Bio

Adam Spitzig is a PhD candidate in Environment and Resources (E-IPER) at Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability. He is a historical ecologist and data scientist whose research examines long-term biodiversity dynamics and their human drivers.

His work integrates paleoecological data (especially fossil pollen records), archaeological and historical sources, geospatial analysis, and statistical modeling to understand when and how human societies have increased, maintained, or reduced biodiversity. He is particularly interested in identifying cases of sustained anthropogenic biodiversity expansion and examining the institutional, economic, infrastructural, and land-use processes that produced them. His work also explores how long-term ecological knowledge can inform contemporary conservation and restoration strategy.

Before beginning his PhD, he led ecological modeling and machine learning initiatives in conservation and technology organizations, including Ducks Unlimited and several data-driven startups.

He holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University, a Master of Information & Data Science from UC Berkeley, a Master of Environmental Management and a Juris Doctor from Duke University, and a BA from the University of Florida.

Contact

  • Academic
    aspitzig@stanford.edu
    University - Student Department: Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources Position: Graduate

Additional Info

All Publications

  • Cultural innovation can increase and maintain biodiversity: A case study from medieval Europe. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Spitzig, A., Rösch, M., Woodbridge, J., Bauch, M., Guzowski, P., Erhart, P., Fyfe, R., Marinova, E., Izdebski, A. 2025; 122 (47): e2506266122

    Abstract

    Numerous research efforts have used paleoecological data to reconstruct past biodiversity in Europe. In these projects, researchers have identified increases in biodiversity over the Holocene and hinted at a positive correlation with human population. These are important findings but are not easily translated into effective biodiversity conservation and restoration policy. We argue that, in order to better inform policymaking, studies of past biodiversity dynamics should include analyses of contemporaneous cultural phenomena in order to identify and describe specific anthropogenic drivers of past biodiversity changes. We present an example here, a case study from the Lake Constance region (southwestern Germany), one of the core areas of the Carolingian Empire, the foundational political structure of modern Europe. This uniquely well-documented region offers six fossil pollen profiles characterized by high taxonomic and chronological resolution, archaeobotanical evidence from hundreds of excavation sites, and historical records describing population, commerce, and agriculture dating from the mid-700s CE. These data indicate that a major, sustained increase in plant diversity occurred in the Lake Constance region between 500 and 1000 CE, the formative period of medieval civilization. Plant diversity reached a 4,000-y peak around 1000 CE, making the medieval period a plant diversity optimum in the region. Archaeobotanical evidence independently corroborates this finding. Palynological, archaeobotanical, and archival data suggest that cultural innovations-in agriculture, management, and trade-were the primary drivers of this biodiversity transition and were necessary to maintain elevated levels of plant diversity in the region through the 20th century.

    View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.2506266122

    View details for PubMedID 41248291

  • Integrating historical sources for long-term ecological knowledge and biodiversity conservation Nature Reviews Biodiversity Navarro, L. M., Armstrong, C., Changeux, T., Spitzig, A., Clavero, M., et al 2025: 657–670

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s44358-025-00084-3

  • (Re)Mapping the Columbian Exchange. Suggestions for an Updated Cartography Food and History Bhagat, M., Nowak, Z., Spitzig, A., Roynesdal, K. 2022

    View details for DOI 10.1484/j.food.5.131743

  • Inferring implications of climate change in south Florida hardwood hammocks through analysis of metacommunity structure DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS Ross, M. S., Sah, J. P., Ruiz, P. L., Spitzig, A. A., Subedi, S. C. 2016; 22 (7): 783-796

    View details for DOI 10.1111/ddi.12442

    View details for Web of Science ID 000379615400005

  • TREE ISLAND RESPONSE TO FIRE AND FLOODING IN THE SHORT-HYDROPERIOD MARL PRAIRIE GRASSLANDS OF THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES, USA FIRE ECOLOGY Ruiz, P. L., Sah, J. P., Ross, M. S., Spitzig, A. A. 2013; 9 (1): 38-54

    View details for DOI 10.4996/fireecology.0901038

    View details for Web of Science ID 000322365400004

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6059-8396