Research Interests: Professor Hart's research explores the controls of biogeochemical processes and productivity in managed and wildland terrestrial ecosystems using methods such as:
- Ecological Genetics to Isotopic Analyses
- Computer Simulation Modeling
- Elucidate the Biotic and Abiotic Factors that Regulate Terrestrial Ecosystem Structure and Function
His research group is currently investigating:
- Biological and Geochemical Controls on Ecosystem Development Along a Three Million Year, Semi-arid Soil Chronosequence
- Influence of the Genetics of Dominant Plants on Ecosystem Processes
- Effects of Forest Restoration Treatments (e.g., thinning with or without prescribed fire) and Wildfire on Ecosystem Carbon and Water balance, Soil Microbial Communities, and Belowground processes
- Efficacy of Insect Communities as Indicators of Forest Ecosystem Health
- Utility of the 15N Natural Abundance Signature of Soil Microbes as an Integrator of Nitrogen Cycling Processes
- Impact of Climatic Change on Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Interactions; and the Effects of Water Diversion on Riparian Forests