David Gibson

Plant Biology
Southern Illinois University

The Gibson Lab

(Spring 2013)

Please contact me if you are interested in working in my lab. As you can see below, the work in my lab is quite varied.

Current Lab Members

	Karla Gage. PhD graduate (co-advisee with Bryan Young). Karla has a MS from the University of Memphis and has been working on the growth and reproduction of glyphosate resistant (GR) and susceptible (GS) biotypes of Conyza canadensis. Karla recently defended her dissertation and is now working for the southern Illinois River to River Cooperative Weed Management Agency. karlagage @ gmail.com
	Stephen Jesselman. PLB Undergraduate Assistant. Stevie is working on the role of allelopathic compounds on the competitive interactions between two exotic plants, Japanese Chaff flower (Achyranthes japonica) and Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum). Stevie will be working on a REACH award in 2013-2014 to investigate soil conditioning effects of Chaff flower. steviej12345 @ siu.edu
	Mohammed Khalil. PhD student. Mohammed has his BSc from Salahaddin University and his MSc from the University of Sulaimani, both in Iraqi Kurdistan. He is just starting in the lab and will be working on plant phylogenetics and plant trait relationships in successional prairie restoration. yussifahmad @ yahoo.com
	Kelsey Martinez. MS student. Kelsey is from Crystal Lake, IL, and has her BS in Environmental Studies from Knox College, IL. Kelsey is a University Masters Fellowship award recipient, and is working on exotic species invasions in old fields.. kelsey.anne.martinez @ gmail.com
	Travis Neal.Undergraduate Research Assistant. Travis is from Yorkville, Illinois, is an Eagle Scout, and Plant Biology major. He is working in the lab on field and greenhouse experiments on invasive species, particularly Japanese Chaff flower and Japanese stiltgrass. Travis is a REACH student working on dispersal of Chaff flower. Travis will be working in a the lab as a Masters student in fall 2013. tneal88 @ gmail.com
	Rebecca Parker. Visiting the lab from Tulane University, Summer 2013 as part of SIUC Research Experience for Undergraduates Program. Rebecca is working on a project to determine variability in growth rates of Lespedeza cuneata in response to differing environmental conditions. rebecca.e.parker @ gmail.com.
	Guy Schmale. MS student (co-advisee with Loretta Battaglia). Guy has a BS in Forestry from SIUC, and is working on the 'shelf-life' of invasive species records in the Shawnee National Forest for his Master's thesis. Currently, Guy is working in the College of Agriculture writing his thesis. guyschmale @ gmail.com
	Lauren Schwartz. PhD student.Lauren graduated with her BS from Sweet Brair College. Lauren completed her MS thesis in our lab in Fall 2011 on the competitiveness of switch grass (Panicum virgatum) and invasive species. Lauren has now started her PhD research on the comparative population ecology of members of the Ameranthaceae. lschwartz @ siu.edu
	Lindsay Shupert. MS student and former Plant Biology undergraduate working on effects of exotic species controls in restored prairies. Lindsay was a REACH student working on the invasive exotic Japanese Chaff flower (Achyranthes japonica). She also worked in the lab looking at the effects of automotive brake dust on plant growth, and in summer2011 as a Center for Ecology intern with the River to River Cooperative Weed Management Area. lindsayshup @ siu.edu
	Katie Smith. MS student.Katie has her BS in Geography from SIUC, and after spending some time working on the Cache River is now conducting research on the effects of management on the invasive exotic Japanese Chaff flower (Achyranthes japonica). ksmith29 @ siu.edu.
	Jason Willand. PhD student (co-advisee with Sara Baer). With an MS from Eastern Illinois University, Jason is working on recruitment from the seed and seedling banks in restored prairies for his dissertation. Jason is also a Heart GK-12 Fellow. jewilland @ gmail.com
	Laurel Wilson. With a BS from the University of Wisconsin, MS student. Laurel is working on the effect of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) ecotypes on community composition across the precipitation gradient from western Kansas to Illinois. laurel.wilson01 @ gmail.com.

Lab Alumni (send me updates, photos, etc., to post)

