Raelene Crandall
Assistant Professor, Fire Ecology
Raelene Crandall and her lab are broadly interested in understanding the mechanisms by which fire influences plant population dynamics and results in community patterns in plant diversity and composition.
Despite the prevalent use of fire in restoration and land management, little is known about the effects of altering fire regimes, especially changes in fire season, intensity, and frequency, on plant populations and communities. Dr. Crandall and her lab seek to fill this knowledge gap by examining how differences in the life histories of native and exotic plants influence their response to fire and how fire influences biotic interactions. Furthermore, they quantify whether different disturbances, such as fire and flooding, and characteristics of the environment interact to shape community patterns of diversity and composition. Results from their research are widely applicable to the restoration and conservation of remnant, degraded, and restored habitats.
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Research Interests
- Disturbance Ecology
- Ecological Modeling
- Rare and Endangered Species
- Invasive Species
- Population and Community Ecology
- Restoration and Management
FOREST RESOURCES & CONSERVATION
Affiliated Institutions
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Education
- PhD, Biology, Louisiana State University, 2011
- MS, Botany, Oklahoma State University, 2003
- BS, Biology and Chemistry, Butler University, 1997