, L., Carlson, K. M., Carrol, M., Castaldi, S., Chandra, N., Crevoisier, C., Crill, P. M., Covey, K.R., Curry, C. L., Etiope, G., Frankenberg, C., Gedney, N., Hegglin, M. I., Höglund-Isaksson, L., Hugelius, G., Ishizawa, M., Ito, A., Janssens-Maenhout, G., Jensen, K. M., Joos, F., Kleinen, T., Krummel, P. B., Langenfelds, R. L., Laruelle, G. G., Liu, L., Machida, T., Maksyutov, S., McDonald, K. C., McNorton, J., Miller, P. A., Melton, J. R., Morino, I., Müller, J., Murguia-Flores, F., Naik, V., Niwa, Y., Noce, S., O'Doherty, S., Parker, R. J., Peng, C., Peng, S., Peters, G. P., Prigent, C., Prinn, R., Ramonet, M., Regnier, P., Riley, W. J., Rosentreter, J. A., Segers, A., Simpson, I. J., Shi, H., Smith, S. J., Steele, L. P., Thornton, B. F., Tian, H., Tohjima, Y., Tubiello, F. N., Tsuruta, A., Viovy, N., Voulgarakis, A., Weber, T. S., van Weele, M., van der Werf, G. R., Weiss, R. F., Worthy, D., Wunch, D., Yin, Y., Yoshida, Y., Zhang, W., Zhang, Z., Zhao, Y., Zheng, B., Zhu, Q., Zhu, Q., and Zhuang, Q. (2020) “The Global Methane Budget 2000–2017”, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 12, 1561–1623
• Singer, J.A, Turnbull, R., Foster, M., Bettigole, C., Frey, B.R., Downey, M., Covey, K.R., and M.S. Ashton. (2019) “Sudden Aspen Decline: A review of Pattern and Process in a Changing Climate”, Forests
• Maynard D.S., Bradford, M.A., Covey K.R., Lindner, D., Glaeser, J., Talber, D.A., Tinker, P.J., Walker, D.M., and Crowther, T.W. (2019)“Functional traits reveal predictive patterns in fungal biogeography”, Nature Microbiology
• Covey, K.R.¹ and J.P. Megonigal. (2018) “Tansley Review: Production and Emission of Methane in Forests”, New Phytologist, doi:10.1111/nph.15624
• Barba, J., Bradford, M.A., Brewer, P., Bruhn, D., Covey, K.R., van Haren, J., Megonigal, J.P., Mikkelsen, Teis ; Pangala, Sunitha; Pihlatie, Mari; Poulter, B., Rivas-Ubach, A., Schadt, C., Terazawa, K., Warner, D., Zhang, Z., and R.Vargas. (2018) “Methane emissions from tree stems: a new frontier in global carbon”, New Phytologist, doi: 10.1111/nph.15582
• Maynard, D., Covey K.R., Crowther, T.W., Sokol, N.W., Morrison, E.W., Frey, S.D., van Diepen, L., MA. Bradford. (2018) “Fungal associations overwhelm abiotic to dictate the structure and function of wood decay communities”, Ecology, doi: 10.1002/ecy.2165
• Rutenbeck, N.E., Frey, B.R., Covey, K.R., Berlyn, G.P., Schmitz, O.J., Larson, B.C., and M.A. Ashton. 2018 “Influence of gap position and site preparation on the leaf physiology of planted Picea glauca and natural regeneration of Populus tremuloides”, Forest Ecology and Management doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2018.05.010
• Umunay, P., Covey, K.R., Makana, J., and T.G. Gregoire. (2017)“Effect of Shade, Fire, and Weed Control on the Establishment of Pericopsis Elata Regeneration”, New Forests, doi:10.1007/s11056-017-9594-4
