
Amy Mertl
Visiting Lecturer in Biological Sciences
Community ecologist interested in plant/insect interactions, impacts of air pollution on humans and non-humans, and how species adapt to urban ecosystems, all under the umbrella of integrating nature into human landscapes in a healthy way.
My research work focuses on insect populations in urban environments and includes a large community science component. I run community science projects each year, collecting data on insect herbivory, pollinator/plant interactions and monarch populations in urban green spaces around Boston. More recently I have become interested in the growing excitement around planting urban tiny forests using the Miyawaki method and the use of these spaces may have on insect populations. I am a member of the Urban Wildlife Information Network and co-manage a wildlife camera network in the Boston area to survey bird and mammal activity along urban gradients. I also investigate the impacts of urban air pollution, a major environmental justice issue, as part of the HAFTRAP research group.
As a teacher, I use a modified POGIL approach in the classroom, with space for structured open-ended experimentation and discussion. For example, I often create two-part exercises, one more structured to introduce students to observing or working with a system and grow curious about it, and one open ended where students could then build on their curiosities by developing a new hypothesis and methodology to explore it through data collection. I also aim to create inclusive classrooms by meeting students where they are at to support their learning and their success in class. I offer a variety of methods of assessment (written, oral, visual) to let students who may not do well on traditional assessments show their knowledge. And I love to go outside as much as possible! Outside of the classroom I love to read, travel, and take part in theater and film productions when time allows. I work on local issues related to green space access and biodiversity conservation. I use they/she pronouns.
Education
- B.S., University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Ph.D., Boston University
Current and upcoming courses
The emergent structure and function of ecosystems are regulated by feedbacks between biological and physical systems from the microscopic to the global scale. We will study how ecosystems cycle carbon and nutrients and how the energy balance of ecosystems influences climate. We will also examine the role that humans play in managing, creating, and using services from ecosystems in our current era of rapid global change. Synthesizing these concepts, we consider the role of protected areas in preserving ecosystem functioning. Students will develop statistical skills working with authentic long-term ecosystem ecology datasets. Students in this course will develop independent data analysis projects that include scientific communication through presentations, writing, and visual displays of data.
This course has a required co-requisite Laboratory - BISC 307L/ES 307L.
(BISC 307 and ES 307 are cross-listed courses.)