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Faculty

Rebecca Best

About

Dr. Rebecca Best is an Associate Professor in the School of Earth and Sustainability at Northern Arizona University, where she leads the Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation (ABC) Lab. She is also an affiliate of the Center for Adaptable Western Landscapes at NAU.

Research Interests

Aquatic Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation

  • Processes that shape the distribution of aquatic biodiversity across a changing landscape
  • Potential for species to adapt, acclimate, or migrate in response to change
  • Conservation strategies for freshwater biodiversity, including habitat restoration and control of invasive species

Climate and Connectivity

  • Community and population connectivity in aquatic invertebrates across an arid landscape
  • Remote sensing of aquatic habitat availability under drought
  • Climate impacts on aquatic ecosystem functioning

Riparian Tree Ecology and Evolution

  • Ecology and evolution of riparian tree traits
  • Local adaptation and plasticity in response to past and future climates

Education

  • Ph.D. Population Biology, University of California, Davis
  • M.Sc. Forest Sciences, University of British Columbia
  • B.Sc. Environmental Sciences, University of British Columbia

Research Impact

Dr. Best has made significant contributions to the field of aquatic ecology, with her research cited over 1,300 times according to Google Scholar. Her research program integrates basic ecological science with applied conservation needs, emphasizing the importance of understanding fundamental ecological processes to develop effective conservation strategies. Her work particularly focuses on how climate change and environmental variability affect aquatic communities and the implications for biodiversity conservation in the American West.

Laboratory

Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation (ABC) Lab

Dr. Best’s research lab focuses on understanding how environmental factors, particularly climate, influence aquatic communities and individual species. The lab combines field ecology, laboratory experiments, and remote sensing to address conservation challenges.

Lab Location: Biological Sciences Room 239 Office Location: Physical Sciences Room 122

Current Research Projects

See the ABC Lab Website for more information on current projects, student acheivements, and recent publications.

Graduate Student Mentorship

Dr. Best actively mentors graduate and undergraduate students in:

  • Field ecology research methods
  • Aquatic biodiversity assessment
  • Evolutionary ecology approaches
  • Conservation science applications
  • Statistical analysis and modeling

Professional Service

Center for Adaptable Western Landscapes

  • Affiliate researcher contributing to landscape-scale conservation research
  • Collaboration on climate adaptation strategies for western ecosystems

Academic Leadership

  • Editor, The American Naturalist
  • Member, NAU Teacher of the Year Academy

Contact Information

Recent publications

Explore all 27 publications