Institution: Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Box AB, 2801 Sharon Turnpike
Millbrook, NY 12545
Hubbard Brook Role: Investigator
Phone: (845) 677-5343
Email: LikensG@caryinstitute.org
Website: https://www.caryinstitute.org/science/our-scientists/dr-gene-e-likens
GeneLikens

Research Interests

Gene E. Likens co-founded the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study in 1963. His long-term research at Hubbard Brook has focused on the biogeochemistry of forest and associated stream ecosystems, as well as the Mirror Lake ecosystem. Special research interests include air-land-water interactions, quantitative analysis of ecosystems, the nature and history of acid rain and the effect of air pollutants on ecosystems, the biology and behavior of salamanders, and experimental manipulation studies of entire ecosystems. Likens currently is on the Board of the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation, Chairman of the Information Oversight Subcommittee, a Co-Principal Investigator on the Long-Term Ecological Research Project, and Principal Investigator of the Long-Term Research in Environmental Biology Project. He is responsible for the collection, analysis and data management of the long-term data sets for precipitation chemistry, streamwater chemistry and lakewater chemistry of the HBES.

Hubbard Brook Publications by this Author

Contosta, A. R., Battles, J. J., Campbell, J. L., Driscoll, C. T., Garlick, S. R., Holmes, R. T., Likens, G. E., Rodenhouse, N. L., Rogers, S. H., Templer, P. H., Vadeboncoeur, M. A., & Groffman, P. M. (2023). Early warning signals of changing resilience in the biogeochemistry and biology of a northern hardwood forest. Environmental Research Letters, 18(9), 094052. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/acf3fe
Likens, G. E. (2022). Aldo Leopold’s “Odyssey” and the development of the ecosystem concept and approach. Socio-Ecological Practice Research, 4(1), 17–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42532-022-00107-9
Liptzin, D., Boy, J., Campbell, J. L., Clarke, N., Laclau, J.-P., Godoy, R., Johnson, S. L., Kaiser, K., Likens, G. E., Karlsson, G. P., Markewitz, D., Rogora, M., Sebestyen, S. D., Shanley, J. B., Vanguelova, E., Verstraeten, A., Wilcke, W., Worrall, F., & McDowell, W. H. (2022). Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Atmospheric Deposition of Dissolved Organic Carbon. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 36(10), e2022GB007393. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GB007393
Liptzin, D., Boy, J., Campbell, J. L., Clarke, N., Laclau, J.-P., Godoy, R., Johnson, S. L., Kaiser, K., Likens, G. E., Karlsson, G. P., Markewitz, D., Rogora, M., Sebestyen, S. D., Shanley, J. B., Vanguelova, E., Verstraeten, A., Wilcke, W., Worrall, F., & McDowell, W. H. (2022). Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Atmospheric Deposition of Dissolved Organic Carbon. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 36(10), e2022GB007393. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GB007393
Likens, G. E. (2021). Ambio’s legacy on monitoring, impact, and management of acid rain. Ambio, 50(2), 278–280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-020-01409-6
Likens, G. E., Buso, D. C., Bernhardt, E. S., & Rosi, E. (2021). A century of change: Reconstructing the biogeochemical history of Hubbard Brook. Hydrological Processes, 35(6), e14256. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14256
Verdier, J. M. (2020). In Their Own Words: Gene E. Likens. BioScience, 70(8), 640–646. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaa080
Likens, G. E. (2020). Lessons Learned from Long-Term Ecosystem Studies. Land Use Ecology, KIOES Opinions, Reflections on the Ecology of Landscapes, Austrian Academy of Sciences, 10. https://par.nsf.gov/biblio/10316502-lessons-learned-from-long-term-ecosystem-studies
