About

Dr. Diane E. Pataki is a global change ecologist and sustainability scientist appointed as a Foundation Professor in the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University (ASU). She has led several projects and initiatives focused on collaborative partnerships for co-designing innovative solutions to local, regional, and global sustainability challenges. She was the founding co-director of the Sustainability Innovation Science & Technology Center and led a successful proposal for the three-state Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine (SWSIE), supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation. Dr. Pataki has previously served as the Director of the School of Sustainability in the College of Global Futures at ASU and held positions at the University of Utah, including Associate Vice President for Research and Professor in the School of Biological Sciences, with an adjunct appointment in the Department of City & Metropolitan Planning. Prior to 2012, she was on the faculty of the University of California, Irvine, where she was the founding Director of the UC Irvine Center for Environmental Biology and the Steele Burnand Anza Borrego Desert Research Center. Her research spans the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, coupled human-natural processes related to urban greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption, and the role of nature, greenspace, and forestry in urban sustainability. She has authored or co-authored more than 140 papers on various topics including carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles, urban biodiversity, forestry, ecohydrology, and socioecology. Dr. Pataki is a Fulbright Global Scholar, a James B. Macelwane Medalist, a Leopold Leadership Fellow, and an elected Fellow of the American Geophysical Union, the Ecological Society of America, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Her educational background includes a B.A. in environmental science from Barnard College, and an M.S. and Ph.D. from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.

Research topics

• Environmental science
• Ecology
• Geography
• Environmental resource management
• Environmental planning
• Computer Science
• Geology
• Development economics
• Biology
• Natural resource economics
• Economics
• Climatology
• Oceanography
• Geomorphology
• Agroforestry
• Physical geography
• Forestry
• Earth science
• Economic growth
• Business

Selected publications

• Data from: The radiocarbon composition of tree rings as a tracer of local fossil fuel emissions in the Los Angeles basin: 1980–2008

  DRYAD · 2026-02-03

  datasetOpen access

  Quantifying local fossil fuel CO2 emissions in urban areas is challenging due to the heterogeneity in emissions and in atmospheric mixing ratios of CO2. Measurements of the radiocarbon content of urban tree rings are an alternative to large networks of CO2monitoring stations. In this study, we calculated 3-year averages of CO2 mixing ratios from fossil fuel combustion from 1980 to 2008 using tree rings sampled at six sites within the Los Angeles basin and adjacent mountains. We observed CO2 mixing ratios from fossil fuel combustion of up to 23 μmol·mol−1 in the inland basin and ∼5–10 μmol·mol−1at coastal sites. Although we expected to see increasing trends of fossil fuel-derived CO2over time, not all sites showed a significant increase. Analysis of correlations between fossil fuel-derived CO2and socioeconomic variables revealed that fossil fuel-derived CO2 followed trends in census tract and/or city population or in vehicle statistics at most sites. We also calculated CO/CO2combustion ratios from tree ring radiocarbon and nearby measurements of atmospheric CO mixing ratios. We observed widespread declines in the combustion ratio that support increases in the efficiency of the automobile fleet over the past few decades. This study demonstrates the utility of tree ring radiocarbon measurements for quantifying temporal and spatial patterns in fossil fuel-derived CO2 emissions in urban areas.

  PublisherDOI

• Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Cities Is Not Consistent Among Cosmopolitan Plant Species

  Molecular Ecology · 2026-02-01

  articleOpen access

  Urbanisation has led to increasing homogenization of plant communities across cities. However, it is unclear whether these patterns extend to cosmopolitan plant species at the genetic level. We examined genome-wide genetic patterns in six widespread plant species (three Poaceae and three Asteraceae) across five cities in the USA (Boston, Baltimore, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Phoenix, and Los Angeles) using reduced-representation sequencing. We assessed genetic structure, differentiation, and patterns of isolation by distance (IBD) and environment (IBE) to determine if species were genetically homogeneous or differentiated by city, percentage of impervious surface, or both. Most species exhibited limited population structure overall, with Poa annua (annual bluegrass), Taraxacum officinale (dandelion), and Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) showing no significant genetic differentiation among cities, a pattern consistent with high gene flow mediated by human activity. Notable exceptions included city-level differences in Erigeron canadensis (horseweed) and Lactuca serriola (prickly lettuce), especially in Phoenix. We also observed low genetic diversity in Digitaria sanguinalis (crabgrass) from Phoenix, suggesting recent founder effects or selection via environmental filtering. Erigeron canadensis, the only native species studied, displayed stronger differentiation by city, along with significant isolation by temperature and distance. Among all species, we found no evidence for population structure by impervious surface. Our findings indicate that widespread population genetic structure patterns of cosmopolitan plants are likely to depend more on species attributes (e.g., self-compatibility) and human-mediated dispersal than on urbanisation per se.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Urban forests as essential infrastructure for climate resilience and biodiversity: A call to policymakers

