My research focuses on the ecological and evolutionary consequences of interactions among organisms. My work centers on how multi-species systems function and on evaluating methods that might predict how such systems will respond to environmental change, particularly in regard to the current epidemic of species extinctions and introductions occurring throughout the world and to global changes such as ocean acidification. I have conducted research on a wide variety of related subjects and retain active research interests in most of them, including the role of ecological factors on the evolution of life history and mating systems, and population viability models of endangered species. I work in several different systems, and study a range of taxa. My general approach develops and tests questions or models of broad theoretical interest, using field experiments, observations of large-scale species introductions, and between-system comparisons. Currently, my research focuses on rocky intertidal marine communities (particularly on Tatoosh Island, Washington) and rivers, which serve as model experimental systems for ecology. Visit http://voices.uchicago.edu/woottonlab/ for details
Ecological Network Inference From Long-Term Presence-Absence Data. Sci Rep. 2017 08 02; 7(1):7154.
Ecological Network Inference From Long-Term Presence-Absence Data.
Cornell University, Biology (Ecology, Systematics and Evolution)
Biology (Ecology, Systematics and Evolution)
University of California Berkeley, Integrative Biology
Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America
Assessing predictions of population viability analysis: Peregrine Falcon populations in California. Ecol Appl. 2014; 24(6):1251-7.
Assessing predictions of population viability analysis: Peregrine Falcon populations in California.
Olack G, Pfister CA, Wootton JT, and Colman A
Blanks in DIC analysis: long term storage effects on concentration and isotopic measurements using small sample sizes. Limnol. Oceanogr. Methods. 2018; 16:170-179.
Blanks in DIC analysis: long term storage effects on concentration and isotopic measurements using small sample sizes
The Ecology of Place (Billick I, Price M, eds.). A sense of place: Tatoosh. 229-250.
The Ecology of Place (Billick I, Price M, eds.)
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
The iconic keystone predator has a pathogen. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 2016; 14:285-286.
The iconic keystone predator has a pathogen
Process catalyzers in Amazonian rivers: large woody debris modifies ecosystem processes across freshwater habitats. Ecosphere. 2018; 9:e2030.
Process catalyzers in Amazonian rivers: large woody debris modifies ecosystem processes across freshwater habitats
McCoy SJ, Kamenos NA, Chung P, Wootton JT, Pfister CA
Altered crystal mineralogy in the California mussel on decadal and centennial scales in a changing ocean. Global Change Biology. 2018; 24:2554-2562.
Altered crystal mineralogy in the California mussel on decadal and centennial scales in a changing ocean
Mutualism (Bronstein JL, ed.). Interaction strengths and mutualism. 143-144.
A 20-year data set of species replacement patterns in the intertidal zone of Tatoosh Island, Washington, USA. Ecology. 2016; 97:810.
A 20-year data set of species replacement patterns in the intertidal zone of Tatoosh Island, Washington, USA
Novak M, Yeakel JD, Noble AE, Doak DF, Emmerson M, Estes JA, Jacob U, Tinker MT, Wootton JT
Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics
Characterizing species interactions: What is the community matrix?. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 2016; 47:409-432.
Characterizing species interactions: What is the community matrix?
Longstanding signals of marine community structuring by winter storm wave-base. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 2018; 603:135-146.
Longstanding signals of marine community structuring by winter storm wave-base
Wootton JT, Power ME, Paine RT, Pfister CA
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Effects of productivity, consumers, competitors, and El Niño events on food chain patterns in a rocky intertidal community. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Nov 26; 93(24):13855-8.
Effects of productivity, consumers, competitors, and El Niño events on food chain patterns in a rocky intertidal community.
Local interactions predict large-scale pattern in empirically derived cellular automata. Nature. 2001 Oct 25; 413(6858):841-4.
Local interactions predict large-scale pattern in empirically derived cellular automata.
Effects of disturbance on species diversity: a multitrophic perspective. Am Nat. 1998 Dec; 152(6):803-25.
Effects of disturbance on species diversity: a multitrophic perspective.
