I am an ecosystem ecologist with over a decade of research, student mentorship and natural resources management experience. I am passionate about understand the effects of natural and human-induced disturbance on biological diversity and resilience of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in all work that I do to better conserve our world. 

I am currently a Wetland Scientist in the Water Sciences Section of Division of Water Resources at the N.C. Dept. of Environmental Quality (Raleigh, NC). Learn more about about wetlands at NCwetlands.org.

Prior to joining NC-DWR, I was a Partnership Coordinator for the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) houses at NC-DEQ. Prior to been employed by the state of N.C., I was a researcher and lab manager in Dr. Emily Bernhardt's #DukeBGC lab and Duke River Center at Duke University. I was particularly engaged in urban ecology and how a long history of systemic environmental racism and economic inequities pair with climate change and infrastructure disinvestment which has lasting destructive impact on human and ecological health as a result of poor water quality, increased flooding, heat, and habitat loss. I have been drawn to this work while focused on Ellerbe Creek watershed in Durham, NC with Duke Biology, Duke River Center, and Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association, incredible community partners, and funders like River Network, ASTC, Duke Bass Connections, and The Conservation Fund. 

Since 2020, I've been engaged in researching how the frequency and duration of flooding regimes impact forest communities in riverine floodplains. This is work I've been doing on the lower Roanoke River with The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and U.S. Geological Survey as a collaborator/advisor. I've assessed plants responses to altered flooding frequency and duration using long-term survey data and dendrochronological techniques. Here, biologically diverse bottomland hardwood forests are changing due to altered hydro-periods as a result of climate change and upstream dam controls.  ​​
PUBLICATIONS
15. Leaf physiological responses and early leaf senescence are linked to reflectance spectra in salt-sensitive coastal tree species. Anderson, S.M.,  E.S. Bernhardt,  J.C. Domec, E.A. Ury, R.E. Emanuel, J.P. Wright, and M. Ardón (2024). Forests. 

14. Signatures of North American Wetland Dissolved Organic Matter. M.R. Kurek, K. P. Wickland, N. A. Nichols , A.M. McKenna, S.M. Anderson, M.M. Dornblaser, N. Koupaei-Abyazani, B.A. Poulin, S. Bansal,
J.B. Fellman, G.K. Druschel, A. Desai, E.S. Bernhardt, and R.G.M Spencer (2024). Global Biogeochemical Cycles.

13. “This is fine”: form, function, and fire risk predict key dimensions of flammability in fire-adapted longleaf pine savanna. Simha A., A. Coughlin, S M. Anderson, D. De La Mater. E. Thayer, R.J. Wong, and J.P. Wright. (in review).

12. Copper and gold NP exposures alter insect emergence and result in flux of metals from aquatic ecosystems into riparian food webs. Perrotta B., M. Simonin,  S.M. Anderson, E. Baruch, B. Castellon, B. Colman, C. Matson, E.S. Bernhardt, R. King. (2023). Environmental Science & Technology. 

11. Salinity thresholds for understory plants in coastal wetlands. Anderson, S.M., E.A. Ury, P. Taillie, C.E. Moorman, B. Poulter, E.A. Ungberg, M. Ardón, E.S. Bernhardt, and J.P. Wright. (2021). Plant Ecology. 

10. Copper and gold nanoparticles increase nutrient excretion rates of primary consumers. Perrotta, B.; M. Simonin, J. Back, S.M. Anderson, A. Avellan, C. Bergemann, B. Castellon, B. Colman, G. Lowry, C. Matson, E.S. Bernhardt, and R. King. (2020). Environmental Science & Technology. 

9.  Differential Reactivity of Cooper- and Gold-based Nanomaterials Controls Their Seasonal Biogeochemistry Cycling and Fate in a Freshwater Wetland Mesocosm. Avellan, A., M. Simonin, S.M. Anderson, , Geitner, N.K., Bossa N., Spielman-Sun, E., Bernhardt, E.S., Castellon, B.T., Colman, B.P., Cooper, J.L., Ho, M., Hochella, M.F., Hsu-Kim, H., Inoue, S., King, R.S., Laughton, S.N., Matson, C.W., Perrotta, B., Richardson, C., Unrine, J.M., Wiesner, M.R., G.V. Lowry. (2020). Environmental Science and Technology. 

8. Succession, regression and loss: does evidence of saltwater exposure explain recent changes in the tree communities of North Carolina's Coastal Plain?  Ury E., S.M. Anderson, R.K. Peet, E.S. Bernhardt and J.P. Wright. 2019. Annals of Botany.