Lowe, W. H., Swartz, L. K., Addis, B. R., & Likens, G. E. (2019). Hydrologic variability contributes to reduced survival through metamorphosis in a stream salamander. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(39), 19563–19570. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1908057116
Likens, G. E. (2019). Unusual sequence of ice cover formation on Mirror Lake, New Hampshire, USA. Inland Waters, 9(3), 408–410. https://doi.org/10.1080/20442041.2019.1629216
Marinos, R. E., Campbell, J. L., Driscoll, C. T., Likens, G. E., McDowell, W. H., Rosi, E. J., Rustad, L. E., & Bernhardt, E. S. (2018). Give and Take: A Watershed Acid Rain Mitigation Experiment Increases Baseflow Nitrogen Retention but Increases Stormflow Nitrogen Export. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(22), 13155–13165. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b03553
Sullivan, T. J., Driscoll, C. T., Beier, C. M., Burtraw, D., Fernandez, I. J., Galloway, J. N., Gay, D. A., Goodale, C. L., Likens, G. E., Lovett, G. M., & Watmough, S. A. (2018). Air pollution success stories in the United States: The value of long-term observations. Environmental Science & Policy, 84, 69–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.02.016
Groffman, P. M., Driscoll, C. T., Durán, J., Campbell, J. L., Christenson, L. M., Fahey, T. J., Fisk, M. C., Fuss, C., Likens, G. E., Lovett, G., Rustad, L., & Templer, P. H. (2018). Nitrogen oligotrophication in northern hardwood forests. Biogeochemistry, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-018-0445-y
Lovett, G. M., Goodale, C. L., Ollinger, S. V., Fuss, C. B., Ouimette, A. P., & Likens, G. E. (2018). Nutrient retention during ecosystem succession: a revised conceptual model. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 16(9), 532–538. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.1949
Lindenmayer, D., & Likens, G.E. (2018). Effective Ecological Monitoring (HBR.2018-11). CSIRO Publishing. https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/7812/
Likens, G. E. (2017). Fifty years of continuous precipitation and stream chemistry data from the Hubbard Brook ecosystem study (1963–2013). Ecology, 98(8), 2224–2224. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.1894
Benettin, P., Bailey, S. W., Rinaldo, A., Likens, G. E., McGuire, K. J., & Botter, G. (2017). Young runoff fractions control streamwater age and solute concentration dynamics. Hydrological Processes, 31, 2982–2986. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11243
Clymans, W., Conley, D. J., Battles, J. J., Frings, P. J., Koppers, M. M., Likens, G. E., & Johnson, C. E. (2016). Silica uptake and release in live and decaying biomass in a northern hardwood forest. Ecology, 97(11), 3044–3057. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.1542
Rosi-Marshall, E. J., Bernhardt, E. S., Buso, D. C., Driscoll, C. T., & Likens, G. E. (2016). Acid rain mitigation experiment shifts a forested watershed from a net sink to a net source of nitrogen. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(27), 7580–7583. LTERYYY. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1607287113
Leys, B. A., Likens, G. E., Johnson, C. E., Craine, J. M., Lacroix, B., & McLauchlan, K. K. (2016). Natural and anthropogenic drivers of calcium depletion in a northern forest during the last millennium. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(25), 6934–6938. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1604909113
Campbell, J. L., Yanai, R. D., Green, M. B., Likens, G. E., See, C. R., Bailey, A. S., Buso, D. C., & Yang, D. (2016). Uncertainty in the net hydrologic flux of calcium in a paired-watershed harvesting study. Ecosphere, 7(6), n/a-n/a. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1299
Holmes, R., & Likens, G. E. (2016). Hubbard Brook: The Story of a Forest Ecosystem (HBR.2016-02). Yale University Press.
