Summary of Research Interests

Research Interests Summary
Win Everham
(239) 590-7169
eeverham@fgcu.edu
Mod 21
http://ruby.fgcu.edu/courses/everham/index.html

My background is in ecology, and I have a variety of interests within sub-fields in that discipline. I also am involved in research related to assessing environmental and science education and I am interested in the interface between science and public policy.

Forest Ecology - research into the factors that structure forest ecosystems.

Possible students projects:

projects within our established 1 ha plots: on campus and on CREW lands
work in the forest canopy: decribing communities or quantifying abiotic gradients
examining the role of disturbance on forest ecosystems
examining the impact of exotic species on forest ecosystems

Examples of previous student projects:

The impact of Melaleuca quinquenervia on the growth of Pinus elliottii. James W. Grimes. 2001.
The effects of habitat fragmentation on frog populations on the FGCU campus. Tina Mayfield. 2003

Examples of published work:

Everham, E.M. III, R.W. Myster, and E. VanDeGenachte. 1996. Effects of light, moisture and temperature on germination of five tree species in the tropical montane forest of Puerto Rico. American Journal of Botany. 83(8): 1063-1068.
Zimmerman, J.K. E.M. Everham III, R.B. Waide, D.J. Lodge, C.M. Taylor, and N.V.L. Brokaw. 1994. Responses of tree species to hurricane winds in a 16 ha plot of low montane forest in Puerto Rico: implications for tropical tree life histories. Journal of Ecology. 82: 911-922.

System Ecology - application of computer simulation modeling to the study of ecosystems

Possible student projects:

population modeling of wildlife species
modeling the spread of invasive exotics
development of a landscape level model of the role of Melaleuca quinquenervia in nutrient cycling

Examples of published work:

Hall, C.A.S., M.R. Taylor, and E. Everham. 1992. A geographically-based ecosystem model and its application to the carbon balance of the Luquillo Forest, Puerto Rico. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution. 64: 385-404. Reprinted in J. Wisniewski and A.E. Lugo (eds) Natural Sinks of CO2. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Boston.
Everham, E.M. III, P.S. Rand, and C.A.S. Hall. 1991. Systems Ecology Laboratory Manual: An Introduction to Computer Programming in Ecology. State University of New York. Syracuse.

Exotic Species Ecology - examining the role of invasive species in native ecosystems

Possible student projects:

distribution of exotic frog species
nutrient content in Melaleuca quinquenervia
distribution of exotic fish
impact of exotic weevil on native bromeliads

Example of previous student projects:

Biological diversity of soil invertebrates at different infestation levels of Melaleuca quinquenervia in southwest Florida. Magda Derival. 2003.

The effects of Melaleuca quinquenervia invasion on the growth of Taxodium distichum in a Southwest Florida cypress strand. Howard Wegis. 2000.

Example of published work

Bibliography of Melaleuca quinquenervia http://ruby.fgcu.edu/Courses/everham/Exotics/MELQUIbib.htm

Bibliography of exotic species http://ruby.fgcu.edu/Courses/everham/ Exotics/ExoticBiblio.html

Disturbance Ecology - examining the role of irregular events in shaping ecosystems

Possible student projects:

factors controlling the germination of native plant species
distribution of epiphytes relative to deep water mitigating frost events
human disturbance indicators

Examples of published work:

Turner, M.G., V.H. Dale, and E.M. Everham III. 1997. Hurricanes, crown fires, and volcanoes: a comparison among large-scale disturbances. BioScience. 47(11): 758-768.
Everham, E.M., III., and N.V.L. Brokaw. 1996. Forest damage and recovery from catastrophic wind. Botanical Review . 62(2): 113-18

Bibliography of wind impacts on forests http://ruby.fgcu.edu/Courses/everham/Disturbance/windbibl.html

Environmental and Science Education - assessing the effectiveness of curriulum

Possible student projects:

assessment of science or environmental curriculum
assessment of informal environmental education e.g. swampwalks
use of field-based ecology for understanding the scientific process

Examples of previous student projects:

Measuring the effectiveness of the University Colloquium in instilling an ecological perspective in its students. Laurie Coventry-Payne. 2003
The Endangered Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus ): a review of the effectiveness of public education and its accessibility in Lee and Collier Counties. Stephane Timperley. 2002.

Example of published work:

Tolley, S.G., M.R. McDonald, E.M. Everham III, and M. Savarese. 2002. The Campus Ecosystem Model: Teaching Students Environmental Stewardship. Journal of College Teaching. 31(6): 364-369. http://www.nsta.org/main/news/stories/college_science.php?news_story_ID=4668

Environmental Policy and Public Participation - the role of scientific information in shaping public policy

Possible student projects:

environmental history of the FGCU campus
development of management plans for preserve areas
analysis of the municipal annexation process
SWF EIS: the process and the outcome

Example of previous student projects:

The implications of the SWANCC case on wetland protection. Corey Oliveira. 2003.

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