  Plants People Planet · 2025-11-06 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  By 2050, nearly 70% of the global population will live in cities (UN, 2018), increasing the demand for urban green spaces. Urban areas are facing increasing risks from climate change, including heatwaves, flooding, wildfires, and growing social inequality, which challenges urban planning and design. Urban forests form the backbone of green infrastructure supporting resilient, equitable, and sustainable cities. Importantly, their cost-effective benefits advance sustainable development, climate action, and biodiversity conservation. Urban forests include all woody and understorey vegetation within and around dense settlements, from cultivated trees in streets, parks, and gardens to self-sustaining stands in remnant and peri-urban woodlands (FAO, 2016). As essential nature-based solutions (Cohen-Shacham et al., 2016), urban forests provide multiple ecosystem services. They help cool urban temperatures, reduce air pollution, enhance soil infiltration, slow stormwater runoff, buffer extreme weather, and support human health (Livesley et al., 2016). They contribute significantly to climate adaptation and moderately to mitigation by reducing the energy demand for cooling (McPhearson et al., 2023). Urban forests also enhance biodiversity by providing habitats and climate refugia at multiple scales (Alvey, 2006). Trade-offs in urban forest benefits, costs, and the impacts of policy interventions, such as those related to measurement, outcomes, or implementation, remain complex (Vogt et al., 2015), but the loss of canopy reduces air quality, biodiversity, and resilience to floods, droughts, pests, and extreme heat (Nowak, 2018). Canopy loss impairs recreation and impacts physical and mental health (Carrus et al., 2015). Because urban forests are inherently dynamic systems, the death or removal of large and mature trees should be anticipated through proactive planning for their replacement, including careful consideration of which species are selected and why. Unequal access drives social-environmental injustice and health inequities, which can be addressed through greenspace expansion, equitable distribution, and better management (Esperon-Rodriguez et al., 2025). Urban forests are increasingly at risk due to significant stewardship gaps. Despite the existence of international management standards, ongoing tree losses result from pests introduced through trade, climate and pollution stress, inadequate legal protections, rapid urban densification, and insufficient maintenance (Esperon-Rodriguez et al., 2022; Paap et al., 2017; Vogt et al., 2015). Planting alone cannot offset accelerated mature tree losses or replace the vital functions these trees provide over their shortened lifespans in urban environments. Closing the stewardship gap demands urgent investment, robust funding, and stronger policy to sustain diverse and resilient urban forests. Urban forests are among the most effective, equitable nature-based solutions available. When protected and resourced, they cool neighborhoods, manage stormwater, store carbon, support biodiversity, and improve health, especially in underserved communities. Yet mature tree loss outpaces replacement amid increasing climate and biological stresses. We urge COP30 policymakers to treat urban forests as essential and critical city infrastructure: safeguard mature trees, set and finance SMART canopy, diversity and access targets, mainstream urban forests in climate and biodiversity plans, and fund long-term operations, monitoring, nursery capacity, and biosecurity. Implementing this visionary action delivers cooler, healthier, more biodiverse, and more equitable cities now and for future generations. MER and MGT led the initiative and drafted the letter. All authors provided feedback, edited, and agreed with the content of the letter. All authors, except MER and MGT, are listed alphabetically. MER received funding from Western Sydney University's Research Theme Program. KDP was supported by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, grant 12A0L25N). RMM was supported by a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (project DE200100649), funded by the Australian Research Council of the Australian Government. JCS received funding from the Danish National Research Foundation (grant DNRF173) and EARTHKEEPER (Global South Biodiversity Leadership Initiative). CS's contribution was funded by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (grant no 84379). We declare no conflict of interest. There are no data associated with the article.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Evapotranspiration and Irrigation of Residential Turfgrass Lawns in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Tallahassee

  HydroShare Resources · 2025-08-24

  datasetOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Irrigation rates and turfgrass evapotranspiration in cities with contrasting water availability

  JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association · 2024-10-31 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Abstract As water scarcity is worsened by drought and climate change, there is more interest in efficient management of urban irrigation, requiring understanding of the drivers of evapotranspiration (ET) and the role of irrigation inputs. We developed and validated a method to accurately measure ET of turfgrass lawns in contrasting climates using portable static chambers. We made in situ measurements of ET and irrigation inputs in lawns across three metropolitan areas in the United States with varying climatic conditions, water availability, and water conservation policies: Salt Lake Valley, Utah; San Fernando Valley, California; and Tallahassee, Florida. In full sun, mean daily ET estimates (ET sun ) were 0.7 ± 0.4 mm day −1 in Tallahassee, 1.6 ± 0.8 mm day −1 in Los Angeles, and 3.3 ± 1.1 mm day −1 in Salt Lake Valley. In the shade, daily ET estimates (ET shade ) were two to three times lower. In all three regions, ET was primarily driven by solar radiation ( I 0 ) and atmospheric vapor pressure deficit ( D ). Across the cities, irrigation rates were a key driver of ET, along with I 0 and D . Daily irrigation ranged from 0 mm day −1 in Tallahassee (most were unirrigated) to 1.9 ± 1.2 mm day −1 in Los Angeles and 5.1 ± 2.9 mm day −1 in Salt Lake Valley. ET increased linearly with irrigation up to ~3 mm day −1 , after which ET remained relatively constant despite irrigation increases. Our results highlight the importance of accounting for nonlinear responses and shading effects on ET in developing accurate irrigation recommendations.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The influence of climate and management on transpiration of residential trees during a bark beetle infestation

  Ecosphere · 2024-05-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Trees in residential environments are affected by a unique combination of environmental and anthropogenic factors, including occasional insect outbreaks that are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change. We studied loblolly pine trees infested by bark beetles in a residential backyard in a southeastern US city. We investigated the responses of tree and stand‐level transpiration to environmental factors (solar radiation, atmospheric vapor pressure deficit, and soil moisture), severe weather events (strong winds and heavy storms), bark beetle infestation, and human actions (insecticide treatments and tree removals). We used constant heat dissipation probes to make continuous sap flux measurements ( J 0 ) in tree boles. Over 22 months of the study, J 0 of trees with confirmed infestation decreased from ~90 to ~60 g cm −2 day −1 and J 0 of the rest of the trees increased from ~60 to ~80 g cm −2 day −1 . One infested tree died, as its J 0 steadily declined from 110 g cm −2 day −1 to zero over the course of 2 months, followed by a loss of foliage and visible signs of severe infestation 6 months later. J 0 was sensitive to variations in incoming solar radiation and atmospheric vapor pressure deficit. In most trees, J 0 linearly responded to soil water content during drought periods. Yet despite complex dynamics of J 0 variations, plot‐level transpiration at the end of the study was the same as at the beginning due to compensatory increases in tree transpiration rates. This study highlights the intrinsic interplay of environmental, biotic, and anthropogenic factors in residential environments where human actions may directly mediate ecosystem responses to climate.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Sapflux and transpiration of residential loblolly pine trees in Tallahassee, FL

  HydroShare Resources · 2023-09-28 · 1 citations

  datasetOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Evapotranspiration of Residential Lawns Across the United States

  Water Resources Research · 2023-05-31 · 11 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Despite interest in the contribution of evapotranspiration (ET) of residential turfgrass lawns to household and municipal water budgets across the United States, the spatial and temporal variability of residential lawn ET across large scales is highly uncertain. We measured instantaneous ET (ET inst ) of lawns in 79 residential yards in six metropolitan areas: Baltimore, Boston, Miami, Minneapolis‐St. Paul (mesic climates), Los Angeles and Phoenix (arid climates). Each yard had one of four landscape types and management practices: traditional lawn‐dominated yards with high or low fertilizer input, yards with water‐conserving features, and yards with wildlife‐friendly features. We measured ET inst in situ during the growing season using portable chambers and identified environmental and anthropogenic factors controlling ET in residential lawns. For each household, we used ET inst to estimate daily ET of the lawn (ET daily ) and multiplied ET daily by the lawn area to estimate the total volume of water lost through ET of the lawn (ET vol ). ET daily varied from 0.9 ± 0.4 mm d 1 in mesic cities to 2.9 ± 0.7 mm d −1 in arid cities. Neither ET inst nor ET daily was significantly influenced by yard landscape types and ET inst patterns indicated that lawns may be largely decoupled from regional rain‐driven climate patterns. ET vol ranged from ∼0 L d −1 to over 2,000 L d −1 , proportionally increasing with lawn area. Current irrigation and lawn management practices did not necessarily result in different ET inst or ET daily among traditional, water‐conserving, or wildlife‐friendly yards, but smaller lawn areas in water‐conserving and wildlife‐friendly yards resulted in lower ET vol .

