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College of Life Sciences Plant and Wildlife Sciences
Ben Abbott Lab
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Welcome to the Abbott Lab of Ecosystem Ecology

We research how human activity affects the water and nutrient cycles that sustain all life on Earth. Our current projects investigate water chemistry in river networks undergoing permafrost degradation in Alaska, nutrient pollution in agricultural and urban landscapes around the world, and interactions among people, wildfire, and water quality in the Utah Lake watershed. We also use expert assessment methods to explore how sub-sea permafrost, air pollution, wildfire, and water security respond to environmental changes.

We are always looking for creative and motivated students to help address these important environmental and societal issues. Click here to find out how to join the team!

Announcements:

  1. Our COVID-19 reports are now out. Click on the "Public reports" tab or access the mask report or schools report directly.
  2. Our report on the health impacts and economic costs of air pollution in Utah is now out. Visit the air pollution page. or click here for the PDF.
  3. We are recruiting 3 MS, PhD, or postdocs to work on our Megafire, Permafrost, and Resilience projects. Click here to find out how to apply!
Ben Abbott
Assistant Professor of Ecosystem Ecology
Brigham Young University
Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences
benabbott(a)byu.edu

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About Ben
Abbott Lab in the News
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Influencing Environmental Change from Iran to Utah
By Kalicia Bateman
April 08, 2020 10:36 AM
PhD student Sara Sayedi wanted to use science to change public policy in her home country of Iran, but politics limited her work in the public arena. Now at BYU, she is influencing policy at a global scale.
3 Min Read
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Ben Abbott Lab
After a megafire, how do waterways recover?
As wildfires get more frequent and severe because of climate change, a BYU team investigates ecosystem resilience to wildfires in a warmer world.
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Intellect
BYU analysis of 115+ studies on COVID-19
July 23, 2020 09:56 AM
BYU researchers found that masks could be one of the most powerful and cost-effective tools to stop COVID-19 and accelerate the economic recovery.
1 Min Read
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Intellect
Saving the world's water (and humans) one little stream at a time
Todd Hollingshead
By Todd Hollingshead
January 16, 2018 10:00 PM
Research by BYU ecosystem ecologist Ben Abbott presents a new tool to fight nutrient pollution. His study found that streams can be used as “sensors” of ecosystem health, allowing both improved water quality and food production.

2 Min Read
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Intellect
Fighting bad air quality with ... dance?
Andrea Christensen
By Andrea Christensen
September 11, 2018 10:00 PM
When Keely Song moved to Utah in 2016, she was jarred by what she called the “apocalyptic” talk about air quality during the state’s notorious inversions. So when BYU announced in November it would be providing free UTA passes to students, employees and their families, the dance professor had an idea.
1 Min Read
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Intellect
Study finds bedrock is teeming with microorganisms protecting water quality
February 03, 2019 10:00 PM
Nitrogen pollution from human fertilizer and fossil fuels affects two-thirds of freshwater bodies worldwide and causes billions of dollars of damage to fisheries and ecosystems annually. It triggers harmful algal blooms and dead zones where only worms and bacteria can survive.
3 Min Read
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Intellect
Studying climate change at opposite ends of the Earth
By Erica Ostergar
August 13, 2018 10:00 PM
As part of her undergraduate research at BYU graduating student, Natasha Griffin has presented at conferences in Europe, ridden in a helicopter and visited both the north and south poles.
3 Min Read
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Ben Abbott Lab
Permafrost Degradation in Alaska
BYU professor of ecosystem ecology follows permafrost organic matter from the mountain to the sea on the North Slope of Alaska.
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Impact Magazine
Interdependence and Stewardship: Piecing Together Humanity’s Relationship with the Earth
By Carlee Reber
June 05, 2019 01:06 PM
Will we show up in the geologic record in millions of years? The Anthropocene suggests the answer is yes: collective human impact on the environment will leave a definitive mark in future bedrock.
10 Min Read
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Permafrost Collapse and the Global Ecosystem
By Kalicia Bateman
March 17, 2020 11:10 AM
Although separated by space and time, our emissions have a great impact on ecosystems across the globe, and those systems are responding. Plant and wildlife sciences professor, Dr. Ben Abbott, has been studying these ecosystem responses and recently published research with Dr. Merritt Turetsky, director of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) at the University of Colorado Boulder, on permafrost collapse in arctic ecosystems.
1 Min Read
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Impact Magazine
Plant & Wildlife Sciences Across the Map
June 29, 2020 02:18 PM
Alaska
3 Min Read
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