Experimental species removal alters ecological dynamics in a natural ecosystem. Ecology. 2010 Jan; 91(1):42-8.
Experimental species removal alters ecological dynamics in a natural ecosystem.
Field parameterization and experimental test of the neutral theory of biodiversity. Nature. 2005 Jan 20; 433(7023):309-12.
Field parameterization and experimental test of the neutral theory of biodiversity.
Treatment-based Markov chain models clarify mechanisms of invasion in an invaded grassland community. Proc Biol Sci. 2010 Feb 22; 277(1681):539-47.
Treatment-based Markov chain models clarify mechanisms of invasion in an invaded grassland community.
Pfister CA, McCoy SJ, Wootton JT, Martin PA, Colman AS, Archer D
Rapid environmental change over the past decade revealed by isotopic analysis of the California mussel in the northeast Pacific. PLoS One. 2011; 6(10):e25766.
Rapid environmental change over the past decade revealed by isotopic analysis of the California mussel in the northeast Pacific.
Effects of timber harvest on river food webs: physical, chemical and biological responses. PLoS One. 2012; 7(9):e43561.
Effects of timber harvest on river food webs: physical, chemical and biological responses.
Estimating nonlinear interaction strengths: an observation-based method for species-rich food webs. Ecology. 2008 Aug; 89(8):2083-9.
Estimating nonlinear interaction strengths: an observation-based method for species-rich food webs.
Dynamic patterns and ecological impacts of declining ocean pH in a high-resolution multi-year dataset. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Dec 02; 105(48):18848-53.
Dynamic patterns and ecological impacts of declining ocean pH in a high-resolution multi-year dataset.
The mixed mating system of the sea palm kelp Postelsia palmaeformis: few costs to selfing. Proc Biol Sci. 2011 May 07; 278(1710):1347-55.
The mixed mating system of the sea palm kelp Postelsia palmaeformis: few costs to selfing.
Local adaptation of stream communities to intraspecific variation in a terrestrial ecosystem subsidy. Ecology. 2014 Jan; 95(1):37-43.
Local adaptation of stream communities to intraspecific variation in a terrestrial ecosystem subsidy.
Experimental separation of genetic and demographic factors on extinction risk in wild populations. Ecology. 2013 Oct; 94(10):2117-23.
Experimental separation of genetic and demographic factors on extinction risk in wild populations.
Complex population dynamics in mussels arising from density-linked stochasticity. PLoS One. 2013; 8(9):e75700.
Complex population dynamics in mussels arising from density-linked stochasticity.
Bollinger EK, Gavin TA, Hibbard CJ, Wootton JT.
Two male Bobolinks feed young at the same nest. Wilson Bulletin. 1986; 98:154-156.
Two male Bobolinks feed young at the same nest
Latitudinal differences in fish community trophic structure and the role of fish herbivory in a Costa Rican stream. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 1992; 35:311-319.
Latitudinal differences in fish community trophic structure and the role of fish herbivory in a Costa Rican stream
Indirect effects and habitat use in an intertidal community: interaction chains and interaction modifications. American Naturalist. 1993; 141:71-89.
Indirect effects and habitat use in an intertidal community: interaction chains and interaction modifications
Size-dependent competition: effects on the dynamics versus the endpoint of mussel bed succession. Ecology. 1993; 74:195-206.
Size-dependent competition: effects on the dynamics versus the endpoint of mussel bed succession
Putting the pieces together: testing the independence of interactions among organisms. Ecology. 1994; 75:1544-1551.
Putting the pieces together: testing the independence of interactions among organisms
Causes of species diversity differences: a comparative analysis of Markov models. Ecology Letters. 2001; 4:46-56.
Causes of species diversity differences: a comparative analysis of Markov models
The motivation of and context for experiments in ecology.
Issues and Perspectives in Experimental Ecology (Resetarits WJ, Bernardo J, eds.). The motivation of and context for experiments in ecology. 1998; 350-369.
Issues and Perspectives in Experimental Ecology (Resetarits WJ, Bernardo J, eds.)
