Katya Kovalenko Ph.D.

Head and shoulder picture of a woman.
Professional Title
Research Associate

Research Interests

  • bioindicators of watershed-level stress
  • community thresholds and functional changes in response to anthropogenic stress
  • habitat complexity, its role in food web structure and community dynamics
  • reclamation of oil sands wetlands, with focus on ecosystem function
  • food web structure and carbon dynamics in wetland ecosystems
  • alternative stable states and non-linear dynamics, nutrient pulses
  • community and ecosystem effects of invasive species

Education

  • Postdoctoral, Ecology, University of Windsor, 2009-2013
  • Ph.D., Ecology, Mississippi State University, 2009
  • M.S., Fisheries/Statistics, Mississippi State University, 2001

Recent Publications

Widespread retreat of coastal habitat is likely at warming levels above 1.5 °C

Recent Publications: Ekaterina Kovalenko
2 weeks 5 days ago
Widespread retreat of coastal habitat is likely at warming levels above 1.5 °CSaintilan, N., Horton, B., Törnqvist, T. E., Ashe, E. L., Khan, N. S., Schuerch, M., Perry, C., Kopp, R. E., Garner, G. G., Murray, N., Rogers, K., Albert, S., Kelleway, J., Shaw, T. A., Woodroffe, C. D., Lovelock, C. E., Goddard, M. M., Hutley, L. B., Kovalenko, K., Feher, L., & 1 othersGuntenspergen, G., Sep 7 2023, In: Nature. 621, 7977, p. 112-119 8 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Walleye and yellow perch resource use in large lakes invaded by spiny water fleas and zebra mussels

Recent Publications: Ekaterina Kovalenko
3 weeks 4 days ago
Walleye and yellow perch resource use in large lakes invaded by spiny water fleas and zebra musselsBethke, B. J., Rantala, H. M., Ahrenstorff, T. D., Kelly, H. A. W., Kovalenko, K. E., Maki, R. P., Hirsch, J. K., Dumke, J. D., Brady, V. J., LeDuc, J. F. & Hansen, G. J. A., Sep 2023, In: Aquatic Ecology. 57, 3, p. 571-584 14 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Featured Research Projects

Screenshot of the ForCast tool including data layer overlay in Northern Minnesota, and bar chart analysis of data

ForCAST: Forest Change Assessment and Simulation Tool

The ForCAST tool attempts to provide forestry professionals and land managers with an opportunity to evaluate how a changing climate and changing markets might affect Minnesota’s forests and

Great Lakes Risk Map

A risk-based classification and map of watersheds contributing anthropogenic stress to Great Lakes coastal ecosystems.

Predicting Beaver Dam Locations on North Shore Streams

The goal of this project was to develop a model that predicts potential beaver dam locations based on stream channel, watershed and habitat characteristics.

Restorable Wetland Prioritization Tool

Helping decision-makers prioritize where to restore and protect wetlands in Minnesota.

NRRI News Articles

Head and shoulders image of a woman with large tree behind her.
February 25, 2021

Meet the Researcher - Katya Kovalenko

Scientists love their data. But tracking and sorting the ever-increasing amounts of data can be a time consuming effort. Enter the data wrangler.

Media Coverage