Environmental and Ocean Sciences Alumnus Research Improves Understanding of Conifer Saplings Response to Fires
Alex Blanco ‘19 (BA), PhD, recently completed a doctoral program in geography in the Department of Earth and Spatial Science at the University of Idaho. As a first-generation college student, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a McNair Scholar, Blanco has embodied scholarly excellence and a commitment to advocacy for his community.
“Alex has always shown focus, talent, and resilience,” shared Professor Drew Talley, PhD. “After leaving the marines he sought out research opportunities, beginning with studies of whale acoustics at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. As an undergraduate at USD, Alex completed research on invasive clams, which was published in a peer reviewed journal, and received the Council on Undergraduate Research award for Outstanding Research in Geoscience.”
Following his time at USD, Blanco joined the lab of Professor Alistair Smith, PhD, at the University of Idaho’s Department of Spatial Science. Blanco received his Master's of Science in environmental science in 2024 and passed his doctoral defense in April of 2026. Blanco’s thesis research focuses on fire behavior and its effects on local flora and has contributed to five peer-reviewed publications on fire intensity and tree mortality in journals including International Journal of Wildland Fire, Tree Physiology and Forest Science.
Blanco’s most recent publication, “Assessing the potential fire tolerance of conifer saplings in cold and wet environments using a pyro-ecophysiology approach,” demonstrates that young trees in higher elevations of the western United States exhibit surprisingly high fire resistance. This finding enables fire managers to employ prescribed fires more effectively in vegetation management. Additionally, novel general predictive mortality models were developed for saplings, enhancing existing models that rely on mature tree data. These improved models accurately predict mortality for young trees lacking fire protection mechanisms, such as thick bark.
Dr. Talley remarked, “As if his research record is not enough, Alex has always made the communities he is in more supportive and accessible for everyone. His research record is remarkable, but so is the person behind it!”
“Mentorship was crucial to my academic and personal success,” shared Blanco. “Each great mentor emphasized the importance of family. They prioritized my family over my studies, which led to a happy marriage. Finding the right mentor takes time, but they can significantly impact your academic experience. I’m grateful to my mentors, especially Dr. Talley and the USD community, who started me on my path. Now, I’m committed to mentoring the next generation of researchers.”