Mike Koontz, PhD
@mikoontz.bsky.social
Plant ecology and geospatial data science to reduce fire and climate change risk to ecosystems and communities.
USGS Research Fire Ecologist
Formerly: Vibrant Planet; CU Boulder; UC Davis; Colorado State University; UH Hilo
Location: Colorado
USGS Research Fire Ecologist
Formerly: Vibrant Planet; CU Boulder; UC Davis; Colorado State University; UH Hilo
Location: Colorado
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
Very excited to see this paper out!
Led by @schwilk.org, with @azhar06.bsky.social @ecologybrad.bsky.social @rachaelnolan.bsky.social @alefidelis.bsky.social @ioliverasmenor.bsky.social @dendromecon27.bsky.social @profalistairsmith.bsky.social
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Led by @schwilk.org, with @azhar06.bsky.social @ecologybrad.bsky.social @rachaelnolan.bsky.social @alefidelis.bsky.social @ioliverasmenor.bsky.social @dendromecon27.bsky.social @profalistairsmith.bsky.social
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
From plant traits to fire behavior: Scaling issues in flammability studies
Despite fire being one of the oldest and most important ecological disturbance processes on Earth, many aspects of fire–vegetation feedbacks are poorly understood, limiting their accurate representat...
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
May 16, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
Very neat new short course offered by @caltech.edu on computer vision for ecology!
cv4ecology.caltech.edu/index.html
cv4ecology.caltech.edu/index.html
CV4Ecology Workshop
cv4ecology.caltech.edu
March 31, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Very neat new short course offered by @caltech.edu on computer vision for ecology!
cv4ecology.caltech.edu/index.html
cv4ecology.caltech.edu/index.html
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
Mechanisms of coexistence are often unintuitive; Werner et al. explore species interactions across different environmental scenarios to bridge theoretical and empirical approaches to coexistence. 🧪🌍💚 Check out this great press summary of our recent AmNat paper!
www.amnat.org/an/newpapers...
www.amnat.org/an/newpapers...
Coexistence across time and life histories
<p>Read about “Fluctuation-dependent coexistence of stage-structured species” by Chhaya M. Werner, Lauren M. Hallett, and Lauren G. Shoemaker (Mar 2025)</p><br/><br/><p><b>Mechanisms ...
www.amnat.org
March 31, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Mechanisms of coexistence are often unintuitive; Werner et al. explore species interactions across different environmental scenarios to bridge theoretical and empirical approaches to coexistence. 🧪🌍💚 Check out this great press summary of our recent AmNat paper!
www.amnat.org/an/newpapers...
www.amnat.org/an/newpapers...
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
Excited for @kalebgoff.bsky.social's 1st dissertation chapter to be out w co-authors M Oldfather, J Nachlinger, B Smithers, @mikoontz.bsky.social, J & C Bishop & M Burke. Limited Directional Change in Mountaintop Plant Communities over 19 years in Western North America
doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
March 28, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Excited for @kalebgoff.bsky.social's 1st dissertation chapter to be out w co-authors M Oldfather, J Nachlinger, B Smithers, @mikoontz.bsky.social, J & C Bishop & M Burke. Limited Directional Change in Mountaintop Plant Communities over 19 years in Western North America
doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
IMTs are quietly talking about what the current political environment means for this year's wildland fire suppression efforts, but it deserves a larger and more public consideration. 1/
February 19, 2025 at 4:02 PM
IMTs are quietly talking about what the current political environment means for this year's wildland fire suppression efforts, but it deserves a larger and more public consideration. 1/
Solidarity to my fellow decimates. ✊
“decimate”
Despite my demographic, I think about the Roman Empire zero (0) times per day. But I do like words. Paul Brians taught me that “decimate” refers to eliminating 10% of people in an “unruly” unit as punishment.
~220k probies/~2.4m total…
The Federal Service is being decimated.
Despite my demographic, I think about the Roman Empire zero (0) times per day. But I do like words. Paul Brians taught me that “decimate” refers to eliminating 10% of people in an “unruly” unit as punishment.
