World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Environmental Sciences

D-Index
39
Citations
4883
World Ranking
8450
National Ranking
3012

Overview

Donald R. Young is affiliated with Virginia Commonwealth University in the United States. Their research contributions focus primarily within the fields of Environmental Science and Earth and Planetary Sciences, with notable work in several related subfields, including Global and Planetary Change, Atmospheric Science, Sociology and Political Science, Nature and Landscape Conservation, and Ecology.

Young's research addresses a range of topics centered on ecosystem dynamics and environmental impacts, highlighting areas such as Fire effects on ecosystems, Flood Risk Assessment and Management, Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research, Disaster Management and Resilience, and Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics.

Their recent publications include:

  • "Anticipating and Adapting to the Future Impacts of Climate Change on the Health, Security and Welfare of Low Elevation Coastal Zone (LECZ) Communities in Southeastern USA," 2021, published in Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
  • "State changes: insights from the U.S. Long Term Ecological Research Network," 2021, published in Ecosphere
  • "Shrub Age and Water Dynamics Influence Primary Production, Carbon, and Nitrogen Stocks in a Coastal Environment," 2024, published in Wetlands
  • "Barrier Island Morphology and Sediment Characteristics Affect the Recovery of Dune Building Grasses following Storm-Induced Overwash," 2020, published in UNC Libraries

Young has collaborated frequently with a number of coauthors, including Julie C. Zinnert, Thomas R. Allen, Joshua G. Behr, Anamaria Bukvic, and Ryan S. D. Calder.

Their research has been published in diverse scientific venues, which include:

  • Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
  • Ecosphere
  • Wetlands
  • UNC Libraries

Best Publications

  • Shrub encroachment in North American grasslands: shifts in growth form dominance rapidly alters control of ecosystem carbon inputs

    Alan K. Knapp;John M. Briggs;Scott L. Collins;Steven R. Archer

  • Going with the flow or against the grain? The promise of vegetation for protecting beaches, dunes, and barrier islands from erosion

    Rusty A Feagin;Jens Figlus;Julie C Zinnert;Jake Sigren

  • Ecophysiology of the Herbaceous Layer in Temperate Deciduous Forests

    Howard S. Neufeld;Donald R. Young

  • NDVI as an indicator for changes in water availability to woody vegetation

    Cristina Aguilar;Julie C. Zinnert;Julie C. Zinnert;María José Polo;Donald R. Young

  • Leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, reflectance, and physiological response to freshwater and saltwater flooding in the evergreen shrub, Myrica cerifera

    Julie C. Naumann;Donald R. Young;John E. Anderson

  • Application of hyperspectral vegetation indices to detect variations in high leaf area index temperate shrub thicket canopies

    Steven T. Brantley;Julie C. Zinnert;Donald R. Young

  • Linking leaf chlorophyll fluorescence properties to physiological responses for detection of salt and drought stress in coastal plant species.

    Julie C. Naumann;Donald R. Young;John E. Anderson

  • Predictions of Soil-Water Potentials in the North-Western Sonoran Desert

    Donald R. Young;Park S. Nobel

  • Influence of Sunlight on Photosynthesis, Water Relations, and Leaf Structure in the Understory Species Arnica Cordifolia

    Donald R. Young;William K. Smith

  • Influence of sunflecks on the temperature and water relations of two subalpine understory congeners.

    D. R. Young;W. K. Smith

  • Ecomorphodynamic feedbacks and barrier island response to disturbance: Insights from the Virginia Barrier Islands, Mid-Atlantic Bight, USA

    Catherine W.V. Wolner;Laura J. Moore;Donald R. Young;Steven T. Brantley

  • Barrier Islands: Coupling Anthropogenic Stability with Ecological Sustainability

    Rusty A. Feagin;William K. Smith;Norbert P. Psuty;Donald R. Young

  • LEAF-AREA INDEX AND LIGHT ATTENUATION IN RAPIDLY EXPANDING SHRUB THICKETS

    Steven T. Brantley;Donald R. Young

  • Salinity and the small-scale distribution of three barrier island shrubs

    Donald R. Young;David L. Erickson;Shawn W. Semones

  • Freshwater and saltwater flooding response for woody species common to barrier island swales

    Kathryn S. Tolliver;David W. Martin;Donald R. Young

  • Spatial and temporal growth dynamics of Barrier Island shrub thickets

    Donald R. Young;Guofan Shao;John H. Porter

  • Autumn stomatal closure in six conifer species of the Central Rocky Mountains.

    W. K. Smith;D. R. Young;G. A. Carter;J. L. Hadley

  • Effect of Cloudcover on Photosynthesis and Transpiration in the Subalpine Understory Species Arnica Latifolia

    Donald R. Young;William K. Smith

  • Influence of physiological integration on survivorship and water relations in a clonal herb

    Robyne R. Lau;Donald R. Young

  • Cross-Scale Patterns in Shrub Thicket Dynamics in the Virginia Barrier Complex

    Donald R. Young;John H. Porter;Charles M. Bachmann;Guofan Shao

  • Linking Leaf Chlorophyll Fluorescence Properties to Physiological Responses for Stress Detection in Coastal Plant Species

    Julie C Naumann;Donald R Young;John E Anderson

Frequent Co-Authors

William K. Smith
William K. Smith Wake Forest University
Guofan Shao
Guofan Shao Purdue University West Lafayette
Alan K. Knapp
Alan K. Knapp Colorado State University
Paolo D'Odorico
Paolo D'Odorico University of California, Berkeley
R. E. Koske
R. E. Koske University of Rhode Island
Park S. Nobel
Park S. Nobel University of California, Los Angeles
Patrizia Trifilò
Patrizia Trifilò University of Messina
Elise Pendall
Elise Pendall Western Sydney University
Brent E. Ewers
Brent E. Ewers University of Wyoming
M. A. Lo Gullo
M. A. Lo Gullo University of Messina

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

For those interested in Environmental Sciences, exploring related online degrees can broaden career options and enhance expertise. Many students seek programs that balance quality with manageable workloads, which is why some consider the what's the easiest bachelor's degree to get to find suitable paths that align with their strengths and interests.

Online geology programs offer in-depth understanding of Earth's processes and resources. These degrees often provide flexibility and practical knowledge relevant to environmental consulting, resource management, and land use planning. Exploring the online geology programs helps prospective students identify accredited options that fit their career goals.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) skills are increasingly vital in environmental fields for mapping and spatial analysis. Pursuing top-ranked programs can sharpen these technical abilities. Check out the best GIS undergraduate programs to find courses that combine theory with hands-on training.

For professionals aiming to blend environmental knowledge with public policy and administration, accelerated options like 1 year MPA programs are worth considering. These programs provide leadership skills applicable to government agencies, nonprofits, and environmental organizations. Learn more about streamlined curricula at the 1 year MPA programs page.

Best Scientists Citing Donald R. Young

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles