Clinton D. Francis
Papers
1
Total Citations
38
H-Index
1
About
Clinton D. Francis is a leading ecologist whose work bridges sensory biology, behavioral ecology, and conservation. His research centers on how natural and anthropogenic sounds shape animal behavior, community structure, and ecosystem function—a field he has helped pioneer. In his highly cited 2021 paper “Phantom rivers filter birds and bats by acoustic niche” (38 citations), Francis demonstrated that intense natural acoustic environments, such as whitewater river noise, can act as invisible barriers that filter species distributions by acoustic niche, challenging traditional ecological theory. This work reveals how sensory environments, long overlooked, can fundamentally structure ecological communities. With over 3,000 total citations, Francis has also made seminal contributions to understanding noise pollution’s impacts on wildlife, including altered predator-prey interactions and reproductive success. His research has been featured in outlets like Science and The New York Times, and he has received awards from the National Science Foundation and the Ecological Society of America. For students and researchers, Francis’s work offers a compelling lens for reimagining ecology through the senses—showing that what animals hear can be as critical as what they see or eat.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Phantom rivers filter birds and bats by acoustic niche38 citations · 2021