Heather McCarthy

Heather McCarthy, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Oklahoma. Her research focuses on plant physiological ecology, particularly how trees and forests respond to global change factors such as drought, urbanization, and elevated CO2 levels. She integrates field studies with modeling approaches to explore ecosystem-level processes like carbon and water cycling.

McCarthy holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from Duke University and a B.S. in Environmental Sciences from Oregon State University. Her work emphasizes the bidirectional relationship between ecosystems and environmental changes, including urban ecosystem services and climate adaptation strategies.

Key research themes include:

• Forest responses to CO2 enrichment and nitrogen availability
• Hydrologic cycle dynamics in urban and natural ecosystems
• Climate change impacts on foundation species

Recent studies have explored drought resilience in Oklahoma ecosystems and satellite-based monitoring of crop and prairie productivity. While no formal awards are listed, her over 50 publications reflect sustained contributions to ecological science.