Kristina Hufford, Principal Investigator and Associate Professor of Restoration Ecology
Research Interests: restoration ecology, population genetics, evolutionary biology and all things "botany."
Bachelor's degree - University of California, Berkeley
PhD - University of Georgia
Research Interests: restoration ecology, population genetics, evolutionary biology and all things "botany."
Bachelor's degree - University of California, Berkeley
PhD - University of Georgia
Sara Burns, Master's Student
I am studying priority effects in sagebrush shrublands impacted by oil and gas development. My work will test hypotheses in community assembly and also compare experimental outcomes of seeding species at different intervals with actual outcomes of post-disturbance reclamation of CBNG sites in the Powder River Basin. The restoration of plant community diversity is often problematic and many restoration sites are dominated by grasses, and have few shrubs and forbs. Data are needed to improve restoration of multiple species and knowledge of community assembly rules can assist practitioners and contribute to restoration of sensitive habitat for species such as Greater Sage Grouse.
Bachelor's of Science - Middle Tennessee State University
I am studying priority effects in sagebrush shrublands impacted by oil and gas development. My work will test hypotheses in community assembly and also compare experimental outcomes of seeding species at different intervals with actual outcomes of post-disturbance reclamation of CBNG sites in the Powder River Basin. The restoration of plant community diversity is often problematic and many restoration sites are dominated by grasses, and have few shrubs and forbs. Data are needed to improve restoration of multiple species and knowledge of community assembly rules can assist practitioners and contribute to restoration of sensitive habitat for species such as Greater Sage Grouse.
Bachelor's of Science - Middle Tennessee State University
Kurt Fleisher, Master's Student
The goal of my research project is to compare and contrast outcomes of geomorphic and traditional reclamation for wildlife habitat and vegetation density, composition, and diversity. As the human population continues to grow and the demand for natural resources intensifies, reclamation contributes to land-use sustainability and serves to mitigate the environmental degradation caused by natural resource extraction. The results of my study will provide insight into whether or not an increase in landscape heterogeneity resulting from geomorphic reclamation leads to evidence of greater vegetative diversity and landscape stability.
Bachelor's of Science - Texas A&M University
The goal of my research project is to compare and contrast outcomes of geomorphic and traditional reclamation for wildlife habitat and vegetation density, composition, and diversity. As the human population continues to grow and the demand for natural resources intensifies, reclamation contributes to land-use sustainability and serves to mitigate the environmental degradation caused by natural resource extraction. The results of my study will provide insight into whether or not an increase in landscape heterogeneity resulting from geomorphic reclamation leads to evidence of greater vegetative diversity and landscape stability.
Bachelor's of Science - Texas A&M University
Patricia McIlvenna, Master's Student
My interests lie at the crossroads of the science of restoration ecology and the practice of ecological restoration. Both genetic diversity and local adaptation may contribute to the long-term sustainability of plant populations. As a M.S. student in the Hufford lab, I study intraspecific variation in forbs relevant for sage-grouse habitat, and the effects of combining multiple seed sources of the same native species on revegetation success.
Bachelor's of Science - University of Montana, Missoula
My interests lie at the crossroads of the science of restoration ecology and the practice of ecological restoration. Both genetic diversity and local adaptation may contribute to the long-term sustainability of plant populations. As a M.S. student in the Hufford lab, I study intraspecific variation in forbs relevant for sage-grouse habitat, and the effects of combining multiple seed sources of the same native species on revegetation success.
Bachelor's of Science - University of Montana, Missoula
Lab Alumni
Taylor Crow, PhD (2016)
Taylor studied patterns of local adaptation in Cercocarpus montanus using methods in quantitative genetics, molecular genetics, and spatial statistics. Additionally, he is working on a method to delineate species-specific zones using spatial analyses, which can describe potential zones for any species, regardless of available data. Taylor graduated with a PhD in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management and he is currently a postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis.
Bachelor’s of Science - California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Master’s of Science - California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Taylor studied patterns of local adaptation in Cercocarpus montanus using methods in quantitative genetics, molecular genetics, and spatial statistics. Additionally, he is working on a method to delineate species-specific zones using spatial analyses, which can describe potential zones for any species, regardless of available data. Taylor graduated with a PhD in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management and he is currently a postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis.
Bachelor’s of Science - California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Master’s of Science - California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Mary Poelman, Master's Degree (2016)
Mary studied topics in plant population genetics and focused on the factors that influence plant genetic diversity over time. Her project compared wild populations of grass species with cultivated varieties planted along a restoration chronosequence at a former coal mine site in Wyoming. Mary graduated with a MS in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management.
Bachelor's of Science - University of Hawaii
Mary studied topics in plant population genetics and focused on the factors that influence plant genetic diversity over time. Her project compared wild populations of grass species with cultivated varieties planted along a restoration chronosequence at a former coal mine site in Wyoming. Mary graduated with a MS in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management.
Bachelor's of Science - University of Hawaii
Mollie Herget, Master's Degree (2014)
Mollie's research focused on the implications of seed origin for ecological restoration success. Specifically, she investigated the difference between local genotypes and commercially produced cultivars of the native species, Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda), and tested cultivar vigor in the presence of invasive cheatgrass. Mollie graduated with a MS in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management in 2014 and is currently employed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Missouri.
Bachelor's of Science - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Mollie's research focused on the implications of seed origin for ecological restoration success. Specifically, she investigated the difference between local genotypes and commercially produced cultivars of the native species, Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda), and tested cultivar vigor in the presence of invasive cheatgrass. Mollie graduated with a MS in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management in 2014 and is currently employed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Missouri.
Bachelor's of Science - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Student Interns and Post-graduates (past and present)
Abby Dockter - Conservation and Land Management Intern
Krystle Gish
Brandon Hayes
Amy Jacobs
Jackalyn Kandle
Mathias McCormick
Thoa Pham
Ariana Potetz
Ariana Roe
Craig Rothwell
Aimee Sankovich
Colin Sauskojus
Cody Starosta
Rachel Strawn
Shawn Tang
Georgia Thomas - Conservation and and Land Management Intern
Arianna Tourtellot
Josh Zeeb
Abby Dockter - Conservation and Land Management Intern
Krystle Gish
Brandon Hayes
Amy Jacobs
Jackalyn Kandle
Mathias McCormick
Thoa Pham
Ariana Potetz
Ariana Roe
Craig Rothwell
Aimee Sankovich
Colin Sauskojus
Cody Starosta
Rachel Strawn
Shawn Tang
Georgia Thomas - Conservation and and Land Management Intern
Arianna Tourtellot
Josh Zeeb