Verhandlungen der Internationalen Vereinigung für Theoretische und Angevandte Limnologie
Effects of substrate composition, stream-bed stability, and sediment supply on survival and trophic role of a dominant stream grazer. Verhandlungen der Internationalen Vereinigung für Theoretische und Angevandte Limnologie. 2002; 28:238:241.
Effects of substrate composition, stream-bed stability, and sediment supply on survival and trophic role of a dominant stream grazer
Trophic position, biotic context, and abiotic factors determine species contributions to ecosystem functioning.
Food Webs: Structure, Stability and Ecosystem Functioning (de Ruiter P, Moore J, Wolters V, eds.). Trophic position, biotic context, and abiotic factors determine species contributions to ecosystem functioning. 2005; 295-307.
Food Webs: Structure, Stability and Ecosystem Functioning (de Ruiter P, Moore J, Wolters V, eds.)
Predicting direct and indirect effects: an integrated approach using experiments and path analysis. Ecology. 1994; 75:151-165.
Predicting direct and indirect effects: an integrated approach using experiments and path analysis
Power ME, Parker G, Dietrich WE, Sun A, Wootton JT. :
Hydraulic food chain models: an approach to the study of food web dynamics in large rivers. Bioscience. 1995; 45:159-167.
Hydraulic food chain models: an approach to the study of food web dynamics in large rivers
Prediction in complex communities: analysis of empirically-derived Markov models. Ecology. 2001; 82:580-598.
Prediction in complex communities: analysis of empirically-derived Markov models
Mechanisms of successional dynamics: consumers and the rise and fall of species dominance. Ecological Research. 2002; 17:249-260.
Mechanisms of successional dynamics: consumers and the rise and fall of species dominance
Measurement of interaction strength in nature. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 2005; 36:419-444.
Measurement of interaction strength in nature
The Ecology of Place (Billick I, Price M, eds.). A sense of place: Tatoosh. 2011; 229-250.
Travis J, Coleman FC, Auster PJ, Cury PM, Estes JA, Orensanz J, Peterson CH, Power ME, Steneck RS, Wootton JT
Integrating the invisible fabric of nature into fisheries management. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Jan 14; 111(2):581-4.
Integrating the invisible fabric of nature into fisheries management.
Novak M, Wootton JT, Doak DF, Emmerson M, Estes JA, Tinker MT
Predicting community responses to perturbations in the face of imperfect knowledge and network complexity. Ecology. 2011 Apr; 92(4):836-46.
Predicting community responses to perturbations in the face of imperfect knowledge and network complexity.
Doak DF, Estes JA, Halpern BS, Jacob U, Lindberg DR, Lovvorn J, Monson DH, Tinker MT, Williams TM, Wootton JT, Carroll I, Emmerson M, Micheli F, Novak M
Understanding and predicting ecological dynamics: are major surprises inevitable? Ecology. 2008 Apr; 89(4):952-61.
Understanding and predicting ecological dynamics: are major surprises inevitable?
Tsao JI, Wootton JT, Bunikis J, Luna MG, Fish D, Barbour AG
An ecological approach to preventing human infection: vaccinating wild mouse reservoirs intervenes in the Lyme disease cycle. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Dec 28; 101(52):18159-64.
An ecological approach to preventing human infection: vaccinating wild mouse reservoirs intervenes in the Lyme disease cycle.
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Direct and indirect effects of nutrients on intertidal community structure: variable consequences of seabird guano. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 1991; 151:139-153.
Direct and indirect effects of nutrients on intertidal community structure: variable consequences of seabird guano
Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics
The nature and consequences of indirect effects in ecological communities. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. 1994; 25:443-466.
The nature and consequences of indirect effects in ecological communities
Estimates and tests of per-capita interaction strength: diet, abundance, and impact of intertidally foraging birds. Ecological Monographs. 1997; 67:45-64.
Estimates and tests of per-capita interaction strength: diet, abundance, and impact of intertidally foraging birds
Theoretical concepts and empirical approaches to measuring interaction strength. Ecology. 1998; 79:461-476.
