World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Plant Science and Agronomy

D-Index
54
Citations
17781
World Ranking
1656
National Ranking
441

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
54
Citations
17760
World Ranking
3062
National Ranking
1078

Overview

Daniel G. Milchunas is affiliated with Colorado State University in the United States and specializes in environmental science. Their research spans multiple subfields, including nature and landscape conservation, global and planetary change, atmospheric science, ecology, and management, monitoring, policy, and law.

The scientist's work centers around several main topics:

  • Ecology and vegetation dynamics studies
  • Plant water relations and carbon dynamics
  • Tree-ring climate responses
  • Rangeland and wildlife management
  • Rangeland management and livestock ecology

Milchunas has published in prominent venues such as Ecosphere and the Journal of Vegetation Science. Two recent papers highlight their research contributions:

  • "Sensitivity of productivity to precipitation amount and pattern varies by topographic position in a semiarid grassland," 2021, Ecosphere
  • "Assessing the rate and reversibility of large-herbivore effects on community composition in a semi-arid grassland ecosystem," 2020, Journal of Vegetation Science

Collaboration forms a significant part of their research endeavors. Frequent co-authors include:

  • David J. Augustine
  • Justin Derner
  • David L. Hoover
  • William K. Lauenroth
  • Lauren M. Porensky

The scientist's diverse focus in environmental science integrates aspects of ecological studies with atmospheric and conservation-related topics. Their publications reflect expertise in understanding vegetation dynamics under varying environmental conditions, particularly in semi-arid grassland ecosystems.

Best Publications

  • Quantitative effects of grazing on vegetation and soils over a global range of environments

    D. G. Milchunas;W. K. Lauenroth

  • A Generalized Model of the Effects of Grazing by Large Herbivores on Grassland Community Structure

    D. G. Milchunas;O. E. Sala;W. K. Lauenroth

  • Plant trait responses to grazing – a global synthesis

    Sandra Díaz;Sandra Lavorel;Sue McINTYRE;Valeria Falczuk

  • Functional- and abundance-based mechanisms explain diversity loss due to N fertilization.

    Katharine N. Suding;Scott L. Collins;Laura Gough;Christopher Clark

  • Herbivore impact on grassland plant diversity depends on habitat productivity and herbivore size.

    Elisabeth S. Bakker;Mark E. Ritchie;Han Olff;Daniel G. Milchunas

  • PLANT PRODUCTION AND SOIL MICROORGANISMS IN LATE-SUCCESSIONAL ECOSYSTEMS: A CONTINENTAL-SCALE STUDY'

    Donald R. Zak;David Tilman;Robert R. Parmenter;Charles W. Rice

  • Grassland vegetation changes and nocturnal global warming

    Richard D. Alward;James K. Detling;Daniel G. Milchunas

  • Grazing refuges, external avoidance of herbivory and plant diversity

    D. G. Milchunas;I. Noy-Meir

  • Effects of grazing, topography, and precipitation on the structure of a semiarid grassland

    Daniel G. Milchunas;William K. Lauenroth;Philip L. Chapman;Mohammad K. Kazempour

  • Livestock Grazing: Animal and Plant Biodiversity of Shortgrass Steppe and the Relationship to Ecosystem Function

    D.G. Milchunas;W.K. Lauenroth;I.C. Burke

  • Inertia in Plant Community Structure: State Changes After Cessation of Nutrient-Enrichment Stress

    D. G. Milchunas;W. K. Lauenroth

  • Carbon dioxide enrichment alters plant community structure and accelerates shrub growth in the shortgrass steppe

    Jack A. Morgan;Daniel G. Milchunas;Daniel R. LeCain;Mark West

  • Elevated CO2 enhances water relations and productivity and affects gas exchange in C3 and C4 grasses of the Colorado shortgrass steppe.

    Jack A. Morgan;Daniel R. Lecain;Arvin R. Mosier;Daniel G. Milchunas

  • Functional traits of graminoids in semi-arid steppes: a test of grazing histories

    Peter B. Adler;Daniel G. Milchunas;William K. Lauenroth;Osvaldo E. Sala

  • Change in dominance determines herbivore effects on plant biodiversity

    Sally E. Koerner;Melinda D. Smith;Deron E. Burkepile;Niall P. Hanan

  • CO2 ENHANCES PRODUCTIVITY, ALTERS SPECIES COMPOSITION, AND REDUCES DIGESTIBILITY OF SHORTGRASS STEPPE VEGETATION

    Jack A. Morgan;Arvin R. Mosier;Daniel G. Milchunas;Daniel R. LeCain

  • The Role of Photodegradation in Surface Litter Decomposition Across a Grassland Ecosystem Precipitation Gradient

    L. A. Brandt;L. A. Brandt;J. Y. King;J. Y. King;S. E. Hobbie;D. G. Milchunas

  • How can net Primary Productivity be Measured in Grazing Ecosystems

    S. J. McNaughton;D. G. Milchunas;D. A. Frank

  • Effects of ultraviolet radiation on litter decomposition depend on precipitation and litter chemistry in a shortgrass steppe ecosystem

    Leslie A. Brandt;Jennifer Y. King;Daniel G. Milchunas

  • The role of a spiny plant refuge in structuring grazed shortgrass steppe plant communities

    S. Rebollo;D. G. Milchunas;I. Noy-Meir;P. L. Chapman

  • Response of soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities to the transient elevation of carbon dioxide in a semi-arid grassland

    Ellen Kandeler;Arvin R. Mosier;Jack A. Morgan;Daniel G. Milchunas

  • Do individual plant species show predictable responses to nitrogen addition across multiple experiments

    Steven C. Pennings;Chris M. Clark;Elsa E. Cleland;Scott L. Collins

Frequent Co-Authors

William K. Lauenroth
William K. Lauenroth Yale University
Jack A. Morgan
Jack A. Morgan Agricultural Research Service
Arvin R. Mosier
Arvin R. Mosier University of Melbourne
David J. Augustine
David J. Augustine Agricultural Research Service
Jennifer Y. King
Jennifer Y. King University of California, Santa Barbara
Justin D. Derner
Justin D. Derner Agricultural Research Service
Daniel R. LeCain
Daniel R. LeCain Agricultural Research Service
Ingrid C. Burke
Ingrid C. Burke Yale University
Imanuel Noy-Meir
Imanuel Noy-Meir Hebrew University of Jerusalem
John C. Moore
John C. Moore Beijing Normal University

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