Jacob Levine

I am a plant community ecologist interested in two key themes: (1) What are the mechanisms that maintain plant biodiversity in nature, and how will rapid climate change disrupt them? and (2) What are the primary drivers of wildfire severity, and how can we mitigate these risks through management? I approach these questions through a combination of mathematical theory development, field experiments, and large-scale observational analyses. By elucidating the fundamental forces that structure plant communities, my goal is to advance both our basic understanding of ecology and our ability to predict the fate of the biosphere in a warmer world.

[2026] Variable impacts of forest treatments on carbon and mortality following disturbance [2025] Extreme Weather Magnifies the Effects of Forest Structure on Wildfire, Driving Increased Severity in Industrial Forests. [2025] Trait diversity in plant communities maintained by competition for water and light