• Saunois, M., Bousquet, P., Poulter, B., Peregon, A., Ciais P., Canadell, J.G., Dlugokencky, E.J., Etiope, G., Bastviken, D., Houweling, S., Janssens-Maenhout, G., Tubiello, F.N., Castaldi, S., Jackson, R.B., Alexe, M., Arora, V.K., Beerling, D.J., Bergamaschi, P., Blake, D.R., Brailsford, G., Brovkin, V., Bruhwiler, L., Crevoisier, C., Crill, P., Covey, K.R., Curry, C., Frankenberg, C., Gedney, N., Höglund-Isaksson, L., Ishizawa, M., Ito, A., Joos, F., Kim, H.-S., Kleinen, T., Krummel, P., J.-F., Lamarque, Langenfelds, R., Locatelli, R., Machida, T., Maksyutov, S., McDonald, K.C., Marshall, J., Melton, J.R., Morino, I., O’Doherty, S., Parmentier, F.-J.W., Patra, P.K., Peng, C., Peng, S., Peters, G.P., Pison, I., C., Prigent, Prinn, R., Ramonet, M., Riley, W.J., Saito, M., Schroeder, R., Simpson, I.J., Spahni, R., Steele, P., Takizawa, A., Thornton, B.F., Tian, H., Tohjima, Y., Viovy, N., Voulgarakis, A., van Weele, M., van der Werf, G., Weiss, R., Wiedinmyer, C., Wilton, D.J., Wiltshire, A., Worthy, D., Wunch, D.B., Xu, X., Yoshida, Y., Zhang, B., Zhang Z., and Q. Zhu. (2017) “Variability and quasi-decadal changes in the methane budget over the period 2000–2012”, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, doi:10.5194/acp-2017-296
• Fernandez J., Covey K.R., and M.S. Ashton (2017). “Tamm Review: Large-scale disturbances and their role in regenerating shade-intolerant tree species in Mesoamerican rainforests: Implications for sustainable forest management”, Forest Ecology and Management, 395, 48-68, doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2017.03.025
• Oberle, B., Covey, K.R., Dunham, K., Hernandez, E.J., Walton, M.L., Young, D.F. and A.E. Zanne. (2017)“Dissecting the effects of diameter on wood decay emphasizes the control of cross-stem conductivity in Fraxinus americana”, Ecosystems, 1-13, doi:10.1007/s10021-017-0136-x
• Saunois, M., Bousquet, P., Poulter, B., Peregon, A., Ciais P., Canadell, J.G., Dlugokencky, E.J., Etiope, G., Bastviken, D., Houweling, S., Janssens-Maenhout, G., Tubiello, F.N., Castaldi, S., Jackson, R.B., Alexe, M., Arora, V.K., Beerling, D.J., Bergamaschi, P., Blake, D.R., Brailsford, G., Brovkin, V., Bruhwiler, L., Crevoisier, C., Crill, P., Covey, K.R., Curry, C., Frankenberg, C., Gedney, N., Höglund-Isaksson, L., Ishizawa, M., Ito, A., Joos, F., Kim, H.-S., Kleinen, T., Krummel, P., J.-F., Lamarque, Langenfelds, R., Locatelli, R., Machida, T., Maksyutov, S., McDonald, K.C., Marshall, J., Melton, J.R., Morino, I., O’Doherty, S., Parmentier, F.-J.W., Patra, P.K., Peng, C., Peng, S., Peters, G.P., Pison, I., C., Prigent, Prinn, R., Ramonet, M., Riley, W.J., Saito, M., Schroeder, R., Simpson, I.J., Spahni, R., Steele, P., Takizawa, A., Thornton, B.F., Tian, H., Tohjima, Y., Viovy, N., Voulgarakis, A., van Weele, M., van der Werf, G., Weiss, R., Wiedinmyer, C., Wilton, D.J., Wiltshire, A., Worthy, D., Wunch, D.B., Xu, X., Yoshida, Y., Zhang, B., Zhang Z., and Q. Zhu. (2016)“The Global Methane Budget: 2000-2012”, Earth System Science Data, 8, 697-751, doi:10.5194/essd-8-697-2016
• Covey, K.R.¹, Bueno de Mesquita, C.P., Oberle, B., Maynard, D.S., Bettigole, C., Crowther, T.W., Duguid, M.C., Steven, B., Zanne, A.E., Lapin, M., Ashton, M.S., Oliver, C.D., Lee, X. and M.A. Bradford. (2016) “Greenhouse trace gases in deadwood”, 130(3), 215-226, Biogeochemistry, doi:10.1007/s10533-016-0253-1
• Glick, H.B., Bettigole, C., Maynard, D.S., Covey, K.R., Smith, J.R., and T.W. Crowther. (2016) “A spatially-explicit model of global tree density”, Nature Scientific Data, 3:160069. doi:10.1038/sdata.2016.69.