Puntsag, T., Mitchell, M. J., Campbell, J. L., Klein, E. S., Likens, G. E., & Welker, J. M. (2016). Arctic vortex changes alter the sources and isotopic values of precipitation in northeastern US. Scientific Reports, 6, 22647. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep22647
Durán, J., Morse, J. L., Groffman, P. M., Campbell, J. L., Christenson, L. M., Driscoll, C. T., Fahey, T. J., Fisk, M. C., Likens, G. E., Melillo, J. M., Mitchell, M. J., Templer, P. H., & Vadeboncoeur, M. A. (2016). Climate change decreases nitrogen pools and mineralization rates in northern hardwood forests. Ecosphere, 7(3), n/a-n/a. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1251
Benettin, P., Bailey, S. W., Campbell, J. L., Green, M. B., Rinaldo, A., Likens, G. E., McGuire, K. J., & Botter, G. (2015). Linking water age and solute dynamics in streamflow at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, NH, USA. Water Resources Research, n/a-n/a. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015WR017552
Wilson, A. M., & Likens, G. E. (2015). Content Volatility of Scientific Topics in Wikipedia: A Cautionary Tale. PLoS ONE, 10(8), e0134454. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0134454
McGuire, K. J., Torgersen, C. E., Likens, G. E., Buso, D. C., Lowe, W. H., & Bailey, S. W. (2014). Network analysis reveals multiscale controls on streamwater chemistry. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(19), 7030–7035. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1404820111
Lindenmayer, D. B., Barton, P. S., Lane, P. W., Westgate, M. J., McBurney, L., Blair, D., Gibbons, P., & Likens, G. E. (2014). An Empirical Assessment and Comparison of Species-Based and Habitat-Based Surrogates: A Case Study of Forest Vertebrates and Large Old Trees. PLoS ONE, 9(2), e89807. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089807
Likens, G. E., & Bailey, S. W. (2014). The Discovery of Acid Rain at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest: A Story of Collaboration and Long-term Research. In D. C. Hayes, S. L. Stout, R. H. Crawford, & A. P. Hoover (Eds.), USDA Forest Service Experimental Forests and Ranges (HBR.2014-04; pp. 463–482). Springer New York. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4614-1818-4_20
Yanai, R. D., Tokuchi, N., Campbell, J. L., Green, M. B., Matsuzaki, E., Laseter, S. N., Brown, C. L., Bailey, A. S., Lyons, P., Levine, C. R., Buso, D. C., Likens, G. E., Knoepp, J. D., & Fukushima, K. (2014). Sources of uncertainty in estimating stream solute export from headwater catchments at three sites. Hydrological Processes, n/a-n/a. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10265
Smith, V. H., Dodds, W. K., Havens, K. E., Engstrom, D. R., Paerl, H. W., Moss, B., & Likens, G. E. (2014). Comment: Cultural eutrophication of natural lakes in the United States is real and widespread. Limnology and Oceanography, 59(6), 2217–2225. https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.2014.59.6.2217
Lindenmayer, D. B., Laurance, W. F., Franklin, J. F., Likens, G. E., Banks, S. C., Blanchard, W., Gibbons, P., Ikin, K., Blair, D., McBurney, L., Manning, A. D., & Stein, J. A. R. (2014). New Policies for Old Trees: Averting a Global Crisis in a Keystone Ecological Structure. Conservation Letters, 7(1), 61–69. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12013
Lindenmayer, D. B., Banks, S. C., Laurance, W. F., Franklin, J. F., & Likens, G. E. (2014). Broad Decline of Populations of Large Old Trees. Conservation Letters, 7(1), 72–73. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12079
Lindenmayer, D.B., Blair, D., McBurney, L., Banks, S.C., Stein, J.A.R., Hobbs, R.J., Likens, G.E., & Franklin, J.F. (2014). Principles and practices for biodiversity conservation and restoration forestry: a 30 year case study on the Victorian montane ash forests and the critically endangered Leadbeater’s Possum. Australian Zoologist, 36, 441–460.
