Dominik Kulakowski, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Geography
Graduate School of Geography
Clark University
Worcester, MA 01610-1477

Phone: (508) 793-7336
Email: dkulakowski@clarku.edu

Curriculum Vitae

Professor Dominik Kulakowski earned a M.S. in Ecology from Pennsylvania State University in 1997, and a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Colorado in 2002. Prior to coming to Clark University he was a research associate and lecturer with the University of Colorado, Department of Geography, from 2002-2007, and a research associate with the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research in Davos, Switzerland, a division of the Alpine Environment, from 2004-2005.

Current Research

Disturbance ecology, landscape change, and dynamics of mountain forest ecosystem
Effects climate on mountain forest ecosystems
Interactions among disturbances in forest ecosystems, especially how previous disturbances affect the spread and severity of subsequent disturbances and how compounding disturbances affect ecosystem dynamics
The influence of biophysical variables and infrequent disturbances on the dynamics of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

Courses Offered

Geog 104:             Earth System Science
Geog 116:              Forest Ecology
Geog 216/316:        Field Methods for Environmental Science
Geog 372/Biol 373: Graduate Seminar in Biogeography

Selected Publications

Bebi, P., D. Kulakowski and C. Rixen. 2009. Snow avalanche disturbances in forest ecosystems – state of research and implications for management. Forest Ecology and Management. 257 (9): 1883-1892.

Kurzel, B. P., T. T. Veblen, and D. Kulakowski. 2007. A typology of stand structure and dynamics of Quaking askpen in northwestern Colorado. Forest Ecology and Management. 252 (1-3): 176-190.

Schoennagel, T., T.T. Veblen, D. Kulakowski, A. Holz. 2007. Multidecadal climate variability and climate interactions affect subalpine fire occurrence, western Colorado (USA). Ecology. 88 (11): 2891-2902.

Rixen, C., S. Haag, D. Kulakowski, and P. Bebi. 2007. Natural distrubance modulates plant diversity and species composition in subalpine forest. Journal of Vegetation Science. 18 (5): 735-742.

Kulakowski, D. and T.T. Veblen. 2007. Effect of prior distrubances on the extent and severity of a 2002 wildfire in Colorado subalpine forests. Ecology. 88 (3): 759-769.

Romme, W.H., J. Clement, J. Hicke, D. Kulakowski, L.H. MacDonald, T.L. Schoennagel, and T.T. Veblen. 2006. Recent Forest Insect Outbreaks and Fire Risk in Colorado Forests: A Brief Synthesis of Relevant Research. Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, Fort Collins, CO.

Kulakowski, D. and T.T. Veblen. 2006. The effect of fires on susceptibility of subalpine forests to a 19th century spruce beetle outbreak in western Colorado. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 36 (11): 2974-2982.

Kulakowski, D. and T.T. Veblen. 2006. Historical range of variability for forest vegetation of the Grand Mesa National Forest, Colorado. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Golden, CO and the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, Fort Collins, CO.

Kulakowski, D., T.T. Veblen, and B.P. Kurzel. 2006. Influences of infrequent fire, elevation and pre-fire vegetation on the persistence of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) in the Flat Tops area, Colorado, USA. Journal of Biogeography. 33: 1397-1413.

Kulakowski, D., C. Rixen, and P.Bebi. 2006. Changes in forest structure and in the relative importance of climatic stress as a result of suppression of avalance disturbances. Forest Ecology and Management. 223 (1-3): 66-74.

Bigler, C., D. Kulakowski, and T.T. Veblen. 2005. Multiple distrubance interactions and drought influence fire severity in Rocky Mountain subalpine forests. Ecology. 86 (11): 3018-3029.

Kulakowski, D., T.T. Veblen, and S. Drinkwater. 2004. THe persistence of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) in the Grand Mesa area, Colorado. Ecological Applications. 14 (5): 1603-1614.

Kulakowski, D. and T.T. Veblen. 2003. Subalpine forest development following a blowdown in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, Colorado, USA. Journal of Vegetation Science. 14.5: 653-660.

Kulakowski, D., T.T. Veblen, and P. Bebi. 2003. Effects of fire and spruce beetle outbreak legacies on the distrubance regime of a subalpine forest in Colorado. Journal of Biogeography. 30 (9): 1445-1456.

Bebi, P., D. Kulakowski, and T.T. Veblen. 2003. Interactions between fire and spruce beetles in a subalpine Rocky Mountain forest landscape. Ecology. 84 (2): 362-371.

Kulakowski, D. and T.T.Veblen. 2002. Influences of fire history and topography on the pattern of severe wind blowdown in a Colorado subalpine forest. Journal of Ecology. 90 (5): 806-819.

Baker, W.L., Ph.H. Flaherty, J.D. Lindemann, T.T. Veblen, K.S. Eisenhart, and D. Kulakowski. 2002. Effects of vegetation on the impact of a severe blowdown in the Southern Rocky Mountains, USA. Forest Ecology and Managment. 168 (1-3): 63-75.

Veblen, T.T., D. Kulakowski, K.S. Eisenhart, and W.L. Baker. 2001. Subalpine forest damage from a severe windstorm in Northern Colorado. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 31 (12): 2089-2097.

Uhl, C., D. Kulakowski, J. Gerwing, M. Brown, and M. Cochrane. 1996. Sustainability: A touchstone concept for univeristy operations, education, and research. Concervation Biology. 10 (5): 1308-1311.