~220k probies/~2.4m total…
The Federal Service is being decimated.
February 19, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Solidarity to my fellow decimates. ✊
“decimate”
Despite my demographic, I think about the Roman Empire zero (0) times per day. But I do like words. Paul Brians taught me that “decimate” refers to eliminating 10% of people in an “unruly” unit as punishment.
~220k probies/~2.4m total…
The Federal Service is being decimated.
Despite my demographic, I think about the Roman Empire zero (0) times per day. But I do like words. Paul Brians taught me that “decimate” refers to eliminating 10% of people in an “unruly” unit as punishment.
~220k probies/~2.4m total…
The Federal Service is being decimated.
February 19, 2025 at 4:39 PM
“decimate”
Despite my demographic, I think about the Roman Empire zero (0) times per day. But I do like words. Paul Brians taught me that “decimate” refers to eliminating 10% of people in an “unruly” unit as punishment.
~220k probies/~2.4m total…
The Federal Service is being decimated.
Despite my demographic, I think about the Roman Empire zero (0) times per day. But I do like words. Paul Brians taught me that “decimate” refers to eliminating 10% of people in an “unruly” unit as punishment.
~220k probies/~2.4m total…
The Federal Service is being decimated.
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
Whew, been a busy weekend, happy to get this quick episode out to explain how these federal cuts will impact fire response this summer. Give it a listen at the link.
Think the limitations to non-fire positions means these public lands firings won’t affect fire operations? Think again. Listen to/folo @amonthei.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...
How the Loss of Federal Workers Will Have A Massive Impact on Fire Operations This Fire Season, With Riva Duncan
Podcast Episode · Life with Fire · 02/16/2025 · 18m
podcasts.apple.com
February 16, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Whew, been a busy weekend, happy to get this quick episode out to explain how these federal cuts will impact fire response this summer. Give it a listen at the link.
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
Ever wonder what snow in the swamp would look like? This is 5 miles into the Louisiana swamps in the Atchafalaya basin... it's unreal... having lived down there for the first 28 years of my life, we never saw anything like this.
Smashed records.
Curtesy of Garrett Roberts.
Smashed records.
Curtesy of Garrett Roberts.
January 25, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Ever wonder what snow in the swamp would look like? This is 5 miles into the Louisiana swamps in the Atchafalaya basin... it's unreal... having lived down there for the first 28 years of my life, we never saw anything like this.
Smashed records.
Curtesy of Garrett Roberts.
Smashed records.
Curtesy of Garrett Roberts.
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
This is super cool. Such a success story.
Congrats to the Washington State Department of Agriculture for successfully eradicating the northern giant hornet! poo-poo to people who say eradication is impossible!
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/18/u...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/18/u...
‘Murder Hornet’ Has Been Eradicated From the U.S., Officials Say
The hornet was discovered in a corner of Washington State. Five years later, a massive mobilization has eliminated the invasive species, at least for now.
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2025 at 11:57 PM
This is super cool. Such a success story.
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
Now out in @oikosjournal.bsky.social l.bsky.social led by Kaitlyn Barthell 🧪🌎🐝🏵️
Competition for floral resources among bumble bees intensifies at higher elevations. As climate change pushes new bumble bee species upslope, pressures of climate and competition mount.
doi.org/10.1111/oik....
Competition for floral resources among bumble bees intensifies at higher elevations. As climate change pushes new bumble bee species upslope, pressures of climate and competition mount.
doi.org/10.1111/oik....
January 16, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Now out in @oikosjournal.bsky.social l.bsky.social led by Kaitlyn Barthell 🧪🌎🐝🏵️
Competition for floral resources among bumble bees intensifies at higher elevations. As climate change pushes new bumble bee species upslope, pressures of climate and competition mount.
doi.org/10.1111/oik....
Competition for floral resources among bumble bees intensifies at higher elevations. As climate change pushes new bumble bee species upslope, pressures of climate and competition mount.
doi.org/10.1111/oik....
