Truman P. Young
Tel. 530-754-9925
Fax: 530-752-4361
Email:tpyoung@ucdavis.edu
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Graduate Student Research
In addition to my own research, that of my graduate students (and those I have supported) examines critical issues in restoration ecology and biodiversity conservation.
Current students:
- Kari Veblen is studying both the causes and consequences
of anthropogenic landscape heterogeneity in Kenya, and grassland restoration
in the western U.S. She will be working with Dr. David Pyke of the USGS and Oregon State University, where she will help develop protocols to determine status of rangeland ecosystems for use by federal agencies.
- Corinna Riginos has studied shrub interactions in South
Africa, and is extending this research to more detailed studies of tree-understory
interactions in Kenya; in particular, how these interactions are affected by
herbivory and stand structure.
- Kurt Vaughn is studying the importance of historical contingency (year effects and priority effects) on plant community development, especially in the context of restoration. He is also studying the competitive relationships among native oaks, perennial grasses, and invasive annuals in the threatened oak woodlands of California.
- Lauren McGeoch is studying how landscape features interact in Laikipia range land. She also studies the fine-scale spatial aspects of restoration in California grasslands.
- Marit Wilkerson is interested in spatial aspects of invasive species, especially corridors, as they relate to ecological restoration.
- Starry Sprenkle has initiated and continues to work with grass-roots agroforestry projects in Haiti, and is interested in the interface between sustainable development and ecological restoration in the developing world.
Affiliated students:
- Wilfred Odadi (Egerton University) did his M.Sc. with KLEE in 2005 at Moi University, studying the foraging ecology of cattle in the KLEE plots, and how it is influenced by competition with native wildlife. He is now completing his doctoral studies at Edgerton University, looking at the nutritonal ecology of cattle in the KLEE exclosures.
- Francis Bozzolo (UCD/SDSU joint Ph.D. program) studies the microbial ecology of endangered Coastal Sage Scrub.
- Isaac Kimathi (University of Nairobi) is examining the effects
of fire on primary productivity in Laikipia grasslands.
- Vanessa Ndoo (University of Nairobi) is examining dung depositin and decomposition rates in Laikipia rangeland.
- Antony Kirigia (University of Nairobi) is examining the economic and ecological consequences of manure exports from degraded rangelands.
Past students (UC Davis, unless otherwise noted):
- Katherine Holmes (Ph.D. 2008, Advisor: Berry) studied the effects of invasive figs and their removal in Central Valley habitats. With Kari Veblen and Truman Young, she also studied the efffects of controlled burns on the survival of plants oaks and perennial grasses. She works as an Ecologist for Solano County.
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- Alex Palmerlee (M.Sc., 2007) continues to examine the cost-effectiveness of multiple restoration techniques for woody species in riparian sites.
- Tracy Erwin (M.Sc., 2007) examined recruitment limits to restoration in endangered Hawaiian trees. Tracy is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in restoration ecology at UCDavis.
- Ryan Sensenig (Ph.D., 2007, Advisors: Laca & Demment) has been studying the ecology of fire in East Africa, particularly with respect to large mammals on the landscape scale. He is now an Assistant Professor at Goshen College.
- Bell Okello (Ph.D. 2007, University of Natal) examined the population biology of the dominant tree species at the KLEE study site in Kenya, in the context of conservation, restoration, management, and use. Bell works for ETC Consulting, Nairobi. http://www.etc-eastafrica.org/default.asp
- Mia Ingolia (M.Sc., 2006) examined the germination ecology of a threatened plant, the Tahoe Yellow Cress. Mia currently works for the UC Davis Arboretum.
- Susan Infalt (M.Sc, 2006) studied the restoration of degraded, abandoned campsites in King's Canyon National Park. She currently works as a restoration ecologist for H.T. Harvey & Associates.
- Jeffery Clary (Ph.D. 2006) studied the relationship between annual and perennial plants in a restoration context, doing biogeographic and greenhouse studies in Catalonia and California. He currently works for the UC Davis Natural Reserve System.
- Debbie Petersen (M.Sc. 2005, UC Davis) examined grassland restoration in California ecosystems where native annuals predominate, and in particular the beneficial effects of reseeding after fire. She is currently an Instructor at Las Positas College, and consulting restoration ecologist.
