Elena Litchman

Elena Litchman is a Professor at Michigan State University, affiliated with the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station and the Integrative Biology and Plant Biology departments. Her research focuses on aquatic ecology, phytoplankton communities, and global change impacts.

• Academic Rank: Professor
• Contact: litchman@msu.edu
• Area of Expertise: Aquatic ecology, community ecology, trait-based ecology, phytoplankton physiology, microbial ecology, global change

Her work investigates how biotic and abiotic factors interact to structure phytoplankton communities in freshwater and marine environments. Key research themes include:

• Temporal and spatial heterogeneity effects on phytoplankton competition
• Ecological traits and trade-offs determining community structure
• Global patterns of plankton diversity and trait distributions
• Global change impacts on harmful algal blooms (HABs)
• Invasive microbes and nitrogen-fixing phytoplankton dynamics
• Lake Baikal food web interactions under climate change