I am an ecosystem ecologist with over a decade of experience in research, student mentorship, and environmental management. My work focuses on understanding how natural and human‑induced disturbances affect biological diversity and the resilience of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. I am passionate about using this knowledge to help steward our natural world and support healthier, more sustainable communities.

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.

Before joining NC DWR, I served as the Partnership Coordinator for the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) within NC DEQ, and as a research and lab manager in both the Duke Biology Department and the Duke River Center at Duke University. My work centered on longleaf pine savanna fire ecology, coastal wetland salinization, and urban watershed ecology. 

In recent years, I have focused on understanding how the frequency and duration of flooding shape forest communities in riverine floodplain ecosystems. My work on the lower Roanoke River—as a collaborator and advisor with The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Geological Survey—has examined plant responses to altered flooding regimes using long-term survey data and dendrochronological techniques. These biologically rich bottomland hardwood forests are undergoing significant changes due to shifts in hydroperiods driven by climate change and upstream dam operations.
PUBLICATIONS
17. Surface elevation trends in natural and restored coastal forested wetlands reveal vulnerability to saltwater intrusion and sea level rise. Ardón, M., P. Lazaro, R. Emanuel, J. Neville, S.M. Anderson, J.P. Wright, and E.S. Bernhardt (2026). Estuaries and Coasts. 

16. Form, physiology, and fire response explain key dimensions of litter flammability in fire-adapted longleaf pine savanna. Simha A., A. Coughlin, S.M. Anderson, David DeLaMater. E. Thayer, R.J. Wong, and J.P. Wright (2025). New Phytologist. 

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