Assistant Professor of the Practice, Messina College
Telephone: 617-552-1012
Email: brendan.carson@bc.edu
ORCID
Dr. Carson is an ecologist whose work centers on novel species interactions, ecological restoration, and sustainability. He has a breadth of research interests, including: how exotic plant species are utilized by native pollinator communities; the role of cryptic viruses and host plant identity on butterfly populations; environmental microbiology, wetland biodiversity and ecosystem services, and nutrient cycling. At Boston College, he teaches Ecology, Ecology Lab, and General Biology through Messina College. Through his teaching Dr. Carson helps students explore and make sense of the world, with the goal of fostering an appreciation for our lives and those of the species we share this planet with.
Dr. Carson has taught natural history and field biology to middle school and college age students in New England, Texas, California, Illinois, and Michigan, and his research has taken him to wetlands, meadows, forests, and laboratories across the Midwest and New England.
Carson, Brendan D., Colin A. Orians, Colin, Elizabeth Crone (2025) Context-dependent effects of a cryptic virus on butterfly population dynamics. Ecology. 106:10
Carson, Brendan D., Colin A. Orians; Crone, Elizabeth Crone (2024) Caterpillar movement mediates spatially local interactions and determines the relationship between population density and contact. Movement Ecology. 12:34
Shane C. Lishawa, Eric M. Dunton, Douglas R. Pearsall, Andrew M. Monks, Kurtis B. Himmler, Brendan D. Carson, Brian Loges, Dennis A. Albert (2020) Wetland waterbird food resources increased by harvesting invasive cattails. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 84:7
Carson, Brendan D., Shane C. Lishawa, Nancy C. Tuchman, Andrew M. Monks, Beth A. Lawrence, Dennis A. Albert (2018) Harvesting invasive plants to reduce nutrient loads and produce bioenergy: an assessment of Great Lakes coastal wetlands. Ecosphere. 9:6 E02320.
Keyport, Samantha, Brendan Carson D., Olivia Johnson, Beth A. Lawrence, Shane C. Lishawa, Nancy C. Tuchman, John Kelly (2018). Effects of Harvesting an Invasive Hybrid Cattail on Abiotic and Biotic Wetland Properties. Restoration Ecology. 27:389-398.
Lishawa, Shane,听Brendan D. Carson, Jodi Brandt, Jason Tallant, Nicholas Reo, Dennis Albert, Andrew Monks, Joseph Lautenbach, Eric Clark. (2017) Mechanical harvesting effectively controls young Typha spp. invasion and unmanned aerial vehicle data enhances post-treatment monitoring. Frontiers in Plant Science. 8:619.
Carson, Brendan D., Christie Bahlai; Jason Gibbs; Doug Landis. (2016) Flowering phenology influences bee community dynamics in old fields dominated by the invasive plant Centaurea stoebe. Basic and Applied Ecology. 17:497-507.
Carson, Brendan D., Doug Landis. (2015) Establishment, impacts, and current range of spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos (Gugler) Hayek) biological control insects in Michigan. Great Lakes Entomologist 47: 129-148.
Carson, Brendan D., Doug Landis. (2015) Phenology and dispersal of Larinus minutus Gyllenhal and Larinus obtusus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), two biological control agents of Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos (spotted knapweed) in Michigan. Biological Control. 79: 84-91.
Carson, Brendan D. et al. 听(2018) Healing Earth: Natural Resources and Science. Online Environmental Science Textbook Chapter. International Jesuit Ecology Project.
Carson, Brendan D. et al. (2018) Healing Earth: Food and Science. Online Environmental Science Textbook Chapter. International Jesuit Ecology Project.
Carson, Brendan D., et al. (2010) Floristic quality assessment and ecosystem analysis of the Inland Waterway Nature Preserve, Emmet County, Michigan. University of Michigan Biological Station