Biology Seminar Series - Lars Brudvig, Michigan State University

Longleaf pine savannas support some of the most diverse plant assemblages on earth, forming part of the of the Southeastern Coastal Plain biodiversity hotspot. Unfortunately, these fire-maintained ecosystems have been decimated by fire suppression, conversion to farm fields and plantation forests, and other human land uses. As a result, there is substantial interest in restoring longleaf pine ecosystems. To guide these efforts, we have conducted a series of experiments focused on two common starting conditions for longleaf pine restoration: fire-suppressed savannas that have converted to closed canopy forest and former farm fields that have been converted to longleaf pine plantations. Today, I will: 1) Describe how a history of agriculture affects plants and other ecological properties of longleaf pine savannas, 2) Evaluate how experimental restoration influences plants and other properties of post-agricultural and non-post-agricultural longleaf pine savannas, and 3) Determine bottlenecks limiting the recovery of longleaf pine understory plant species in post-agricultural savannas.

Lars Brudvig is a Professor in the Department of Plant Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, at Michigan State University. The Brudvig Lab conducts research to guide the restoration of grasslands and savannas in Michigan and longleaf pine ecosystems in the Carolinas and Georgia. He teaches courses in botany and restoration ecology and works with undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs in research. Lars completed his Ph.D. from Iowa State University and, prior to joining MSU, was a postdoc with the Corridor Project in South Carolina.