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{{Orphan|date=March 2012}}

{{Infobox scientist
{{Infobox scientist
| image = William_Ripple_Iron_Moutain.jpg
| image = William_Ripple_Iron_Moutain.jpg
| caption = William Ripple in 2010.
| caption = William Ripple in 2010.
| name = William J. Ripple
| name = William J. Ripple
⚫
| nationality = [[United States|American]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|3|10|df=y}}
| residence = [[United States]]
| field = [[Ecology]]
⚫
| nationality = [[United States|American]]
| field = [[Ecology]]
| work_institution = [[Oregon State University]]
| work_institution = [[Oregon State University]]
| alma_mater = [[South Dakota State University]], <br >[[University of Idaho]] College of Mines and Earth Resources, <br>[[Oregon State University]]
| alma_mater = [[South Dakota State University]], <br>[[University of Idaho]] College of Mines and Earth Resources, <br>[[Oregon State University]]
| known_for = Research of landscape-level trophic interactions involving apex predators and large herbivores
| known_for = Research of landscape-level trophic interactions involving apex predators and large herbivores
| website = [http://www.cof.orst.edu/cascades/ Trophic Cascades Program]
| website = [http://www.cof.orst.edu/cascades/ Trophic Cascades Program]
}}
}}

'''William J. Ripple''' is a Distinguished Professor of Ecology at [[Oregon State University]] in the Department of [[Forest ecology|Forest Ecosystems]] and Society. He is a widely published researcher and a prominent figure in the field of ecology. He is best known for his research on terrestrial [[trophic cascade]]s, particularly the role of the [[gray wolf]] (''Canis lupus'') in North America as an [[apex predator]] and a [[keystone species]] that shapes [[food webs]] and [[landscape]] structures via “top-down” pressures.
'''William J. Ripple''' is a professor of ecology at [[Oregon State University]] in the Department of [[forest ecology|Forest Ecosystems]] and Society. He is best known for his research on terrestrial [[trophic cascade]]s, particularly the role of the [[gray wolf]] (''Canis lupus'') in North America as an [[apex predator]] and a [[keystone species]] that shapes [[food webs]] and [[landscape]] structures via “top-down” pressures.


Ripple heads the Trophic Cascades Program at Oregon State University, which carries out several research initiatives such as the Aspen Project, the Wolves in Nature Project, and the Range Contractions Project.<ref name=rippfacul /><ref>{{cite web|title=Oregon State University Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society|work=Trophic Cascades Program|url=http://www.cof.orst.edu/cascades|accessdate=9 March 2012}}</ref> He has a Ph.D. from Oregon State University<ref name=rippfacul>{{cite web|work=Oregon State University Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society. Faculty|title=Ripple, William J.|url=http://fes.forestry.oregonstate.edu/faculty/ripple-william-j|publisher=Oregon State University|accessdate=9 March 2012}}</ref>
Ripple heads the Trophic Cascades Program at Oregon State University, which carries out several research initiatives such as the Aspen Project, the Wolves in Nature Project, and the Range Contractions Project.<ref name=rippfacul /><ref>{{cite web|title=Oregon State University Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society|work=Trophic Cascades Program|url=http://www.cof.orst.edu/cascades|accessdate=9 March 2012}}</ref> He has a Ph.D. from Oregon State University<ref name=rippfacul>{{cite web|work=Oregon State University Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society. Faculty|title=Ripple, William J.|url=http://fes.forestry.oregonstate.edu/faculty/ripple-william-j|publisher=Oregon State University|accessdate=9 March 2012}}</ref>

