The movement of energy and matter within and among ecosystems controls how these systems function and the services they provide. This area of concentration investigates the mechanisms controlling ecosystem behavior from a micro to a macro scale, including the impacts of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases.

Members of FES are studying the complexities of terrestrial ecosystems and the interactions between ecosystems and the atmosphere. One challenge is to quantify changes in biogeochemical cycles and forest characteristics, diagnose the causes of change, and develop predictions of how human activities may affect the global environment in the future. This involves understanding biogeochemical cycles from the scale of decomposing logs to the role of clouds in the ecological structure and function of forests.