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Integration of urban science and urban climate adaptation research: opportunities to advance climate action

  npj Urban Sustainability · 2023-06-10 · 59 citations

  reviewOpen access

  There is a growing recognition that responding to climate change necessitates urban adaptation. We sketch a transdisciplinary research effort, arguing that actionable research on urban adaptation needs to recognize the nature of cities as social networks embedded in physical space. Given the pace, scale and socioeconomic outcomes of urbanization in the Global South, the specificities and history of its cities must be central to the study of how well-known agglomeration effects can facilitate adaptation. The proposed effort calls for the co-creation of knowledge involving scientists and stakeholders, especially those historically excluded from the design and implementation of urban development policies.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Duke Forest FACE (FACTS-I): Plant and Soil Response Data

  OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) · 2023-01-01 · 1 citations

  datasetOpen access

  This dataset describing the responses of plant and soil pools and fluxes to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration and increased nitrogen supply was collected from Duke Forest Free Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) – Forest-Atmosphere Carbon Transfer and Storage (FACTS-I) experiment from 1996 to 2012. The dataset includes data files for allometry (diameter at breast height, tree height, and height to live crown base), leaf area index, biomass (stem, branch, foliage, and root biomass, tree density, and basal area), net primary productivity (stem, branch, foliage, reproductive, and coarse root NPP), sap flux density, soil CO2 efflux, and stem temperature. Data files were formatted as .csv (Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet programs can be used to read the format) and file descriptions, including variable name, unit, and data range, can be found in ‘FileDescription_[data_name].txt’ files. The Duke FACE experiment was in a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation established in 1983. Naturally regenerated broadleaved species including sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) and tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.), mostly in the overstory, and winged elm (Ulmus alata Michx.) and red maple (Acer rubrum L.) were common in the understory. The FACE experiment commenced with two plots (plots 7-8) in 1994 (Oren et al. 2001), with six additional plots (plots 1-6) coming online on 27 August 1996. CO2 enrichment was terminated on 31 October 2010 and post-enrichment data collection continued through 2012. Complete fertilization was applied annually to half of plots 7-8 from 1998 to 2004. The nutrient addition experiment expanded to half of plots 1-6 with a common protocol of N-fertilization in 2005 and continued until 2012. The levels of treatment in this dataset were expressed as ambient CO2 (AMB) or elevated CO2 (ELE) for CO2 treatment and control soil (CONT) or fertilized soil (FERT) for N treatment, respectively.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Mechanisms for the decline of leaf hydraulic conductance with dehydration, and plant and environment level impacts

  NSF · $199k · 2012–2016

• Collaborative Research: Toward a Biogeography of Urban Forests

  NSF · $204k · 2009–2013

• COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Mechanisms for the decline of leaf hydraulic conductance with dehydration, and plant and environment level impacts

  NSF · $97k · 2012–2013

• Collaborative Proposal: MSB-FRA: Alternative Ecological Futures for the American Residential Macrosystem

  NSF · $400k · 2017–2023

• The Spatial Distribution of Isotopic Tracers in Urban Organic Matter: Understanding Multiple and Confounding Effects of Human Activities on Urban Vegetation

  NSF · $300k · 2006–2010

Frequent coauthors

• Peter M. Groffman

  The Graduate Center, CUNY

  49 shared

• Stéphanie Pincetl

  University of California, Los Angeles

  26 shared

• James R. Ehleringer

  University of Utah

  26 shared

• Kristen C. Nelson

  Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

  25 shared

• Elizaveta Litvak

  Arizona State University

  24 shared

• J. Morgan Grove

  23 shared

• Heather R. McCarthy

  University of Oklahoma

  22 shared

• Sharon J. Hall

  Arizona State University

  22 shared

Education

• Ph.D.

  Duke University

  1998

• M.S.

  Duke University

  1995

• B.A.

  Barnard College

  1993

Awards & honors

• Fulbright Global Scholar
• James B. Macelwane Medalist
• Leopold Leadership Fellow
• Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU)
• Fellow of the Ecological Society of America (ESA)