Ripple was the lead author on the "[[World Scientists' Warning to Humanity|Global Scientists' Warning to Humanity: A second Notice]]", published on November 13, 2017.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ripple |first1=William J. |last2=Wolf |first2=Christopher |last3=Newsome |first3=Thomas M. |last4=Galetti |first4=Mauro |last5=Alamgir |first5=Mohammed |last6=Crist |first6=Eileen |last7=Mahmoud |first7=Mahmoud I. |last8=Laurance |first8=William F. |title=World Scientists' Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice |journal=BioScience |date=1 December 2017 |volume=67 |issue=12 |pages=1026–1028 |doi=10.1093/biosci/bix125 |doi-access=free |hdl=11336/71342 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> This article includes 15,364 scientist co-signatories from 184 countries. The article suggests "To prevent widespread misery and catastrophic [[biodiversity loss]], humanity must practice a more environmentally sustainable alternative to business as usual." In 2020, Ripple led The World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ripple |first1=William J |last2=Wolf |first2=Christopher |last3=Newsome |first3=Thomas M |last4=Barnard |first4=Phoebe |last5=Moomaw |first5=William R |title=World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency |journal=BioScience |date=1 January 2020 |volume=70 |issue=1 |pages=100 |doi=10.1093/biosci/biz088 |doi-access=free |hdl=2445/151800 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> declaring with more than 11,000 scientist co-signatories from 153 countries that "Planet Earth is facing a climate emergency" and presenting six steps for avoiding the worst effects of climate change. Subsequently, Ripple has led an annual "World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency" series of reports.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ripple |first1=William J |last2=Wolf |first2=Christopher |last3=Newsome |first3=Thomas M |last4=Gregg |first4=Jillian W |last5=Lenton |first5=Timothy M |last6=Palomo |first6=Ignacio |last7=Eikelbloom |first7=Jasper A |last8=Law |first8=Beverly E |last9=Huq |first9=Saleemul |last10=Duffy |first10=Philip B |last11=Rockström |first11=Johan |title=World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency 2021 |journal=BioScience |date=28 July 2021 |volume=71 |issue=9 |pages=894–898 |doi=10.1093/biosci/biab079 |url=https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/71/9/894/6325731 |access-date=18 April 2023|hdl=10871/126814 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ripple |first1=William J |last2=Wolf |first2=Christopher |last3=Gregg |first3=Jillian W |last4=Levin |first4=Kelly |last5=Rockström |first5=Johan |last6=Newsome |first6=Thomas M |last7=Betts |first7=Matthew G |last8=Huq |first8=Saleemul |last9=Law |first9=Beverly E |last10=Kemp |first10=Luke |last11=Kalmus |first11=Peter |last12=Lenton |first12=Timothy |date=22 October 2022 |title=World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency 2022 |url=https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/72/12/1149/6764747 |journal=BioScience |volume=72 |issue=12 |pages=1149–1155 |doi=10.1093/biosci/biac083 |access-date=18 April 2023 |hdl-access=free |hdl=1808/30278}}</ref>

In addition to being a [[Highly Cited Researcher]],<ref>Highly Cited Researchers. 2020. https://recognition.webofscience.com/awards/highly-cited/2020/</ref> Ripple is the director of the Alliance of World Scientists, an independent organization with more than 25,000 scientist members that acts as a "collective international voice of many scientists regarding global climate and environmental trends."<ref>Alliance of World Scientists. 2020. https://scientistswarning.forestry.oregonstate.edu/</ref>

Ripple's work on environmental issues was highlighted in [http://scientistswarningfilm.org The Scientists' Warning]{{mdash}}a documentary film about a researcher who started a movement to encourage scientists to help turn scientific knowledge into action.<ref>The Scientists' Warning. 2022. http://scientistswarningfilm.org</ref>


==Research==
==Research==
William Ripple is the author of more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles, most of which deal with trophic cascades.<ref>Oregon State University Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society. Trophic Cascades Program. Scientific Articles. Retrieved 14 April 2014. http://www.cof.orst.edu/cascades/articles.php</ref>
William Ripple is the author of more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles, most of which deal with trophic cascades.<ref>Oregon State University Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society. Trophic Cascades Program. Scientific Articles. Retrieved 14 April 2014. http://www.cof.orst.edu/cascades/articles.php</ref>


