Stephanie Pau

New study could improve understanding of how rare species benefit human beings

Conservationists have long been committed to the preservation of rare plant and animal species — from California’s colossal sequoias to Atlantic bluefin tuna to China’s giant pandas — without having a rigorous system for determining these unique species’ tangible contributions to human well-being. A team of ecologists including Florida State University Assistant Professor Stephanie Pau […]

New FSU Climate Change Collaboration encourages interdisciplinary study

Four professors from Florida State University teamed up for a collaborative effort aimed at improving public understanding of the impact climate change is having on Florida. The effort is called the Florida Climate Change Collaboration and involved more than 100 students. They showcased their work last month at the 621 Gallery in Tallahassee’s Railroad Square […]

Tropical treetops are warming, putting sensitive species at risk

The vaulted canopies that tower above Earth’s rich tropical forests could be especially vulnerable to climate change-related temperature increases, according to a new report from Florida State University researchers. In a study published in the journal Ecosphere, scientists found temperatures in the forest canopies of Panama’s Barro Colorado Island exceeded maximum air temperatures by as […]

Climate change linked to more flowery tropical forests, FSU study shows

New research from a Florida State University scientist has revealed a surprising relationship between surging atmospheric carbon dioxide and flower blooms in a remote tropical forest. FSU researchers studying the rich tropical forests of Panama’s Barro Colorado Island found that climbing rates of carbon dioxide have set the stage for a multidecade increase in overall […]

FSU researcher receives National Geographic grant

Florida State University Assistant Professor of Geography Stephanie Pau has been awarded a National Geographic grant for her research on tropical forest phenology and climate change by the organization’s Committee for Research and Exploration. Phenology, often referred to as “nature’s calendar,” is the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events, such as the […]