Theoretical concepts and empirical approaches to measuring interaction strength
Dominant (AFLP) and codominant (microsatellite) markers for the kelp Postelsia palmaeformis (Laminariales). Molecular Ecology Notes. 2004; 4:372-375.
Dominant (AFLP) and codominant (microsatellite) markers for the kelp Postelsia palmaeformis (Laminariales)
Encylopedia of Tidepools (Denny M, Gaines S, eds.). Gulls. 2007; 252-255.
Encylopedia of Tidepools (Denny M, Gaines S, eds.)
The relative roles of coastal and oceanic processes in determining physical and chemical characteristics of an intensively sampled nearshore system. Limnology and Oceanography. 2007; 52:1767-1775.
The relative roles of coastal and oceanic processes in determining physical and chemical characteristics of an intensively sampled nearshore system
McCoy SJ, Robinson LF, Pfister CA, Wootton JT
Exploring B/Ca as a pH proxy for bivalves: relationships between Mytilus californianus B/Ca and environmental data from the northeast Pacific. Biogeosciences. 2011; 8:2567-2579.
Exploring B/Ca as a pH proxy for bivalves: relationships between Mytilus californianus B/Ca and environmental data from the northeast Pacific
Encylopedia of Tidepools (Denny M, Gaines S, eds.). Birds. 2007; 91-95.
Clutch-size differences in western and introduced eastern populations of House Finches: patterns and hypotheses. Wilson Bulletin. 1986; 98:459-462.
Clutch-size differences in western and introduced eastern populations of House Finches: patterns and hypotheses
Bract liquid as an herbivore defense mechanism for Heliconia wagneriana inflorescences. Biotropica. 1990; 22:155-159.
Bract liquid as an herbivore defense mechanism for Heliconia wagneriana inflorescences
Ecological versus evolutionary hypotheses: demographic stasis and the Murray-Nolan clutch size equation. Evolution. 1991; 45:1947-1950.
Ecological versus evolutionary hypotheses: demographic stasis and the Murray-Nolan clutch size equation
Indirect effects, prey susceptibility, and habitat selection: impacts of birds on limpets and algae. Ecology. 1992; 73:981-991.
Indirect effects, prey susceptibility, and habitat selection: impacts of birds on limpets and algae
A metapopulation model of the Peregrine Falcon in California: viability and management strategies. Ecological Applications. 1992; 2:307-321.
A metapopulation model of the Peregrine Falcon in California: viability and management strategies
Productivity, consumers, and the structure of a river food chain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993 Feb 15; 90(4):1384-7.
Productivity, consumers, and the structure of a river food chain.
Bobolink polygyny in a homogeneous habitat: a test of the asynchronous settlement model. Am Nat. 1992 Dec; 140(6):1050-7.
Bobolink polygyny in a homogeneous habitat: a test of the asynchronous settlement model.
Mating systems in homogeneous habitats: the effects of female uncertainty, knowledge costs, and random settlement. American Naturalist. 1986; 128:499-512.
Mating systems in homogeneous habitats: the effects of female uncertainty, knowledge costs, and random settlement
Interspecific competition between introduced House Finch populations and two associated passerine species. Oecologia. 1987; 71:325-331.
Interspecific competition between introduced House Finch populations and two associated passerine species
The effects of body mass, phylogeny, habitat and trophic level on mammalian age at first reproduction. Evolution. 1987; 41:732-749.
The effects of body mass, phylogeny, habitat and trophic level on mammalian age at first reproduction
Direct and indirect effects of Peregrine Falcon predation on seabird abundance. Auk. 1990; 107:1-9.
Direct and indirect effects of Peregrine Falcon predation on seabird abundance
Effects of birds on sea urchins and algae: a lower-intertidal trophic cascade. Ecoscience. 1995; 2:321-328.
Effects of birds on sea urchins and algae: a lower-intertidal trophic cascade
Disturbance and food chain length in rivers.
