Christopher Dolanc
Director, Environmental Science Program; Associate Professor of Biology
Dr. Dolanc is a botanist, plant ecologist and tree enthusiast. He has been at Mercyhurst since 2014 where he teaches ecology, environmental science, and plant-related courses and conducts research with students on forests, tree rings, urban forestry, and environmental issues.
About Dr. Dolanc
- Ph.D., Ecology, University of California, Davis, 2011
- M.S., Botany, Miami University, 2002
- B.S., Biology, Missouri State University, 1999
- B.M., Music, Missouri State University, 1996
- BIO 146/147: Ecology and Evolution of Biological Organisms (Eco/Evo)
- SCI 100/101: Environmental Problem Solving
- BIO 210/211: Botany
- BIO 272/273: Forest Ecology
- BIO 286: California Ecosystems
- BIO 372: Conservation Biology
- BIO 392: Field Ecology
- GEOL 370: Dendrochronology
- Dr. Dolanc currently does research on trees and forests in NW Pennsylvania and California. He is currently working on a project addressing erosion on the bluffs overlooking Lake Erie by using tree rings to determine erosion events. He also has research on the invasive Emerald Ash Borer in long-term forest plots in Asbury Woods. Dr. Dolanc has a new project on the use and impact of “tiny forests” on the Mercyhurst campus, which is an urban forestry initiative. He also has a project on tree rings of high-elevation pines from the California mountains. Dr. Dolanc is open to any research related to plants, forests and environmental issues, and is happy to collaborate with faculty and students.