• Crowther, T., H. Glick, K.R. Covey, C. Bettigole, D. Maynard, S. Thomas, J. Smith, G. Hintler, M. Duguid, G. Amatulli, Tuanmu, M-N, Jetz, W., Salas, C., Stam, C., Piotto, D., Tavani, Rl, Green, S., Bruce, G., Williams, S.J., Wiser, S.K., Huber, M.O., Hengeveld, G.M., Nabuurs, G.J., Tikhonova, E., Borchardt, P., Li, C.F., Powrie, L.W., Fischer, M., Hemp, A., Homeier, J., Cho, P., Vibrans, A.C., Umaunay, P.M., Piao, S.L., Rowe, C.W., Ashton, M.S., Crane, P.R. and M.A. Bradford (2015) “Mapping tree density at a global scale”, Nature, 525(7568), 201-205. doi:10.1038/nature14967
• Crowther, T.W., S.M. Thomas, D.S. Maynard, P. Baldrian, K.R. Covey, S.D. Frey, L.T. van Diepen, and M. A. Bradford (2015) “Biotic interactions mediate soil microbial feedbacks to climate change”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(22), 7033-7038. doi:10.1073/pnas.1502956112
• Crowther, T.W., D.S. Maynard, S.M. Thomas, P. Baldrian, K.R. Covey, S.D. Frey, L.T. van Diepen, and M.A. Bradford (2015) “Reply to Veresoglou: Overdependence on “significance” testing in biology”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(37), E5114-E5114. doi:10.1073/pnas.1513283112
• Covey, K.R.¹, A.L. Barrett, and M.S. Ashton (2015) “Ice storms as a successional pathway for Fagus grandifolia advancement in Quercus rubra dominated forests of southern New England”, Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 45(11), 1628-1635. doi:10.1139/cjfr-2015-0069
• Covey, K.R.¹, C.J. Carroll, M.C. Duguid, K. Dorji, T. Dorji, S. Tashi, T. Wangdi, and M.S. Ashton (2015) “Developmental dynamics following selective logging of an evergreen oak forest in the Eastern Himalaya, Bhutan: Structure, composition, and spatial pattern”, Forest Ecology and Management, 336, 163-173. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2014.10.006
• Covey, K.R.¹, S.A. Wood, R.J. Warren, X. Lee, and M.A. Bradford (2012) “Elevated methane concentrations in trees of an upland forest”, Geophysical Research Letters, 39(15). doi:10.1029/2012GL052361
• Clark, J.A., and K.R. Covey¹ (2012) “Tree species richness and the logging of natural forests: A meta-analysis”, Forest Ecology and Management, 276, 146-153. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2012.04.001

Peer Reviewed Book Chapters

• Ashton, P.M.S., Barrett A.L., Covey K.R., and Duguid M.C. (2015) “Yale School Forests, New England, United States”, Siry, J., P. Bettinger, K. Merry, D. Grebner, K. Boston, C. Cieszewski, (eds.) Forest Plans of North America. Academic Press
• Covey, K.R.¹ (2013) “Forest Carbon and Climate Change”, Cashore B. & Jodoin S. (eds.) Forests in a Changing Climate: A Sourcebook for Integrating REDD+ Into Academic Programmes. United Nations Environmental Programme. United Nations Environmental Programme.
• Oliver C.D., Covey K.R., Hohl A., Larsen D., McCarter J.B, Niccolai A., and Wilson J. (2012), “Landscape Management”.  J. Stanturf et al. (eds.). Forest Landscape Restoration: Integrating Natural and Social Sciences. World Forests 15, Springer. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-5326-6_3
• Covey, K.R.¹, Orefice J., Lee X. (2012), “The physiological ecology of carbon science in forest stands”. M.L Tyrrell, P.M.S. Ashton, D. Spalding, & B. Gentry (eds.). Managing Forest Carbon in a Changing Climate. Springer. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-2232-3
• Covey, K.R.¹, Campbell R.W. (2010), “Castenea dentata”, A. Roloff, H. Weisgerber, U. Lang, & B. Stimm (eds.) Enzyklopädie der Holzgewächse. Weinheim, Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/9783527678518.ehg2011003

Other Publications

• Spalding D., Hodgman T., and Covey K.R., Campbell R.W. & Duguid M. (eds.), (2010) Common Plants of the Quiet Corner: A Functional Guide. Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, New Haven, CT.
• Campbell R.W., Cousins, S., Covey K.R., Duguid, M., Nerenberg J., and Paul G. (Eds.). (2010). Future of Connecticut's Forests: A summary of a symposium led by the Yale Chapter of the Society of American Foresters exploring issues and opportunities in Connecticuts forestlands. Yale Forest Forum Review (Vol. 12). New Haven, CT: Global Institute for Sustainable Forestry.