By Maya Bergmann and Ruth Vondracek
Title: William J. Ripple Papers, 1927-2014
Predominant Dates: 1972-2014
ID: MSS Ripple
Primary Creator: Ripple, William J.
Extent: 12.0 cubic feet. More info below.
Arrangement: The William J. Ripple Collection is arranged into 10 series: 1. Early Coursework and Research Papers, 1976-1983; 2. Publications and Manuscripts, 1984-2013; 3. Research Projects and Proposals, 1973-2004; 4. Press Releases, Articles, and Newspaper Clippings, 1972-2014; 5. Reference Material, 1927-2010; 6. Committees and Associations, 1985-1994; 7. Course Material, 1985-2008; 8. Website design, 2001; 9. Posters, 2014; and 10. Tree Cores, 2000-2010.
Date Acquired: 00/00/2015
Languages of Materials: English [eng]
The WIlliam J. Ripple collection consists mainly of his publications, including his thesis and papers from his early coursework. The majority of publications cover the field of trophic cascades and remote sensing systems. Both the final publications as well as manuscripts are included. In addition to his many publications, this collection contains reference materials used when conducting research and writing. The reference materials cover landscape ecology, the spotted owl, and geographic information systems (GIS). Also included are newspaper clippings and articles that discuss Ripple's work, particularly on trophic cascades and the impacts of predation. Also included are posters featuring Ripple and classroom materials.
More than half of the boxes in this collection contain tree cores taken during his research of the relationship among wolves, elk and aspen. This series includes tree cores from Yellowstone, Yosemite, Jasper and the Great Plains.
Another noteworthy part of this collection are the research project materials and proposals. These bring to light other research interests of Ripple, that include the Oregon Mosaic project, and research into the ozone’s effect on conifers and his work with Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) in New Zealand.
William J. Ripple was born on March 10, 1952 in Lesterville, South Dakota. He received his undergraduate degree in science at South Dakota State University in 1974. He then went on to attend the College of Mines and Earth Resources in 1978 at the University of Idaho to earn a Master’s degree of Science. After this, he attended Oregon State University (OSU) and received a Ph.D. in Geography in 1984 and became a faculty member in the OSU College of Forestry, Department of Forestry Ecosystems and Society as a professor in Ecology. Ripple began his career conducting research on old-growth forests and spotted owls. His research evolved to look at the impact of predators on ecosystem structure. His research has led to a new field called “trophic cascades,” which are indirect interactions that can control entire ecosystems. This is seen when predators in a food web alter the behavior of their prey, which in turn lowers the predation on the next trophic level.
Professor Ripple is a distinguished professor who was the director of the Environmental Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory (ERSAL) and current director of the Trophic Cascades Program. He teaches courses on Forestry Ecosystems and Society. His prominent research and work in the field of ecology has led him to consult with groups that include the National Academy of Sciences, the White House, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He has now published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles, most of which pertain to his work with trophic cascades. He has received multiple awards for his work, including a Distinguished Professor Award in 2014 and a Spirit of Defenders Award for Science in 2009.
More Extent Information: 13 boxes, including 9 oversize boxes.
Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.
Acquisition Note: Ripple donated the materials to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center in 2015.
Related Materials: Materials related to this collection may be found in the Environmental Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory (ERSAL) Records (RG 218) and the College of Forestry Records (RG 139). The Fisheries and WIldlife Department Records (RG 190) may contain additional information on the impact of predation and of species reintroduction. Some articles by Bill Ripple are available through OSU's ScholarsArchive.
Preferred Citation: William J. Ripple Papers (MSS Ripple), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
Ripple, William J.
Aspen--Ecology
Elk--Ecology
Natural Resources
Oregon State University. Environmental Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory
Predation (Biology)--Yellowstone National Park.
Spotted owl--Northwest, Pacific.
University History
Wildlife reintroduction
Wolves--Ecology
Posters.