New field ecologist brings expertise on rainfall, land use and biodiversity
Felicity Newell's research experience connects Texas landscapes and management to the world
Texas A&M AgriLife has added a globally trained field ecologist to its faculty to advance research on biodiversity, land management and ecosystem resilience.
Felicity Newell, Ph.D., has joined Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology as an assistant professor, bringing expertise that bridges field‑based ecology, biodiversity research and ecosystem‑level processes across continents.
Newell comes to Texas A&M after research appointments at Louisiana State University, the Florida Museum of Natural History and the University of Bern in Switzerland. Her appointment emphasizes research while supporting undergraduate and graduate training.
An ecologist deeply invested in hands‑on fieldwork, Newell said Texas’ diverse ecological gradients — from the Trans-Pecos to the Post Oak Savanna and Piney Woods — offer unique opportunities to extend her research program.
“Texas has remarkable ecological variety driven by rainfall, soils and subtle shifts in topography,” Newell said. “Those gradients create natural laboratories for studying biodiversity and ecological function. I’m excited to link the work I’ve done in tropical mountain systems with the systems we have here.”
Linking ecological patterns from local landscapes to global systems
Newell’s research examines how ecological communities respond to variability in rainfall, hydrology, habitat structure and land‑use history. Her long‑term work in the Andes explores how rainfall patterns shape food webs — from plants and insects to birds — and how species respond to shifts in local ecological conditions.
She plans to continue that work and apply those approaches in Texas, where changes in woody vegetation, fire history and rainfall patterns influence forests, grasslands and the wildlife that depend on them. Her background in oak‑ecosystem management and restoration aligns with the department’s strategic priorities to advance ecological understanding, integrate applied research, and support land and resource stewardship.
Newell expects to collaborate with Texas A&M researchers working in forest restoration, prescribed fire, hydrology and biodiversity monitoring — areas critical to land and resource management across Texas.
“Oak systems, fire management and restoration are areas where Texas offers tremendous opportunities for research,” she said. “Understanding how ecological communities use microhabitats or respond to land‑use patterns helps support healthy landscapes and long‑term stewardship.”
Her international collaborations, particularly with partners in Ecuador and Peru, will continue to expand as she brings students into global field research opportunities.
Training the next generation through field-based ecology
Newell will teach a course related to the fundamentals of ecology in future semesters. Currently, she is developing a new course examining how invertebrates influence vertebrates, disease dynamics and ecosystem processes. Additional future courses may explore tropical ecology or topics related to ecological function across landscapes.
“I want students to experience ecology directly,” she said. “Being outdoors, seeing organisms in their habitats and learning how ecosystems function is foundational to training the next generation of scientists and conservation professionals.”
