Los Alamos Reporter

PEEC To Host ‘Fire Ecology And Changing Fire Regimes In The Jemez Mountains’ April 13 At Los Alamos Nature Center

PEEC invites tthe community to ‘Fire Ecology and Changing Fire Regimes in the Jemez Mountains’ April 13, at the Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium. Photo Courtesy PEEC

PEEC NEWS RELEASE

The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) will host USGS Field Ecologist Ellis Margolis for an in‑person and live‑streamed presentation, “Fire Ecology and Changing Fire Regimes in the Jemez Mountains”, 7-8 p.m., Monday, April 13, at the Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium. Admission is free for both in‑person and virtual attendees.

Registration is available at peecnature.org/events.

In this timely and accessible talk, Margolis will explore how scientists use tree rings, historical fire records, and landscape clues to reconstruct the long‑term evolution of forest ecosystems. By examining how fire once moved across the Jemez Mountains, he will shed light on how today’s forests differ from their historical patterns—and what these changes may signal for the future as climate, fire behavior, and environmental conditions continue to shift.

About the Presenter

Ellis Margolis is a research ecologist with the USGS New Mexico Landscapes Field Station in Santa Fe. He earned his Ph.D. in Watershed Management from the Laboratory of Tree‑Ring Research at the University of Arizona. His work focuses on the interactions among fire, forests, climate, and human land use, with the goal of informing management of forested watersheds and fire‑prone landscapes. His early experiences with prescribed fire while working for The Nature Conservancy in the Pine Barrens of New York and the longleaf pine forests of Florida helped spark his enduring interest in fire ecology.

Event Details

  • Title: Fire Ecology and Changing Fire Regimes in the Jemez Mountains
  • Presenter: Ellis Margolis, USGS Field Ecologist
  • Date & Time: April 13, 7-8 p.m.
  • Location: Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium, 2600 Canyon Road
  • Admission: Free (In‑Person and Virtual)

This program is part of PEEC’s ongoing effort to connect the community with leading scientists and deepen public understanding of the changing ecological systems of northern New Mexico.

For more information, visit PEEC’s website at peecnature.org/events. Stay connected on social media for updates on each week’s activities.

About PEEC:

PEEC was founded in 2000 to serve the community of Los Alamos. It offers people of all ages a way to enrich their lives by strengthening their connections to our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies. PEEC operates the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road, holds regular programs and events, and hosts several interest groups, from birding to hiking to butterfly watching. PEEC activities are open to everyone; however, members receive exclusive benefits such as discounts on programs and gift shop merchandise. Annual memberships start at $35. To learn more, visit peecnature.org/support/membership/.