Christine Cairns Fortuin

Dr. Christine Cairns Fortuin is an Assistant Professor at Mississippi State University's Forest and Wildlife Research Center. Her research focuses on invertebrate biodiversity, pesticide impacts on non-target species, and the ecological effects of severe weather disturbances in managed forests. She holds a Ph.D. in Forestry and Natural Resources from the University of Georgia, an M.S. in Environmental Sciences from Florida International University, and a B.S. in Anthropology from the College of Wooster.

Her work bridges forest ecology and conservation, addressing topics such as hurricane resilience, pesticide toxicity to pollinators, and tornado risks to southeastern forests. She leads the Forest Invertebrate Conservation Lab, which investigates biodiversity responses to human-induced changes. Recent studies include predicting windstorm damage vulnerability and assessing imidacloprid's effects on solitary bees.

Fortuin collaborates widely, publishing in journals like Forest Ecology and Management and Landscape Ecology. She mentors students, including graduate advisee Mary McTeague, and emphasizes applied research to inform sustainable forest management practices.