Ripple, along with his frequent coauthor, Robert Beschta, have studied, published, and publicized the positive impact that gray wolves have had on the [[Yellowstone National Park]] ecosystem since their [[Wolf reintroduction|reintroduction]] in 1995 and 1996.<ref>Ripple, W.J., Beschta, R.L., 2012. Trophic cascades in Yellowstone: The first 15 years after wolf reintroduction. Biological Conservation 145, 205–213.</ref> &nbsp;These studies were featured in [[National Geographic Magazine]],<ref>Chadwick, D. March, 2010. Wolf Wars. National Geographic Magazine. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/03/wolf-wars/chadwick-text</ref> [[Discover Magazine]],<ref>Smith, J. F., Coffey, R., Fang, J. May, 2010. DESTINATION SCIENCE: YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, USA. Discover Magazine. http://discovermagazine.com/2010/apr/11-destination-science-best-adventures-museums-nightspots.</ref> [[Smithsonian Magazine]],<ref>Jaffe, E. December, 2006. It All Falls Down: A plummeting cougar population alters the ecosystem at Zion National Park. Smithsonian Magazine. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/cougar.html#</ref> and [[Scientific American]].<ref>Robbins, J. May, 2004. Lessons from the Wolf. Scientific American. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=lessons-from-the-wolf</ref> &nbsp;Their research was also featured in the William Stolzenburg book, ''Where the Wild Things Were: Life, Death, and Ecological Wreckage in a Land of Vanishing Predators'',<ref>Stolzenburg, William. 2008. Where the Wild Things Were: Life, Death, and Ecological Wreckage in a Land of Vanishing Predators. Bloomsbury USA, New York.</ref> and the documentary film ''Lords of Nature: Living in a Land of Great Predators''.<ref>Lords of Nature: Life in a Land of Great Predators. 2009. http://lordsofnature.org/</ref>
Ripple, along with his frequent coauthor, Robert Beschta, have studied, published, and publicized the positive impact that gray wolves have had on the [[Yellowstone National Park]] ecosystem since their [[Wolf reintroduction|reintroduction]] in 1995 and 1996.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ripple |first1=William J. |last2=Beschta |first2=Robert L. |title=Trophic cascades in Yellowstone: The first 15years after wolf reintroduction |journal=Biological Conservation |date=1 January 2012 |volume=145 |issue=1 |pages=205–213 |doi=10.1016/j.biocon.2011.11.005 }}</ref> &nbsp;These studies were featured in ''[[National Geographic Magazine]]'',<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100220155654/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/03/wolf-wars/chadwick-text Chadwick, D. March, 2010. Wolf Wars. National Geographic Magazine]</ref> ''[[Discover Magazine]]'',<ref>Smith, J. F., Coffey, R., Fang, J. May, 2010. DESTINATION SCIENCE: YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, USA. Discover Magazine. http://discovermagazine.com/2010/apr/11-destination-science-best-adventures-museums-nightspots.</ref> ''[[Smithsonian Magazine]]'',<ref>Jaffe, E. December, 2006. It All Falls Down: A plummeting cougar population alters the ecosystem at Zion National Park. Smithsonian Magazine. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/cougar.html#</ref> and ''[[Scientific American]]''.<ref>Robbins, J. May, 2004. Lessons from the Wolf. Scientific American. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=lessons-from-the-wolf</ref> &nbsp;Their research was also featured in the William Stolzenburg book, ''Where the Wild Things Were: Life, Death, and Ecological Wreckage in a Land of Vanishing Predators'',<ref>Stolzenburg, William. 2008. Where the Wild Things Were: Life, Death, and Ecological Wreckage in a Land of Vanishing Predators. Bloomsbury USA, New York.</ref> and the documentary film ''Lords of Nature: Living in a Land of Great Predators''.<ref>Lords of Nature: Life in a Land of Great Predators. 2009. http://lordsofnature.org/</ref>


