Marc Cadotte

Prof. Cadotte is a globally recognized plant ecologist, known for research on the impacts of human activities on plant biodiversity and ecosystem function. He has developed methods to incorporate genetic and physical trait information into broadly applicable biodiversity measures. His work has provided important insights into how changing biodiversity impacts ecosystem function and the benefits to people. He leads a global research network that examines how cities are influencing plant diversity around the world, providing fundamental new insights into the impacts of urbanization, trade, and colonization on global biodiversity homogenization.

Prof. Cadotte has worked extensively with non-academic organizations to understand and improve habitat management and restoration outcomes, especially in cities. Work with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has quantified the impact of urbanization on changing biodiversity in woodlots, and on the spread of invasive species. His lab has created processes for invasive species management prioritization and identifying critical habitats and ecosystem services impacted by invasives. 

There is a well understood gap between research and implementation in applied ecology. Prof. Cadotte has dedicated himself to ensuring that the information that practitioners produce and need are available in permanent, searchable, and citable formats. In partnership with the British Ecological Society, he created a free grey literature repository that hosts project reports, policy briefs, and best management practices produced by practitioners, called Applied Ecology Resources. Along with this, he also created the open access journal, Ecological Solutions and Evidence, that caters to applied management and practice.