Dr. Thomas PypkerDept. Chair, Professor | Faculty of Science
Email: tpypker@tru.ca
Phone:
250-828-5414
Research Interests
My work focuses on how disturbance affects biophysical processes of managed ecosystems at scales ranging from the leaf to whole watersheds. Nationally and internationally, my work focuses on how management and climate change affects biophysical processes in a variety of ecosystems that range from Canada's sub-boreal forests and grasslands, northern Michigan's wetlands, mountain ecosystems in Oregon, Washington and Colorado, to managed plantations in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Iran. I enjoy interdisciplinary work as my past research has covered the fields of Hydrology, Ecology, Micrometeorology, and Tree Physiology. My skill set is broadly applicable and I am excited to work in new ecosystems to tackle current environmental issues. Ultimately, the goal of my work is to provide insight into how management or climate change will affect the hydrology, stability and productivity of the Earth's ecosystems.
Education
PhD Oregon State University (2005)
MSc University of Northern BC (2001)
BSc (Hon.) McMaster University (1997)
Publications
Recent Peer-Reviewed Publications (2022-2025)
Hoare, A, L-A Austin, K Thomas-Francois, T Pypker (2025) Student Achievement of Institutional Learning
Outcomes: Case Study of a Regional University in Western Canada. The Canadian Journal for the
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 16: https://doi.org/10.5206/cjsotlrcacea.2025.1.17680.
Kavianpour, MS, P Attarod, Haifeng Zhu, TG Pypker, Atefeh Dezhban, V Etemad, V Bayramzedeh (2025) Fog
precipitation plays a significant role in providing moisture to Caspian high latitude forests of
Northern Iran. Ecohydrology 18:e70052 https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.70052
3Attarod, P, H Zhu, S Beirandvand, TG Pypker, V Bayramzadeh, HS Mariv, K Karimi (2025) Past and future
climate change in the Zagros region of western Iran. Anthropocene 50: 100475.
4. Moleshi, M, A Ahmadi, T Pypker, MD Ghanatghestani, M Hassani, M Zarafshar (2025) Halophtyte
adaptations in gray mangrove seedlings to salinity on the Persian Gulf coastline. Frontiers in Forests
and Global Change 8: DOI:10.3389/ffgc.2025.1523229.
Jouybari, MM, SB Khorgou, H Parvaresh, AK Ariya, T Pypker, M Zarafshar (2025) Desalination plant brine
suppresses early mangrove growth: A call for environmental management. Water, Air and Soil Pollution
236: 16. https://doi/org/10.1007/s1121270-024-07658-5
Austin, L-A, K Thomas-Francois, T Pypker, A Hoare (2024) The intersection of student assessment and
faculty learning. A Journal at the Intersection of Assessment 5(2).
Beiranvand, S, V Bayramzadeh, P Attarod, K Pourtahmasi, TG Pypker, A Brauning, M Nadi (2024) Increasing
drought frequency in the central Zagros Mountains of western Iran over the past two centuries. Journal
of Arid Environments 224: 105240.
Norozi, A, P Attarod, TG Pypker, SMM Sadeghi, V Etemad (2024) Estimation of bark storage capacity of
broad- and needle-leaved trees planted in a semi-arid climate zone. Journal of Arid Environments 220,
105100.
Attarod, P, A Dezhban, TG Pypker, SK Sigaroodi, V Bayramzadeh, A Tang, X Liu, HS Mariv (2023) Iran's
changing climate over the past 30 years. Russian Journal of Meteorology 48: 53-62.
Moore, PA, TG Pypker, JA Hribljan, RA Chimner, JM Waddington (2022) Examining the peatland
shrubification-evapotranspiration feedback following multi-decadal water table manipulation.
Hydrological Processes 36: E14719.
Hou, Y, X Wei, M Vore, SJ Dery, T Pypker, K Giles-Hansen (2022) Cumulative forest disturbances decrease
runoff in two boreal forested watersheds of the northern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Journal
of Hydrology 605: 127362.
Shannon, J, FJ Liu, M Van Grinsven, R Kolka, T Pypker (2022) Magnitude, consequences and correction of
temperature-derived errors for absolute pressure transducers under common monitoring scenarios.
Hydrological Processes 36: e14457.
Employment History
Thompson Rivers University, Department of Natural Resource Sciences
Professor July 2022 to present
Associate Professor July 2017 to 2022
Assistant Professor June 2013 to June 2017
University of Northern BC
Adjunct Professor Sept 2014 to present
Michigan Technological University
Adjunct Professor School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science June 2013 to present
Assistant Professor School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science Feb 2007 to June 2013
Oregon State University
Research Associate (Post-Doc) College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Science Feb 2005 to Jan 2007
Courses Taught
Thompson Rivers University
Introduction to Soils (NRSC 2000), 2013, 2016 to present
Watershed Management (NRSC 4110), 2014 to present
Introduction to Soils and Soil Health (RGEN 1130) 2024 to present
Graduating Essay (NRSC 4230), 2015 to present
Tropical Field Studies in Natural Resources (NRSC 4250) 2023, 2024
Introduction to Soils and Soil Health (ASUR 1030) 2022 to 2023
Introduction to Climate Change Science (NRSC 1500), 2014 to 2018
Dendrology 1 (NRSC 1120), 2014 to 2015
Evolution and Ecology (ENVS 5020), 2014
Advanced Topics in Canopy Hydrology (GEOG 4480), 2014
Advanced Topics in Soils (NRSC 5480), 2013
Michigan Technological University
Advanced Topics in Climate Change (FW5240), 2011 to 2013
Ecohydrology (FW 5230), 2011 to 2013
Forest and Landscape Hydrology (FW 4370), 2008 to 2013
Biometeorology (FW 5210), 2009 to present
Fieldwork in International Forestry (FW5730), 2010 to 2013
Graduate Teaching (FW 6980), 2012 to 2013
Integrated Resource Assessment (FW4810), 2012
Measurement Techniques in Atmospheric Science (FW 5510), 2010
Doctoral Graduate Seminar (FW 6800), 2008 to 2010
Master's Graduate Seminar (FW 5800), 2008 to 2010
Methods in Research (FW 5510), 2009
Climate Change and Water Resources (UN 5590), 2009
IPCC 2007: Global Climate Change (FW 5510), 2008
Dataloggers (FW 5510), SFRES, 2008
Environmental Biophysics (FW 5510), 2008
Methods used to determine rainfall interception loss in forests (FW 5510), 2007
Professional Affiliations
Professional Agrologist (2024 to present)