• Adams, Eric. 1999. MS. Vegetative analysis and examination of beta diversity in two Research Natural Areas with the Shawnee National Forest, Illinois. Eric now owns and runs his own fly fishing guide program. Eric@montanaflyfishingguides.com Photo: Eric fishing
• Beyerl, Tammie. 2001. MS. Ecology of Dioscorea batatas, an invasive exotic vine in southern Illinois. rbeyerl@aol.com
• Bittner, Robert Todd. 1995. MS. The demography and distribution of a rare grass: Calamagrostis porteri ssp. insperata in Southern Illinois. After several years working for the Illinois DNR, Todd is now Director of Natural Areas with Cornell Plantations at Cornell University. rtb52@cornell.edu
• Brandon, Alice. 2000. MS. The effects of Lespedeza cuneata, an introduced species, on a old-field plant community. alicebrandon72@hotmail.com Photo: Alice at work?
• Campbell, Jonathan E. 1996. MS. Effect of exotic seeds transported via horse dung on the vegetative composition of trails in southern Illinois. Photos: TUFFLIFE & Mardi Gras . Jon's website: JCampbell @ environcorp.com
• Chandy, Shibi. 2007. PhD. Relationship between spatial and temporal scales in the Shawnee National Forest. schandy@ualberta.ca
• Delong, Mike. 2009. PhD. Applying metapopulation and metacommunity concepts to dry forest openings in Southern Illinois. mdelong13@yahoo.com. Mike taught at my alma mater the University of Oklahoma for a couple of years and is now teaching at a community college in Iowa. Photo: Mike and chicken
• Donatelli, Juliette. 2013. MS. Forage quality of Andropogon gerardii across a precipitation gradient. jmdonatelli @ gmail.com. Photo: Juliette
• Ely, Joseph S. 2001. PhD. The life history strategies of core and satellite species in selected forest openings, southern Illinois. Joe is now an Assistant Prof at Central Missouri State University. ely@ucmo.edu
• Gustafson, Danny. 2000. PhD. Investigation of the genetic and ecological consequences of habitat reduction and fragmentation of remnant and restored tallgrass prairies. Co-chair with D.Nickrent. Danny is now a tenured prof at The Citadel. danny.gustafson@citadel.edu See: http://www.citadel.edu/biology/Faculty/Gustafson.htm
• Hansen, Michael. 2009. MS. Is ecological restoration successful? An assessment of a prairie restoration project in northern Illinois. Mike works as a restoration specialist at the University of Wisconsin. mjhansen4@uwarb.wisc.edu.
• Hickam, Erin. 1998. MS., Biological Sciences. Effects of plant age and soil nutrients on endophyte abundance in Festuca arundinacea. M.S.,(co-chair with J.A.Newman).
• Honu, Yohanes. 2004. PhD. Resistance of forest edges to invasion by exotic species in the Shawnee National Forest, Illinois, USA. yakhonu@hotmail.com.
• Erik Hoyer. 2005. PhD A functional assessment of restored and reference wetlands along the Cache river, Illinois. (co-advised with Beth Middleton). ewhoyer@hotmail.com
• Inczauskis. 2011. MS. Roadsides as corridors of exotic plant species invasion in southern Illinois, USA. (co-advised with Loretta Battaglia). aikidowl @ hotmail.com.
• Kurttural, Sahap Kaan. 2005. Balanced cropping of 'Chambourcin' grapevines and a spatial decision support system for vineyard site selection in southern Illinois. PhD SIUC. Co-advisee with B. Taylor (PLSS) & I. Dami.
• Lambert, Allison. 2008. M.S. Physiology of dominant grasses in prairie restoration: the effect of population seed source on plant performance, community structure, and ecosystem function. MS Co-advisee with Sara Baer. lamberta@uoguelph.ca
• Martin, Elaine Luna. 1992. MS, UWF, Patterns of genetic diversity in the rare mint Conradina glabra and its nearest relative C. canescens. moonmartin@worldnet.att.net
• McCall, Robin K. 1995. MS. Microclimatic influence on spatial heterogeneity and photosynthesis in Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash. and Helianthus divaricatus L. on southern Illinois loess hill prairies. mac@seahorse.ims.usm.edu Photo: Navy Reserve
• Millar, Kathy. 2008. PhD. Physiological and nutritional studies of oilseed crops in response to competition and manganese supply. Co-advisee with Andrew Wood. Kathy is now a post-doc at Miami University. millark2 @ muohio.edu
• Reed, Lewis. 2010. MS. Competitive equivalence of cultivar and non-cultivar dominant grasses in an experimental restoration. Co-advisee with Sara Baer. lewiskreed@gmail.com. Lewis is now in a PhD program in California. Photo: Lewis.
• Skeel, Virginia A. 1995. M.S. Environmental effects on competition: Leaf gas exchange and production of Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash. on two reclaimed strip mines and a railroad prairie. skeelv@hotmail.com.
• Spyreas, Greg. 2000. MS. Community diversity and endophyte infection levels in the genus Festuca. spyreas@inhs.uiuc.edu Greg now works for the Illinois Natural History Survey and is in the U of I doctoral program. Photo: Yes, I'm working!
• Thomas, Jennifer (Jif Kuhl now). 2004. MS. Dispersal of Dioscorea oppositifolia, an invasive exotic vine in southern Illinois. Co-advisee with Beth Middleton. Jennifer.Thomas@mobot.org
• Urban, Jared. 2009. MS. Niche and propagule limitation in a southern Illinois old-field. Jared.Urban @ wisconsin.gov. Photo: Jared in lab.
• West, Natalie. 2005. MS. Microhabitat analysis of exotic species on Illinois shale barrens. Natalie is completing her PhD at the University of Nebraska.. natmwest@yahoo.com.

Non-thesis students (title of practicum shown)

• Aymond, Neil. 1991. M.S. Coastal Zone Studies, UWF. Pensacola Naval Air Station nature trail.
• Athnos, Diana L. 1992. M.S. Coastal Zone Studies, UWF.Compensatory mitigation in the Gulf Coast States: Can we achieve "no net loss" of wetlands?
• Hardy, Philips B. 1992. M.S. Coastal Zone Studies, UWF. A characterization of East Pond, a barrier island dune pond within the Fort Pickens unit of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
• Looney, Paul B. 1992. M.S. Coastal Zone Studies, UWF The Perdido Key beach renourishment project. Paul works as an ecological consultant. E-mail: pblooney@tecinc.com

Interns and Undergraduate Assistants

• Dewey, Justin. Undergraduate assistant, 2008-2009. Justin has now completed his BS in Forestry. He worked in the lab on the competitive relationships between the rare Reed bentgrass (Calamagrostis porteri ssp. insperata) and the invasive exotic garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).
• Goossens, Hélène. Spring-Summer 2009. University of Bordeaux. Helene visités de la France pour trois mois. lngoossens@wanadoo.fr Photo: Look at these!
• McElyea, Misty. Undergraduate assistant and REACH student, 2009-2011. Misty finished up her BA in Plant Biology while working in the lab on wide variety of projects related to the effects of automotive brake dust on plants, plant competition, and the use of boot brushes on hiking trails. m.mcelyea88 @ gmail.com . Photo here.
• Sendor, Garrett. Undergraduate assistant, 2010-2011. Garrett really wants to be a dentist, but he worked in the lab on the reproductive ecology of prairie grasses. gsendor8 @ gmail.com