Amanda Northrop

Dr. Amanda Northrop is a community ecologist with expertise in meta-omics and bioinformatics, focusing on how microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems respond to detrital enrichment. She uses the microecosystem found within the leaves of the carnivorous pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea, as a model system to study changes in ecosystem dynamics due to nutrient and detritus enrichment. Her research combines field and greenhouse experiments with metaproteomics, metagenomics, and bioinformatics to investigate both the structure and function of microbial communities.

Recently, Dr. Northrop has collaborated with Dr. Lindsey Pett to study the distribution of the pitcher plant moth, Exyra fax, in Vermont. She has also contributed to the establishment of long-term ecological monitoring plots on Paine Mountain. Outside of her academic work, Dr. Northrop enjoys camping in Vermont’s woods with her family and rock climbing.

Ph.D. Biology, University of Vermont
B.A. Zoology, University of Vermont 
B.A. Professional Writing, Champlain College

BI 122 Concepts in Biology 
BI 101 Principles of Biology w/Lab
BI 102 Principles of Biology Laboratory
BI 226 Cell Biology Laboratory
BI 220 Microbiology Laboratory

Northrop, A. C.,V. Avalone, A.M. Ellison, B.A. Ballif, N.J. Gotelli. 2020. Clockwise and counterclockwise hysteresis characterize state changes in the same aquatic ecosystem. Ecology Letters, 24, 94-101.

Lau, M. & Baiser, B. & Northrop, A. & Gotelli, N. & Ellison, A. 2018. Regime shifts and hysteresis in the pitcher-plant microecosystem. Ecological Monitoring, 382, 1-8.

Northrop, A. C., R. K. Brooks, A. M. Ellison, N. J. Gotelli, and B. A. Ballif. 2017. Environmental proteomics reveals taxonomic and functional changes in an enriched aquatic ecosystem. Ecosphere, 8(10):e01954.