7. Evaluating the effects of land-use change future climate change on vulnerability of coastal landscapes to saltwater intrusion.  Bhattachan, A., R.E. Emanuel, M. Ardon, E.S Bernhardt. S.M. Anderson, M. G. Stillwagon, E.A. Ury, T.K. BenDor, J.P. Wright. 2018. Elementa. http://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.316

6. Size-Based Differential Transport, Uptake, and Mass Distribution of Ceria (CeO2) Nanoparticles in Wetland Mesocosms.  Geitner, N.K., J.R. Cooper, A. Avella, B.T. Castellon, B.G. Perrotta, N. Bossa, M. Simonin, S.M. Anderson, S. Inoue, M.F. Hochella, C.J. Richardson, E.S. Bernhardt, G.V. Lowry, P.L. Ferguson, C.W. Matson, R.S. King, J.M. Unrine, M.R. Wiesner, H. Hsu-kim. 2018. 

5. Plant and microbial responses to repeated Cu(OH)2 nanopesticide exposures under different fertilization levels in an agro-ecosystem.  Simonin M.S., B.P. Colman,  W. Tang,  J. Judy, S.M. Anderson, C. Bergemann, J. Rocca, J. Unrine, N. Cassar, and E.S. Bernhardt. 2018. Frontiers in Microbiology.

4. Engineered nanoparticles interact with nutrients to intensify eutrophication in a wetland ecosystem experiment. Simonin, M.S., B.P. Colman, S.M. Anderson, R.S. King, M.R. Ruis, A. Avellan, C.M. Bergemann, B.G. Perrotta, N. Geitner, M. Ho, B. de la Barrera, J.M. Unrine, G.V. Lowry, C. Richardson, M. Wiesner and  E.S. Bernhardt. 2018. Ecological Applications 

3. Functional traits of the understory plant community of a pyrogenic longleaf pine forest across environmental gradients. Ames, G.M., S.M. Anderson, E.A. Ungberg, J.P. Wright. 2017. Ecology 8:2225. Article on cover page.

​2. Multiple environmental drivers structure plant traits at the community level in a pyrogenic ecosystem. Ames, G.M., S.M. Anderson, J.P. Wright. 2016. Functional Ecology 5:789-798. Article on cover page. 

1. Annual growth in longleaf (Pinus palustris) and pond pine (P. serotina) in the sandhills of North Carolina is driven by interactions between fire and climate.  Ames, G.M., D.L. Vineyard, S.M. Anderson, J.P. Wright. 2015. Forest Ecology and Management. 
MEDIA & NEWS
"Roanoke River: Building on a Sound Foundational for the Future." The Nature Conservancy, afield North Carolina, Fall 2022
"UnDisciplined: Why you should be scared about the spread of ghost forests." Utah Public Radio, Nalini Nadkarni, May 5, 2022
"Finding the Tipping Point for Coastal Wetlands" Duke Research Blog by Robin Smith, Jan. 25, 2022
"Study Finds Saltwater Thresholds for Plants Freshwater Wetlands" NC State News by Laura Oleniacz, Jan. 26, 2022
"Happy 90th, Duke Forest" Duke Today by Stephen Schramm, Nov. 22, 2021 (appearance and photos)
"Why I Photograph Plants" Plant Love Stories by Steve Anderson, Aug. 7, 2019 (blog post and photos)
"Freshwater plants break down gold nanomaterials." Nano Today by Cordelia Sealy, Nov. 16, 2018 (photos)
"Water Matters to Metal Nanomaterials" Carnegie Mellon University News, Aug. 29, 2018 (photos)
"Discovering How Nanoparticles Dissolved in Natural Water Environments" Carnegie Mellon University, College of Engineering, Aug. 19, 2018 (photos)
"Nanomaterials could mean more algae outbreaks for wetlands, waterways: High tech metal particles may inadvertently take a toll on aquatic life." Duke Research, June 25, 2018
"Calling All Photographers & Duke Forest Lovers" DukeTODAY, Oct. 5 2017
"Investigating the Impact of Nanomaterials on Living Things" NSF Science Nation, Jan. 9 2017
"Scientists gather to wrap center-wide mesocosm experiment." CEINT, Nov. 3 2016
"Center-wide Mesocosm Experiment Has Begun" CEINT, Jan. 20 2016
"See the Research for the Trees" Duke Research Blog, Dec. 9 2015
LINKS