Likens, G. E. (2013). The Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study: Celebrating 50 Years. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, 94(4), 336–337. https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9623-94.4.336
Likens, G. E. (2013). Resolution of Respect: F. Herbert Bormann 1922–2012. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, 94(4), 304–308. https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9623-94.4.304
Warren, D. R., Judd, K. E., Bade, D. L., Likens, G. E., & Kraft, C. E. (2013). Effects of wood removal on stream habitat and nitrate uptake in two northeastern US headwater streams. Hydrobiologia, 717(1), 119–131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1578-6
Green, M. B., Bailey, A. S., Bailey, S. W., Battles, J. J., Campbell, J. L., Driscoll, C. T., Fahey, T. J., Lepine, L. C., Likens, G. E., Ollinger, S. V., & Schaberg, P. G. (2013). Reply to Smith and Shortle: Lacking evidence of hydraulic efficiency changes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(40), E3740–E3740. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1312130110
Kaushal, S. S., Likens, G. E., Utz, R. M., Pace, M. L., Grese, M., & Yepsen, M. (2013). Increased River Alkalinization in the Eastern U.S. Environmental Science & Technology, 47(18), 10302–10311. https://doi.org/10.1021/es401046s
Likens, G. E. (2013). Biogeochemistry of a Forested Ecosystem (HBR.2013-35). Springer Science & Business Media.
Argerich, A., Johnson, S. L., Sebestyen, S. D., Rhoades, C. C., Greathouse, E., Knoepp, J. D., Adams, M. B., Likens, G. E., Campbell, J. L., McDowell, W. H., Scatena, F. N., & Ice, G. G. (2013). Trends in stream nitrogen concentrations for forested reference catchments across the USA. Environmental Research Letters, 8(1), 014039. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/8/1/014039
Rhoades, C. C., McCutchan, J. H., Cooper, L. A., Clow, D., Detmer, T. M., Briggs, J. S., Stednick, J. D., Veblen, T. T., Ertz, R. M., Likens, G. E., & Lewis, W. M. (2013). Biogeochemistry of beetle-killed forests: Explaining a weak nitrate response. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 201221029. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1221029110
Likens, G. E. (2013). The Northern Hardwood Ecosystem in the Hubbard Brook Valley in Relation to Other Forest Ecosystems. In Biogeochemistry of a Forested Ecosystem (HBR.2013-21; pp. 163–170). Springer New York. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4614-7810-2_7
Likens, G. E. (2013). Nutrient Cycles and Mass Balances. In Biogeochemistry of a Forested Ecosystem (HBR.2013-19; pp. 139–161). Springer New York. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4614-7810-2_6
Green, M. B., Bailey, A. S., Bailey, S. W., Battles, J. J., Campbell, J. L., Driscoll, C. T., Fahey, T. J., Lepine, L. C., Likens, G. E., Ollinger, S. V., & Schaberg, P. G. (2013). Decreased water flowing from a forest amended with calcium silicate. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 110(15), 5999–6003. http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/43311
Lowe, W. H., McPeek, M. A., Likens, G. E., & Cosentino, B. J. (2012). Decoupling of genetic and phenotypic divergence in a headwater landscape. Molecular Ecology, 21(10), 2399–2409. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05546.x
Likens, G. E., & Buso, D. C. (2012). Dilution and the elusive baseline. Environmental Science & Technology, 46(8), 4382–4387. https://doi.org/10.1021/es3000189
Bernal, S., Hedin, L. O., Likens, G. E., Gerber, S., & Buso, D. C. (2012). Complex response of the forest nitrogen cycle to climate change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109(9), 3406–3411. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1121448109
Ross, D. S., Shanley, J. B., Campbell, J. L., Lawrence, G. B., Bailey, S. W., Likens, G. E., Wemple, B. C., Fredriksen, G., & Jamison, A. E. (2012). Spatial patterns of soil nitrification and nitrate export from forested headwaters in the northeastern United States. Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences, 117. https://doi.org/10.1029/2011jg001740
Lindenmayer, D. B., Likens, G. E., Andersen, A., Bowman, D., Bull, C. M., Burns, E., Dickman, C. R., Hoffmann, A. A., Keith, D. A., Liddell, M. J., Lowe, A. J., Metcalfe, D. J., Phinn, S. R., Russell-Smith, J., Thurgate, N., & Wardle, G. M. (2012). Value of long-term ecological studies. Austral Ecology, 37(7), 745–757. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2011.02351.x