Research Interests

Ecology is the study of how living things relate to each other and to the abiotic environment. Historically, ecologists have often specialized in understanding either biotic interactions, or abiotic effects. This paradigm has fostered debate about which forces are of primary importance in shaping ecosystems. My research is centered on the assertion that this division is often artificial. The abiotic environment frequently alters the outcome of biotic interactions, and biotic interactions are frequently propagated through modification of the abiotic environment. It is my belief that an integrated understanding of biotic and abiotic forces across space and time is essential if we are to learn how ecological communities are assembled, and how the resulting structure affects ecosystem function. Consequently, my research has focused both on the modification of the abiotic environment by ecosystem engineers, and on a greater understanding of how the abiotic environment alters the outcome of biotic interactions through context dependency. I am particularly passionate about the study of freshwater ecosystems, where research at the intersection of biotic and abiotic drivers has long fostered spirited debate.

  • Names in bold indicate undergraduate mentees.

    2026

    • Lopez, J., Michael, T., Atkinson, C., Lodato, M., Morris, L., Plont, S., Smith, C., Akamagwuna, F., Albertson, L.K., Breault, D., Dorris, J., Fritz, S.F., Haase, J., Hebert, T., Hensley, A., Hopper, G., Kuzcek, M., Morin, J.,Oakland, H.C., Siders, A., Sitati, A., and Tumolo, B.B. Embracing the zoogeochemical framework in freshwaters to understand and predict the ecosystem-level consequences of conservation. Journal of Animal Ecology. In Press.

    • Kahn, Z., Harvey, G.L., Albertson, L.K., Fritz, S.F., Rice, S.P., Johnson, M.F., Bull, J.M, and Moore, G.V. (2026). Signatures of wild animal life in Earth’s landscapes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. 131(4): e2025JF008351.

    • Albertson, L.K., Ortiz, J., Brass, N., Birrell, J. and Fritz, S.F.(2026). Effects of warming water temperature on giant salmonflies under simulated stream drying. Freshwater Science. 45(2). https://doi.org/10.1086/741377

    • Fritz, S.F., Albertson, L.K., Baxter, C.V., Tumolo, B.B., Sanchez-Ruiz, J.A., French, A., Reyes de Merkle, J., Kalakay, F., Oakland, H.C., and Roche, A. (2026). Unveiling context-dependency of positive species interactions and invasion meltdowns. Oikos. e11537. https://doi.org/10.1002/oik.11537

    • Albertson, L.K., Fritz, S.F., Oakland, H.C., Bushey, L.J.L., French, A.C., Heili, N.M., Reyes de Merkle, J., Schmidt, S., Greig, H.S., Johnson, M.F., Harvey, G.L. 2026. Feedbacks between climate change and freshwater ecosystem engineers. WIREs Water. 13(1): e70052. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.70052

    2023

    2022

    • Fritz, S.F., Albertson, L.K., Hobgood, J.L., Mohr, E.J., Oakland, H.C., and Poole, G.C. 2022. Macroinvertebrate ecosystem engineering affects streambed retention of microplastics. Freshwater Science. 42(2):133-145. https://doi.org/10.1086/724584

    • Fritz, S.F. and Gangloff, M.M. 2022. The effects of beaver impoundments on montane stream fish communities. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 32(10): 1618-1633. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3876

  • Names in bold indicate undergraduate mentees.

    • SFS Oral Presenter San Juan, PR 2025. Potential trade-offs between predation and facilitation by an ecosystem engineer. Samuel F. Fritz, Hayley C. Oakland, Anna C. French, Elizabeth Herres, Geoffrey C. Poole, and Lindsey K. Albertson.

    • SFS Oral Presenter Philadelphia, PA 2024. Influence of Ecosystem Engineer Density on Stream Macroinvertebrate Communities. Samuel F. Fritz, Hayley C. Oakland, Anna C. French, Geoffrey C. Poole, and Lindsey K. Albertson.

    • SFS Oral Presenter Brisbane, AUS 2023. Relationships of Time, Space, and Invasion Status to Freshwater Species Interactions.  Samuel F. Fritz, Lindsey K Albertson, Colden V. Baxter, Benjamin B Tumolo, Jose A. Sanchez-Ruiz, Anna French, Johnathan Reyes de Merkle, Fritz Kalakay, Hayley C. Oakland, and Alzada Roche.

    • JASM Oral Presenter Grand Rapids, MI 2022. Macroinvertebrate Ecosystem Engineering Affects Streambed Retention of Microplastics. Samuel F. Fritz, Lindsey K. Albertson, John L. Hobgood, Elizabeth Mohr, Hayley Oakland, and Geoffrey C. Poole.

    • NCAFS Oral Presenter New Bern, NC 2020. Effects of Beavers on Montane Stream Fish Communities. Samuel F. Fritz and Michael M. Gangloff.

    • NCAFS Poster Presenter Winston-Salem, NC. 2019. Analysis of Fish Collections Data

      Shows North Carolina Steam Fish Communities are Influenced by Beaver Activity.

      Samuel F. Fritz, Robert P. Creed, Michael Madritch, and Michael M. Gangloff.

    • NCAFS Oral Presenter Morganton, NC. 2018. Effects of Beavers on North Carolina

      Stream Fish Communities: A Preliminary Assessment. Samuel. F. Fritz, Michael. M. Gangloff.

  • Download my CV here.