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
Please consider a $25 membership to support them
January 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Please consider a $25 membership to support them
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
when we imagine lives claimed by wildfire, we picture the flames.
but the smoke is the real killer, claiming tens of thousands.
and the victims can be far from the flames, dying long after the fire went out.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
but the smoke is the real killer, claiming tens of thousands.
and the victims can be far from the flames, dying long after the fire went out.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Mortality attributable to PM2.5 from wildland fires in California from 2008 to 2018
More than 50,000 deaths from 2008 to 2018 in California were attributable to fine particulate matter from wildland fires.
www.science.org
January 12, 2025 at 6:25 PM
when we imagine lives claimed by wildfire, we picture the flames.
but the smoke is the real killer, claiming tens of thousands.
and the victims can be far from the flames, dying long after the fire went out.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
but the smoke is the real killer, claiming tens of thousands.
and the victims can be far from the flames, dying long after the fire went out.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
A nice summary of this recent research about that other ecological disturbance in the west and its rising impact on wildlife
phys.org/news/2024-12...
phys.org/news/2024-12...
January 11, 2025 at 4:02 AM
A nice summary of this recent research about that other ecological disturbance in the west and its rising impact on wildlife
phys.org/news/2024-12...
phys.org/news/2024-12...
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
Correct, Watch Duty does not use drones to obtain information.
January 10, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Correct, Watch Duty does not use drones to obtain information.
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
New publication alert! Check out our paper on the “Governance of Indigenous data in open Earth systems science” co- led by myself and Dr. Katie Jones. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Governance of Indigenous data in open earth systems science - Nature Communications
Using the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) as an example, this perspective discusses actions that recognize the sovereign rights of Indigenous Peoples and support better research across ...
www.nature.com
January 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
New publication alert! Check out our paper on the “Governance of Indigenous data in open Earth systems science” co- led by myself and Dr. Katie Jones. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Looks like NIFC’s website is down?
January 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Looks like NIFC’s website is down?
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
Resources for Native peoples in the Los Angeles wildfires ictnews.org/news/resourc...
Resources for Native peoples in the Los Angeles wildfires
Email ICT any resources to include
ictnews.org
January 10, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Resources for Native peoples in the Los Angeles wildfires ictnews.org/news/resourc...
Let the social and legal backlash be brutal— there has to be no incentive to fly drones over active incidents. So dangerous, and it makes it so much harder to make a case for legitimate and needed drone operations in service to fire science and disaster management.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Drone collides with firefighting aircraft over Palisades fire, FAA says
Several viral videos and images appeared to be taken with drones in conflict with a temporary flight restriction issued by the Federal Aviation Administration to protect firefighting aircraft.
www.latimes.com
January 10, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Let the social and legal backlash be brutal— there has to be no incentive to fly drones over active incidents. So dangerous, and it makes it so much harder to make a case for legitimate and needed drone operations in service to fire science and disaster management.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
A disaster is a function of three things: the hazard itself, people's vulnerability to the hazard, and their exposure. @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social explains eloquently how the LA fires are a perfect storm of all three. Read more:
The chronicle of a fire foretold | Rebecca Solnit
The current fires in Los Angeles are reminders of the costs of forgetting
www.theguardian.com
January 10, 2025 at 12:18 AM
A disaster is a function of three things: the hazard itself, people's vulnerability to the hazard, and their exposure. @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social explains eloquently how the LA fires are a perfect storm of all three. Read more:
Reposted by Mike Koontz, PhD
Reminder - it's easy to judge a situation from afar. You have to bring the safety home. How much do you know about your fire department? Do you know its average response time? Its capacity for responding to a natural disaster? Does your local gov have a plan for that kind of response? Is it public?
January 10, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reminder - it's easy to judge a situation from afar. You have to bring the safety home. How much do you know about your fire department? Do you know its average response time? Its capacity for responding to a natural disaster? Does your local gov have a plan for that kind of response? Is it public?