Chris Heggerud’s research lies at the intersection of mathematics and ecology, utilizing mathematical tools to address pressing ecological questions stemming from societal, economic, and environmental concerns. His current work focuses heavily on transient dynamics from both mathematical and ecological perspectives. Specifically, he applies existing dynamical systems literature and empirical dynamical modeling to predict and understand transient behavior within ecological data. His previous research involved extensive study of phytoplankton dynamics, employing dynamical systems and singular perturbation theory to uncover the mechanisms behind algal blooms. Additionally, he has utilized game theory, bifurcation theory, and spatial modeling to investigate complex human-environment interactions and species diversity through niche differentiation.

Current trainees

Recent Publications (Past 5 Years)

Deciphering culprits for cyanobacterial blooms and lake vulnerability in north-temperate lakes

Jacob Serpico , B. A. Zambrano-Luna , Christopher M. Heggerud , A. Hastings , R. Milne , Hao Wang
Ecological Modelling 2026

8 quick tips for data-model integration in ecology

Laurinne J. Balstad , Joe Brennan , Marissa L. Baskett , Mattea Berglund , Mei Z Blundell , Jessica A. Bolin , A. A. Briggs , M. C. Fisher , Christopher M. Heggerud , Madeline Jarvis-Cross , L. Mossman , Andrea N. Odell , Jennifer N. Paige , S. Pelletier , M. Provost
2025-11-13
0 citations

Long-living transients in ecological models: Recent progress, new challenges, and open questions.

A. Morozov , Ulrike Feudel , A. Hastings , K. C. Abbott , K. Cuddington , Christopher M. Heggerud , Sergei V. Petrovskii
Physics of Life Reviews 2024-11-01

When and why ecological systems respond to the rate rather than the magnitude of environmental changes

K. C. Abbott , Christopher M. Heggerud , Ying-Cheng Lai , A. Morozov , Sergei V. Petrovskii , K. Cuddington , A. Hastings
Biological Conservation 2024-04-01

A model free method of predicting transient dynamics in anaerobic digestion

Christopher M. Heggerud , Alan Hastings
Journal of the Royal Society Interface 2024-03-01

Predicting Imminent Cyanobacterial Blooms in Lakes Using Incomplete Timely Data

Christopher M. Heggerud , Jingjing Xu , Hao Wang , Mark A. Lewis , Ron W. Zurawell , Charlie J. G. Loewen , R. Vinebrooke , Pouria Ramazi
Water Resources Research 2024-02-01

Fluctuation of growth and photosynthetic characteristics in Prorocentrum shikokuense under phosphorus limitation: Evidence from field and laboratory

A. Shen , Shufei Gao , Christopher M. Heggerud , Hao Wang , Zengling Ma , Sanling Yuan
Ecological Modelling 2023-05-01

Impacts of a changing environment on a stoichiometric producer-grazer system: a stochastic modelling approach

Velizar Kirkow , Hao Wang , Pablo Venegas Garcia , Shohel Ahmed , Christopher M. Heggerud
Ecological Modelling 2022-07-01

Mathematical comparison and empirical review of the Monod and Droop forms for resource-based population dynamics

Hao Wang , Pablo Venegas Garcia , Shohel Ahmed , Christopher M. Heggerud
Ecological Modelling 2022-04-01