Ripple’s research carries a large focus on the gray wolf, particularly in the [[Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem]], but has also studied the impact of other large North American predators, such as the [[cougar]] (''Puma concolor'').<ref>Ripple, W. J., Beschta, R.L., 2006. Linking a cougar decline, trophic cascade, and catastrophic regime shift in Zion National Park. Biological Conservation. 133, 397–408.</ref> He has coauthored papers with other scientists in the field of trophic cascades and apex predators,<ref>Estes, J. A., et al., 2011. Trophic Downgrading of Planet Earth. Science. 333, 301-306.</ref> including an exhaustive review of the status and ecological impacts of the worlds 31 largest mammalian carnivores.<ref>Ripple, W.J., et al. 2014. Status and Ecological Effects of the World's Largest Carnivores. Science. 343. https://www.sciencemag.org/content/343/6167/1241484</ref> He led an international team of scientists reviewing the status and ecological effects of the world's largest herbivores.<ref>Ripple, William J., et al. 2015. Collapse of the world's largest herbivores. Science Advances. 1.4, e1400103. http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/1/4/e1400103</ref> Ripple has also applied trophic cascade theory to the subject of the [[Pleistocene extinction|Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions]]. The hypothesis being that North American Pleistocene megafauna existed at low population densities, primarily limited by the apex predators of the time. The arrival of a novel and essentially [[Invasive species|invasive]] top predator (humans) could have driven these predator-limited populations to extinction.<ref>Ripple, W. J. & Valkenburgh, B. V., 2010. Linking Top-down Forces to the Pleistocene Megafaunal Extinctions. BioScience. Vol. 60 No. 7. 516 - 526.</ref>
Ripple's research carries a large focus on the gray wolf, particularly in the [[Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem]], but has also studied the impact of other large North American predators, such as the [[cougar]] (''Puma concolor'').<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ripple |first1=William J. |last2=Beschta |first2=Robert L. |title=Linking a cougar decline, trophic cascade, and catastrophic regime shift in Zion National Park |journal=Biological Conservation |date=1 December 2006 |volume=133 |issue=4 |pages=397–408 |doi=10.1016/j.biocon.2006.07.002 }}</ref> He has coauthored papers with other scientists in the field of trophic cascades and apex predators,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Estes |first1=James A. |last2=Terborgh |first2=John |last3=Brashares |first3=Justin S. |last4=Power |first4=Mary E. |last5=Berger |first5=Joel |last6=Bond |first6=William J. |last7=Carpenter |first7=Stephen R. |last8=Essington |first8=Timothy E. |last9=Holt |first9=Robert D. |last10=Jackson |first10=Jeremy B. C. |last11=Marquis |first11=Robert J. |last12=Oksanen |first12=Lauri |last13=Oksanen |first13=Tarja |last14=Paine |first14=Robert T. |last15=Pikitch |first15=Ellen K. |last16=Ripple |first16=William J. |last17=Sandin |first17=Stuart A. |last18=Scheffer |first18=Marten |last19=Schoener |first19=Thomas W. |last20=Shurin |first20=Jonathan B. |last21=Sinclair |first21=Anthony R. E. |last22=Soulé |first22=Michael E. |last23=Virtanen |first23=Risto |last24=Wardle |first24=David A. |title=Trophic Downgrading of Planet Earth |journal=Science |date=15 July 2011 |volume=333 |issue=6040 |pages=301–306 |doi=10.1126/science.1205106 |pmid=21764740 |bibcode=2011Sci...333..301E |s2cid=7752940 |citeseerx=10.1.1.679.5347 }}</ref> including an exhaustive review of the status and ecological impacts of the world's 31 largest mammalian carnivores.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ripple |first1=William J. |last2=Estes |first2=James A. |last3=Beschta |first3=Robert L. |last4=Wilmers |first4=Christopher C. |last5=Ritchie |first5=Euan G. |last6=Hebblewhite |first6=Mark |last7=Berger |first7=Joel |last8=Elmhagen |first8=Bodil |last9=Letnic |first9=Mike |last10=Nelson |first10=Michael P. |last11=Schmitz |first11=Oswald J. |last12=Smith |first12=Douglas W. |last13=Wallach |first13=Arian D. |last14=Wirsing |first14=Aaron J. |title=Status and Ecological Effects of the World's Largest Carnivores |journal=Science |date=10 January 2014 |volume=343 |issue=6167 |doi=10.1126/science.1241484 |pmid=24408439 |s2cid=206550298 |citeseerx=10.1.1.657.9004 }}</ref> He led an international team of scientists reviewing the status and ecological effects of the world's largest herbivores.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ripple |first1=William J. |last2=Newsome |first2=Thomas M. |last3=Wolf |first3=Christopher |last4=Dirzo |first4=Rodolfo |last5=Everatt |first5=Kristoffer T. |last6=Galetti |first6=Mauro |last7=Hayward |first7=Matt W. |last8=Kerley |first8=Graham I. H. |last9=Levi |first9=Taal |last10=Lindsey |first10=Peter A. |last11=Macdonald |first11=David W. |last12=Malhi |first12=Yadvinder |last13=Painter |first13=Luke E. |last14=Sandom |first14=Christopher J. |last15=Terborgh |first15=John |last16=Van Valkenburgh |first16=Blaire |title=Collapse of the world's largest herbivores |journal=Science Advances |date=May 2015 |volume=1 |issue=4 |pages=e1400103 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.1400103|pmc=4640652 |pmid=26601172 |bibcode=2015SciA....1E0103R |s2cid=8085865 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Ripple has also applied trophic cascade theory to the subject of the [[Pleistocene extinction|Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions]]. The hypothesis being that North American Pleistocene megafauna existed at low population densities, primarily limited by the apex predators of the time. The arrival of a novel and essentially [[Invasive species|invasive]] top predator (humans) could have driven these predator-limited populations to extinction.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ripple |first1=William J. |last2=Van Valkenburgh |first2=Blaire |title=Linking Top-down Forces to the Pleistocene Megafaunal Extinctions |journal=BioScience |date=1 August 2010 |volume=60 |issue=7 |pages=516–526 |doi=10.1525/bio.2010.60.7.7 |s2cid=45581293 |url=http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/bitstream/1957/22140/1/bio.2010.60.7.pdf }}</ref>


