A Little About Dr. Royo

Dr. Alejandro A. Royo is a research ecologist with over two decades of federal experience. His work explores the complex, interacting factors that shape forest ecosystems, with the goal of informing sustainable forest management. He focuses on understanding the mechanisms that drive vegetation biodiversity, particularly how disturbances—such as herbivory, climate change, and land use—interact across space and time to influence plant community dynamics.

A central feature of Dr. Royo’s work is the use of multi-factorial, interdisciplinary experiments to unravel the relative importance of co-occurring ecological forces. This approach helps clarify ambiguities in the scientific literature and provides land managers with practical, science-based tools for decision-making.

Royo co-leads and contributes to several research collaborations, including the Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperative (KQDC), the Desired Regeneration Towards Assisted Migration (DREAM) project, and the Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC) network. His work supports forest policy and management at multiple scales—from international ecological science to national and regional land management strategies.