Chris Zou

Dr. Zou is a professor in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology & Mgmt, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (DASNR) at Oklahoma State University. His research focuses on soil water, vegetation, and climate interactions, with a specific emphasis on woody plant encroachment and expansion impact on ecological and hydrological processes in the grassland and forest transition zone of North America. His research approaches are primarily field-based, using the long term experimental watershed approach complemented by process-based ecohydrological modeling. He is also involved in undergraduate student teaching, graduate student training, and outreach activities related to woody plant encroachment, switchgrass based biomass production, rangeland restoration, water resources conservation, and ecosystem management.

Research Interests:

. Soil, soil moisture, and plant-soil interaction
. Land use on carbon, water, and tradeoff
. Wildland water quantity, quality, and experimental watershed studies
. Woody encroachment and ecosystem management
. Switchgrass production system, water conservation, and ecosystem restoration