More recently, William Ripple has participated in publications addressing issues that are not immediately related to the subject of trophic cascades. One such article, published in the journal [[Nature Climate Change]], advocates for reducing the total [[ruminant]] population in global agriculture as a means to combat anthropogenic [[global warming|climate change]]. Because [[methane]] is an important [[greenhouse gas]], reducing a leading source of human-driven methane emissions such as those from ruminants could have a significant role to play in efforts to mitigate climate change.<ref>Ripple, W.J., et al. 2014. Commentary: Ruminants, climate change and climate policy. Nature Climate Change. 4.http://www.cof.orst.edu/leopold/papers/Ripple_2014_NCC.pdf</ref>
More recently, William Ripple has participated in publications addressing issues that are not immediately related to the subject of trophic cascades. Many of these articles deal with climate change. One such article, published in the journal [[Nature Climate Change]], advocates for reducing the total [[ruminant]] population in global agriculture as a means to combat anthropogenic [[global warming|climate change]]. Because [[methane]] is an important [[greenhouse gas]], reducing a leading source of human-driven methane emissions such as those from ruminants could have a significant role to play in efforts to [[Climate change mitigation|mitigate climate change]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ripple |first1=William J. |last2=Smith |first2=Pete |last3=Haberl |first3=Helmut |last4=Montzka |first4=Stephen A. |last5=McAlpine |first5=Clive |last6=Boucher |first6=Douglas H. |title=Ruminants, climate change and climate policy |journal=Nature Climate Change |date=January 2014 |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=2–5 |doi=10.1038/nclimate2081 |bibcode=2014NatCC...4....2R }}</ref> Ripple also co-authored an assessment of the carbon opportunity cost of animal-sourced food production<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hayek |first1=Matthew N. |last2=Harwatt |first2=Helen |last3=Ripple |first3=William J. |last4=Mueller |first4=Nathaniel D. |title=The carbon opportunity cost of animal-sourced food production on land |journal=Nature Sustainability |date=7 September 2020 |volume=4 |pages=21–24 |doi=10.1038/s41893-020-00603-4 |s2cid=221522148 }}</ref> and a study on the climate mitigation potential of substituting beans for beef.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Harwatt |first1=Helen |last2=Sabaté |first2=Joan |last3=Eshel |first3=Gidon |last4=Soret |first4=Sam |last5=Ripple |first5=William |title=Substituting beans for beef as a contribution toward US climate change targets |journal=Climatic Change |date=July 2017 |volume=143 |issue=1–2 |pages=261–270 |doi=10.1007/s10584-017-1969-1 |bibcode=2017ClCh..143..261H |s2cid=157396865 }}</ref> In 2023, Ripple led a study describing the risks associated with climate feedback loops.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ripple |first1=William J |last2=Wolf |first2=Christopher |last3=Lenton |first3=Timothy M |last4=Gregg |first4=Jillian W |last5=Natali |first5=Susan M |last6=Duffy |first6=Philip B |last7=Rockström |first7=Johan |last8=Schellnhuber |first8=Hans Joachim |title=Many risky feedback loops amplify the need for climate action |journal=One Earth |date=2023 |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=86–91 |doi=10.1016/j.oneear.2023.01.004 |s2cid=257012462 |url=https://www.cell.com/one-earth/fulltext/S2590-3322(23)00004-0 |access-date=18 April 2023|doi-access=free }}</ref>


==Awards and honors==
==Awards and honors==
*2020 - Oregon State University; “Richardson Endowed Chair in Forest Science”.<ref>Endowed Faculty Positions. https://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/deans-office/endowed-faculty-positions-deans-office. Accessed 13-October-2020.</ref>
*2014 - Oregon State University; “2014 Distinguished Professor Award”.<ref>Oregon State University Academic Affairs. OSU selects public health leader, ecologist for Distinguished Professor Awards. http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2014/feb/osu-selects-public-health-leader-ecologist-distinguished-professor-awards. Accessed 16-March-2014.</ref>
*2014 - Oregon State University; “2014 Distinguished Professor Award”.<ref>Oregon State University Academic Affairs. OSU selects public health leader, ecologist for Distinguished Professor Awards. http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2014/feb/osu-selects-public-health-leader-ecologist-distinguished-professor-awards. Accessed 16-March-2014.</ref>
*2011 - Oregon State University; “L.L. Stewart Faculty Scholars Program award”.<ref>Oregon State University Academic Affairs. The L.L. Stewart Faculty Scholars Project Summary - Bill Ripple. http://oregonstate.edu/admin/aa/ll-stewart-faculty-scholars/bill-ripple. Accessed 09-March-2012.</ref>
*2011 - Oregon State University; “L.L. Stewart Faculty Scholars Program award”.<ref>Oregon State University Academic Affairs. The L.L. Stewart Faculty Scholars Project Summary - Bill Ripple. http://oregonstate.edu/admin/aa/ll-stewart-faculty-scholars/bill-ripple. Accessed 09-March-2012.</ref>
Line 33: Line 37:
*2008 - [[High Desert Museum]]; “Earle A. Chiles Award” for his research on trophic cascades and “pioneering new ways of interpreting predator, prey and plant relationships in High Desert ecosystems, and improving ecosystem management.”<ref>High Desert Museum. High Desert Museum Honors Ecologist Dr. William Ripple with Earle A. Chiles Award. http://www.highdesertmuseum.org/.docs/pg/10322. Accessed 09-March-2012.</ref>
*2008 - [[High Desert Museum]]; “Earle A. Chiles Award” for his research on trophic cascades and “pioneering new ways of interpreting predator, prey and plant relationships in High Desert ecosystems, and improving ecosystem management.”<ref>High Desert Museum. High Desert Museum Honors Ecologist Dr. William Ripple with Earle A. Chiles Award. http://www.highdesertmuseum.org/.docs/pg/10322. Accessed 09-March-2012.</ref>
*1996 - [[American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing]] (ASPRS) Fellow.<ref>American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Fellow Award Recipients. http://www.asprs.org/Member-Info/Fellow-Award-Recipients.html. Accessed 09-March-2012.</ref>
*1996 - [[American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing]] (ASPRS) Fellow.<ref>American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Fellow Award Recipients. http://www.asprs.org/Member-Info/Fellow-Award-Recipients.html. Accessed 09-March-2012.</ref>

