Faculty & Fellows

David McWethy

Assistant Professor

Department: Earth Sciences

University System: Montana State University - Bozeman

Roles:

Website(s): http://www.montana.edu/earthsciences/directory/1524390/david-mcwethy

Professional Summary:

Dr. David McWethy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State University. He received his Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Studies from Montana State University in 2007 (A. Hansen, advisor), an M.S. in Land Resources from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1998 (Advisor D. Waller), and a B.A. in Political Science and African Studies from St. Lawrence University in 1992.

McWethy's research focuses on how past and present human and natural disturbances shape vegetation and influence the structure and function of ecosystems, and it is inherently interdisciplinary, spanning the disciplines of geography, biogeography and paleoecology. Specifically, his research examines the natural resiliency of different ecosystems to natural and anthropogenic fire and how climate change and land-use will alter fire and vegetation in the future.