Food Webs: Integration of Patterns and Dynamics (Polis GA, Winemiller KO, eds.). Disturbance and food chain length in rivers. 1996; 286-297.
Food Webs: Integration of Patterns and Dynamics (Polis GA, Winemiller KO, eds.)
Purple Finch. The Birds of North America. 1996; 208:1-20.
Effects of disturbance on river food webs. Science. 1996; 273:1558-1561.
Effects of disturbance on river food webs
Indirect effects in complex ecosystems: recent progress and future challenges. Journal of Sea Research. 2002; 48:157-172.
Indirect effects in complex ecosystems: recent progress and future challenges
Understanding the effects of reduced biodiversity: A comparison of two approaches.
The Importance of Species (Kareiva PM, Levin SA, eds.). Understanding the effects of reduced biodiversity: A comparison of two approaches. 2003; 85-104.
The Importance of Species (Kareiva PM, Levin SA, eds.)
Markov chain models predict the consequences of experimental extinctions. Ecology Letters. 2004; 7:653-660.
Markov chain models predict the consequences of experimental extinctions
Small-scale genetic structure in the sea palm Postelsia palmaeformis Ruprecht (Phaeophyceae). Marine Biology. 2006; 139:731-742.
Small-scale genetic structure in the sea palm Postelsia palmaeformis Ruprecht (Phaeophyceae)
Wootton JT, Cusson M, Navarrete S, Petraitis PS
Disruption, succession and stochasticity.
Marine Hard Bottom Communities: Patterns, Dynamics, Diversity and Change (Wahl M, ed.). Disruption, succession and stochasticity. 2009; 201-212.
Marine Hard Bottom Communities: Patterns, Dynamics, Diversity and Change (Wahl M, ed.)
Using experimental indices to quantify the strength of species interactions. Oikos. 2010; 119:1057-1063.
Using experimental indices to quantify the strength of species interactions
An experimental test of multi-species Markov models: Are barnacles long-term facilitators of mussel bed recovery?. Bulletin of Marine Science. 2013; 89:337-346.
An experimental test of multi-species Markov models: Are barnacles long-term facilitators of mussel bed recovery?
Wootton Lab at the University of Chicago
Cascading effects of induced terrestrial plant defences on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem function. Proc Biol Sci. 2015 Apr 22; 282(1805).
Cascading effects of induced terrestrial plant defences on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem function.
What Can Interaction Webs Tell Us About Species Roles? PLoS Comput Biol. 2015 Jul; 11(7):e1004330.
What Can Interaction Webs Tell Us About Species Roles?
Processes affecting extinction risk in the laboratory and in nature. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Nov 03; 112(44):E5903.
Processes affecting extinction risk in the laboratory and in nature.
Diversity of Riparian Plants among and within Species Shapes River Communities. PLoS One. 2015; 10(11):e0142362.
Diversity of Riparian Plants among and within Species Shapes River Communities.
Pfister CA, Roy K, Wootton JT, McCoy SJ, Paine RT, Suchanek TH, Sanford E
Historical baselines and the future of shell calcification for a foundation species in a changing ocean. Proc Biol Sci. 2016 06 15; 283(1832).
Historical baselines and the future of shell calcification for a foundation species in a changing ocean.
Functional Traits for Carbon Access in Macrophytes. PLoS One. 2016; 11(7):e0159062.
Functional Traits for Carbon Access in Macrophytes.
River food web response to large-scale riparian zone manipulations. PLoS One. 2012; 7(12):e51839.
River food web response to large-scale riparian zone manipulations.
Carbon system measurements and potential climatic drivers at a site of rapidly declining ocean pH. PLoS One. 2012; 7(12):e53396.
Carbon system measurements and potential climatic drivers at a site of rapidly declining ocean pH.
Intraspecific leaf chemistry drives locally accelerated ecosystem function in aquatic and terrestrial communities. Ecology. 2016 Aug; 97(8):2125-2135.
Intraspecific leaf chemistry drives locally accelerated ecosystem function in aquatic and terrestrial communities.