== Bibliography ==
{{Scholia}}
* {{Cite book |author=William J. Ripple and Nicholas R. Houtman |editor=Extinction Rebellion |editor-link=Extinction Rebellion |title=This Is Not a Drill: An Extinction Rebellion Handbook |publisher=Penguin Books |date=2019 |pages=28–30 |chapter=Chapter 2: Scientists' warnings have been ignored |isbn=9780141991443}}


== References ==
== References ==
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{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Ripple, William J.
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Ecologist
| DATE OF BIRTH = 10 March 1952
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ripple, William J.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ripple, William J.}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:1952 births]]

Latest revision as of 23:33, 30 July 2024

William J. Ripple
William Ripple in 2010.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materSouth Dakota State University,
University of Idaho College of Mines and Earth Resources,
Oregon State University
Known forResearch of landscape-level trophic interactions involving apex predators and large herbivores
Scientific career
FieldsEcology
InstitutionsOregon State University
WebsiteTrophic Cascades Program

William J. Ripple is a professor of ecology at Oregon State University in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society. He is best known for his research on terrestrial trophic cascades, particularly the role of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) in North America as an apex predator and a keystone species that shapes food webs and landscape structures via “top-down” pressures.

Ripple heads the Trophic Cascades Program at Oregon State University, which carries out several research initiatives such as the Aspen Project, the Wolves in Nature Project, and the Range Contractions Project.[1][2] He has a Ph.D. from Oregon State University[1]

Ripple was the lead author on the "Global Scientists' Warning to Humanity: A second Notice", published on November 13, 2017.[3] This article includes 15,364 scientist co-signatories from 184 countries. The article suggests "To prevent widespread misery and catastrophic biodiversity loss, humanity must practice a more environmentally sustainable alternative to business as usual." In 2020, Ripple led The World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency,[4] declaring with more than 11,000 scientist co-signatories from 153 countries that "Planet Earth is facing a climate emergency" and presenting six steps for avoiding the worst effects of climate change. Subsequently, Ripple has led an annual "World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency" series of reports.[5][6]

In addition to being a Highly Cited Researcher,[7] Ripple is the director of the Alliance of World Scientists, an independent organization with more than 25,000 scientist members that acts as a "collective international voice of many scientists regarding global climate and environmental trends."[8]

Ripple's work on environmental issues was highlighted in The Scientists' Warning—a documentary film about a researcher who started a movement to encourage scientists to help turn scientific knowledge into action.[9]

Research

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William Ripple is the author of more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles, most of which deal with trophic cascades.[10]

Ripple, along with his frequent coauthor, Robert Beschta, have studied, published, and publicized the positive impact that gray wolves have had on the Yellowstone National Park ecosystem since their reintroduction in 1995 and 1996.[11]  These studies were featured in National Geographic Magazine,[12] Discover Magazine,[13] Smithsonian Magazine,[14] and Scientific American.[15]  Their research was also featured in the William Stolzenburg book, Where the Wild Things Were: Life, Death, and Ecological Wreckage in a Land of Vanishing Predators,[16] and the documentary film Lords of Nature: Living in a Land of Great Predators.[17]

Ripple's research carries a large focus on the gray wolf, particularly in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, but has also studied the impact of other large North American predators, such as the cougar (Puma concolor).[18] He has coauthored papers with other scientists in the field of trophic cascades and apex predators,[19] including an exhaustive review of the status and ecological impacts of the world's 31 largest mammalian carnivores.[20] He led an international team of scientists reviewing the status and ecological effects of the world's largest herbivores.[21] Ripple has also applied trophic cascade theory to the subject of the Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions. The hypothesis being that North American Pleistocene megafauna existed at low population densities, primarily limited by the apex predators of the time. The arrival of a novel and essentially invasive top predator (humans) could have driven these predator-limited populations to extinction.[22]

More recently, William Ripple has participated in publications addressing issues that are not immediately related to the subject of trophic cascades. Many of these articles deal with climate change. One such article, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, advocates for reducing the total ruminant population in global agriculture as a means to combat anthropogenic climate change. Because methane is an important greenhouse gas, reducing a leading source of human-driven methane emissions such as those from ruminants could have a significant role to play in efforts to mitigate climate change.[23] Ripple also co-authored an assessment of the carbon opportunity cost of animal-sourced food production[24] and a study on the climate mitigation potential of substituting beans for beef.[25] In 2023, Ripple led a study describing the risks associated with climate feedback loops.[26]

