Connecting Soils to Changing Climate

I leverage an interdisciplinary perspective to explore biogeochemistry where soil ecology meets climate science. I am particularly interested in the impact of climate, management, and communication interventions on soil greenhouse gas emissions.

Connecting Hourly Forest Soil Respiration to Climate & Topography

Heterogeneity in when and where soil carbon is lost to the atmosphere underlies one of our greatest gaps in understanding global carbon cycles. In this work, we tested the idea that simple, remotely sensible terrain variables improve models of space and time variation in carbon dioxide emissions from forest soils.

Expanding Critical Zone Perspectives in Forest Management

Forest management is under intensifying ecological and societal pressures that extend to temporal and physical scales typical of geology. However, integrating geological processes into forest management has lagged behind the inclusion of shorter-term and nearer-surface ecosystem processes. We examine the field of critical zone science for connections that translate geologic knowledge to forest management and planning.

Linking Tree Species Traits to Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions

In 2021, I secured a three-year National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Predoctoral Fellowship on “Minimizing N pollution swapping—linking root traits to N2O emissions in edge-of-field forested riparian buffers" with Dr. Jason Kaye ($179,235). This project explores how tree species might control nitrogen losses to the atmosphere and to test the potential for intentionally selecting species that optimize N retention.

Select Research Outputs

Select Publications

Kopp, M, Alving, D., Blackman, T., Duncan, J., Kaye, J., & Kaye, M. (2023). Critical Zone Perspectives for Managing Changing Forests. Forest Ecology and Management. 528: 120627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120627
Primka, E.J. IV, Adams, T.S., Buck, A., Forsythe, B., Harper, J., Kopp, M., Kaye, J., Eissenstat, D.M. (2023). Temporal Patterns of Fine Root Dynamics Have Little Influence on Seasonal Soil CO2 Efflux in a Mixed, Mesic Forest. Ecosphere, 14(10).
Kopp, M, Smeglin, YH, Adams, T, Primka, E, Bradley B, Shi Y, Eissenstat D, & Kaye, J. (2022). Topography Mediates the Response of Soil CO2 Efflux to Precipitation Over Days, Seasons, and Years. Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-022-00786-1

Select Research Presentations (Oral)

Kopp, M., Kaye, J. (22 May 2023). “Shale Hills Critical Zone: Exploring the Biogeochemistry of Earth’s Outer Skin.” Penn State Climate Solutions Symposium, Invited Speaker.
Kaye, J., Kopp, M., Hodges, C. (26 Jan. 2023). Controls on soil CO2 at the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory.” Center for Ecosystem Science & Society Seminar Series.
Kopp, M., Kaye, J. (2022). “Untangling Drivers of High Soil CO2 Efflux from Forested Soils.” ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Meeting. Best Overall Student Paper Award ($300).
Kopp, M. (Feb. 2022). “Roots, Soils, or Bias? Exploring Controls on High Nighttime CO2 Efflux from Near-Stream Forested Soils.” Penn State Ecology Colloquium.
Kopp, M. (Oct 2020). “Carbon Fluxes in Complex Terrain: Topographic Controls on the Response of Soil Respiration to Climatic Variables.” PSU Ecology Colloquium.

Select Outreach Presentations (Oral)

Kopp, M., Kaye, J. (7 Sep 2023). “Shale Hills: Water Opportunities at a Long-Term Observatory.” Penn State Association of Water Students, Water Cooler Series.
Kopp, M., Kaye, J. (19 July 2023). "Critical Zone Science: Exploring the Biogeochemistry of Earth’s Outer Skin." Penn State GeoPEERS.
Kopp, M. (2022). “Soil Respiration: Connecting Soils to Climate.” Geophysics of the Near-surface an Outdoor Motivational Experience for Students (GNOMES).