- Mikaela Huntzinger (Ph.D. 2005, UC Davis) studied the interactions between herbivores of very different body sizes, as they relate to biodiversity conservation, in Kenya and California. She now works for the Teachng Resources Center at UC Davis.
- Simon Kamande (Ph.D., 2006, Rhodes University) studied the invertebrate fauna of Acacia drepanolobium, and how it is affected by the species of ant occupant and exposure to different herbivores
- Silvanos Otieno (M.Sc. 2005, University of Nairobi) studied
the effects of herbivory by different guilds of large mammals in Kenya on the
productivity and standing biomass of a savanna ecosystem. Until his death, he worked as Coordinator for the Mikinduri Children of Hope Foundation.
- Charles Warui (Ph.D. 2005, Rhodes University, South Africa)
studied how invertebrates, especially spiders, may be indicators of the environmental
health of East African savannas across a range of land uses.
He is currently employed by the National Museums of Kenya.
- Megan Lulow (Ph.D. 2004, UC Davis) studied grassland restoration
in California, particularly the importance of priority effects in community
organization. Megan is currently the Senior Field Ecologist at the Irvine Ranch Conservancy.
- Wilfred Odadi (M.Sc. 2003, Moi University) studied the foraging
ecology of cattle in Kenya, and how it is influenced by competition with native
wildlife. He is beginning doctoral studies with KLEE at Egerton University,
Kenya.
- Michelle Gadd (Ph.D. 2003, UC Davis) studied the relationship
between elephants and livestock on the land they share in Kenya and southern Africa. Most elephants
occur outside of national parks, but this research is unique in examining the
compatibility of pastoralists and elephants. Michelle is Africa Program Officer
for the International Conservation Program of the USFWS.
- Todd Palmer (Ph.D. 2001, UC Davis) is the prime mover of
the acacia ant study, exploring how spatial variation in community structure
is influenced by interaction between
local nutrient conditions and the competitive abilities of different ant species. Todd
was a post-doctoral researcher at UC Davis, and on the faculty of
the Wildlands Program.
He is now an Assistant Professor
at the University of Florida.
- Russell Huddleston (M.Sc., 2001, UC Davis) explored different
soil modifications and planting techniques as they affected the restoration
of grasslands in a
vernal pool ecosystem in Oregon. Russ is a staff scientist for CH2M Hill in Sacramento.
http://www.ch2m.com/corporate_2004/
- Ryan Deering (M.Sc., 2001, UC Davis) examined the potential
for seed priming to shift the competitive balance between exotic annuals and
native perennials
in California grasslands. Ryan is the GATEways Horticulturist at the UC Davis
Arboretum.
- John Mugo Kagori (M.Sc. 1999, University of Nairobi) studied
the ecology of nitrogen fixation in Acacia drepanolobium. His whereabouts
are unknown.
- Diana Hershey (M.Sc., 1999, UC Davis) carried out a study
of the effects of soil substrate and plant provenance on ecological restoration
along Cache Creek, California. Diana
is a Planner for the Coutnty of Mendocino.
- David Kinyua (dnf, University of Nairobi) studied the effects
of different manipulations on rangeland plant communities, with some exciting
results on
techniques to effectively revegetate severely degraded landscapes. David
works for USAID in Nairobi, and heads his own consulting firm, NAREDA.
- Linde Ostro (Ph.D. 1998, Fordham University) studied the
ecology of reintroduced howler monkeys in Belize. Despite the prevalence
of reintroduction as a species restoration technique, this study is one of the first
to detail the ways
in which reintroduced animals establish themselves in novel environments. Linde
works for Wildlife Conservation International in New York. http://wcs.org/science/scienceresources/
- Faith Kostel-Hughes (Ph.D. 1995, Fordham University) has
studied the interactions between leaf litter and forest seed banks along an
urban-rural gradient, demonstrating dramatic and hitherto unrecognized changes
in litter quantity and quality associated
with urbanization, with important consequences for forest restoration. Faith
is an Associate Professor at the College of New Rochelle. http://www.cnr.edu/
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