Awards and honors

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  • 2020 - Oregon State University; “Richardson Endowed Chair in Forest Science”.[27]
  • 2014 - Oregon State University; “2014 Distinguished Professor Award”.[28]
  • 2011 - Oregon State University; “L.L. Stewart Faculty Scholars Program award”.[29]
  • 2009 - Defenders of Wildlife; “Spirit of Defenders Award for Science”, for his work studying the links between top predators and healthy ecosystems.[30]
  • 2008 - High Desert Museum; “Earle A. Chiles Award” for his research on trophic cascades and “pioneering new ways of interpreting predator, prey and plant relationships in High Desert ecosystems, and improving ecosystem management.”[31]
  • 1996 - American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) Fellow.[32]

Bibliography

[edit]
Scholia has a profile for William J. Ripple (Q8013321).
  • William J. Ripple and Nicholas R. Houtman (2019). "Chapter 2: Scientists' warnings have been ignored". In Extinction Rebellion (ed.). This Is Not a Drill: An Extinction Rebellion Handbook. Penguin Books. pp. 28–30. ISBN 9780141991443.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Ripple, William J." Oregon State University Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society. Faculty. Oregon State University. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Oregon State University Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society". Trophic Cascades Program. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  3. ^ Ripple, William J.; Wolf, Christopher; Newsome, Thomas M.; Galetti, Mauro; Alamgir, Mohammed; Crist, Eileen; Mahmoud, Mahmoud I.; Laurance, William F. (1 December 2017). "World Scientists' Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice". BioScience. 67 (12): 1026–1028. doi:10.1093/biosci/bix125. hdl:11336/71342.
  4. ^ Ripple, William J; Wolf, Christopher; Newsome, Thomas M; Barnard, Phoebe; Moomaw, William R (1 January 2020). "World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency". BioScience. 70 (1): 100. doi:10.1093/biosci/biz088. hdl:2445/151800.
  5. ^ Ripple, William J; Wolf, Christopher; Newsome, Thomas M; Gregg, Jillian W; Lenton, Timothy M; Palomo, Ignacio; Eikelbloom, Jasper A; Law, Beverly E; Huq, Saleemul; Duffy, Philip B; Rockström, Johan (28 July 2021). "World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency 2021". BioScience. 71 (9): 894–898. doi:10.1093/biosci/biab079. hdl:10871/126814. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  6. ^ Ripple, William J; Wolf, Christopher; Gregg, Jillian W; Levin, Kelly; Rockström, Johan; Newsome, Thomas M; Betts, Matthew G; Huq, Saleemul; Law, Beverly E; Kemp, Luke; Kalmus, Peter; Lenton, Timothy (22 October 2022). "World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency 2022". BioScience. 72 (12): 1149–1155. doi:10.1093/biosci/biac083. hdl:1808/30278. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  7. ^ Highly Cited Researchers. 2020. https://recognition.webofscience.com/awards/highly-cited/2020/
  8. ^ Alliance of World Scientists. 2020. https://scientistswarning.forestry.oregonstate.edu/
  9. ^ The Scientists' Warning. 2022. http://scientistswarningfilm.org
  10. ^ Oregon State University Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society. Trophic Cascades Program. Scientific Articles. Retrieved 14 April 2014. http://www.cof.orst.edu/cascades/articles.php
  11. ^ Ripple, William J.; Beschta, Robert L. (1 January 2012). "Trophic cascades in Yellowstone: The first 15years after wolf reintroduction". Biological Conservation. 145 (1): 205–213. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2011.11.005.
  12. ^ Chadwick, D. March, 2010. Wolf Wars. National Geographic Magazine
  13. ^ Smith, J. F., Coffey, R., Fang, J. May, 2010. DESTINATION SCIENCE: YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, USA. Discover Magazine. http://discovermagazine.com/2010/apr/11-destination-science-best-adventures-museums-nightspots.
  14. ^ Jaffe, E. December, 2006. It All Falls Down: A plummeting cougar population alters the ecosystem at Zion National Park. Smithsonian Magazine. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/cougar.html#
  15. ^ Robbins, J. May, 2004. Lessons from the Wolf. Scientific American. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=lessons-from-the-wolf
  16. ^ Stolzenburg, William. 2008. Where the Wild Things Were: Life, Death, and Ecological Wreckage in a Land of Vanishing Predators. Bloomsbury USA, New York.
  17. ^ Lords of Nature: Life in a Land of Great Predators. 2009. http://lordsofnature.org/
  18. ^ Ripple, William J.; Beschta, Robert L. (1 December 2006). "Linking a cougar decline, trophic cascade, and catastrophic regime shift in Zion National Park". Biological Conservation. 133 (4): 397–408. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2006.07.002.
  19. ^ Estes, James A.; Terborgh, John; Brashares, Justin S.; Power, Mary E.; Berger, Joel; Bond, William J.; Carpenter, Stephen R.; Essington, Timothy E.; Holt, Robert D.; Jackson, Jeremy B. C.; Marquis, Robert J.; Oksanen, Lauri; Oksanen, Tarja; Paine, Robert T.; Pikitch, Ellen K.; Ripple, William J.; Sandin, Stuart A.; Scheffer, Marten; Schoener, Thomas W.; Shurin, Jonathan B.; Sinclair, Anthony R. E.; Soulé, Michael E.; Virtanen, Risto; Wardle, David A. (15 July 2011). "Trophic Downgrading of Planet Earth". Science. 333 (6040): 301–306. Bibcode:2011Sci...333..301E. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.679.5347. doi:10.1126/science.1205106. PMID 21764740. S2CID 7752940.
  20. ^ Ripple, William J.; Estes, James A.; Beschta, Robert L.; Wilmers, Christopher C.; Ritchie, Euan G.; Hebblewhite, Mark; Berger, Joel; Elmhagen, Bodil; Letnic, Mike; Nelson, Michael P.; Schmitz, Oswald J.; Smith, Douglas W.; Wallach, Arian D.; Wirsing, Aaron J. (10 January 2014). "Status and Ecological Effects of the World's Largest Carnivores". Science. 343 (6167). CiteSeerX 10.1.1.657.9004. doi:10.1126/science.1241484. PMID 24408439. S2CID 206550298.
  21. ^ Ripple, William J.; Newsome, Thomas M.; Wolf, Christopher; Dirzo, Rodolfo; Everatt, Kristoffer T.; Galetti, Mauro; Hayward, Matt W.; Kerley, Graham I. H.; Levi, Taal; Lindsey, Peter A.; Macdonald, David W.; Malhi, Yadvinder; Painter, Luke E.; Sandom, Christopher J.; Terborgh, John; Van Valkenburgh, Blaire (May 2015). "Collapse of the world's largest herbivores". Science Advances. 1 (4): e1400103. Bibcode:2015SciA....1E0103R. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1400103. PMC 4640652. PMID 26601172. S2CID 8085865.
  22. ^ Ripple, William J.; Van Valkenburgh, Blaire (1 August 2010). "Linking Top-down Forces to the Pleistocene Megafaunal Extinctions" (PDF). BioScience. 60 (7): 516–526. doi:10.1525/bio.2010.60.7.7. S2CID 45581293.
  23. ^ Ripple, William J.; Smith, Pete; Haberl, Helmut; Montzka, Stephen A.; McAlpine, Clive; Boucher, Douglas H. (January 2014). "Ruminants, climate change and climate policy". Nature Climate Change. 4 (1): 2–5. Bibcode:2014NatCC...4....2R. doi:10.1038/nclimate2081.
  24. ^ Hayek, Matthew N.; Harwatt, Helen; Ripple, William J.; Mueller, Nathaniel D. (7 September 2020). "The carbon opportunity cost of animal-sourced food production on land". Nature Sustainability. 4: 21–24. doi:10.1038/s41893-020-00603-4. S2CID 221522148.
  25. ^ Harwatt, Helen; Sabaté, Joan; Eshel, Gidon; Soret, Sam; Ripple, William (July 2017). "Substituting beans for beef as a contribution toward US climate change targets". Climatic Change. 143 (1–2): 261–270. Bibcode:2017ClCh..143..261H. doi:10.1007/s10584-017-1969-1. S2CID 157396865.
  26. ^ Ripple, William J; Wolf, Christopher; Lenton, Timothy M; Gregg, Jillian W; Natali, Susan M; Duffy, Philip B; Rockström, Johan; Schellnhuber, Hans Joachim (2023). "Many risky feedback loops amplify the need for climate action". One Earth. 6 (2): 86–91. doi:10.1016/j.oneear.2023.01.004. S2CID 257012462. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  27. ^ Endowed Faculty Positions. https://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/deans-office/endowed-faculty-positions-deans-office. Accessed 13-October-2020.
  28. ^ Oregon State University Academic Affairs. OSU selects public health leader, ecologist for Distinguished Professor Awards. http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2014/feb/osu-selects-public-health-leader-ecologist-distinguished-professor-awards. Accessed 16-March-2014.
  29. ^ Oregon State University Academic Affairs. The L.L. Stewart Faculty Scholars Project Summary - Bill Ripple. http://oregonstate.edu/admin/aa/ll-stewart-faculty-scholars/bill-ripple. Accessed 09-March-2012.
  30. ^ 14. Oregon State University, University Relations and Marketing, News & Research Communications. September, 2009. Ripple receives national honor from Defenders of Wildlife. http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2009/sep/ripple-receives-national-honor-defenders-wildlife. Accessed 09-March-2012.
  31. ^ High Desert Museum. High Desert Museum Honors Ecologist Dr. William Ripple with Earle A. Chiles Award. http://www.highdesertmuseum.org/.docs/pg/10322. Accessed 09-March-2012.
  32. ^ American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Fellow Award Recipients. http://www.asprs.org/Member-Info/Fellow-Award-Recipients.html. Accessed 09-March-2012.
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