Biology

Todd Aschenbach

Todd Aschenbach, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology

Restoration Ecology, Plant Community Ecology

Natural Resource Management Program

Office: 326 Henry Hall
Phone: 616-331-3097
Email: aschenbt@gvsu.edu

Education

Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, 2005

M.A. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, 2000

B.S. Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 1994

Courses taught at GVSU:

NRM 380 Ecological Restoration and Management

NRM 281 Principles of Soil Science

NRM 495 Trends in Natural Resource Management (Capstone)

NRM 480 Restoration Ecology

Research Interests:

My research addresses a simple, yet daunting question: How does one effectively restore or recreate an ecosystem? I address this question within the framework of community assembly theory which integrates aspects of plant succession and species coexistence in order to identify the underlying mechanisms that dictate a species’ membership in a plant community. I have research experience in a variety of ecosystems including wetlands, prairies, and salt-affected plant communities and currently conduct research on longleaf pine savanna restoration in South Carolina. I plan to expand this work to include additional taxa in restoration projects and look forward to conducting research on the restoration of Michigan’s endangered ecosystems.

Recent Publications:

Aschenbach, T.A., E. Brandt*, M. Buzzard*, R. Hargreaves*, T. Schmidt*, and A. Zwagerman*. 2012. Initial plant growth in sand mine spoil amended with peat moss and fertilizer under greenhouse conditions: Potential species for use in reclamation. Ecological Restoration 30:50-58. *GVSU Biology Undergraduate

Aschenbach, T.A., B.L. Foster, and D.W. Imm. 2010. The Initial Phase of a Longleaf Pine-Wiregrass Savanna Restoration: Species Establishment and Community Responses. Restoration Ecology 18:762-771.

Foster, B.L., C. Murphy, K. Keller, T. Aschenbach, E. Questad and K. Kindscher. 2007. Restoration of Prairie Community Structure and Ecosystem Function in an Abandoned Hayfield: A Sowing Experiment. Restoration Ecology.

Aschenbach, T.A. and K. Kindscher. 2006. Plant species on salt-affected soil at Cheyenne Bottoms, Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 3-4:207-213.

Aschenbach, T. 2006. Variation in growth rates under saline conditions between Pascopyrum smithii (western wheatgrass) and Distichlis spicata (inland saltgrass) from Kansas and Nebraska for use in the restoration of salt-affected plant communities. Restoration Ecology 14:21-27.

Kindscher, K., T. Aschenbach, and S.M. Ashworth. 2004. Wetland Vegetation response to the restoration of sheet flow at Cheyenne Bottoms, Kansas. Restoration Ecology 12:368-375.

Aschenbach, T.A. and K. Kindscher. 2003. Comparison of planting treatments in a tallgrass prairie restoration. Pages 44-48 in S. Foré, editor. Proceedings of the 18^th North American Prairie Conference: Promoting Prairie, 23-27 June 2002. Truman State University, Kirksville, MO.

Taylor, O.R., T.A. Aschenbach, S.M. Ashworth, O. Komar, W.W. Spotts, and S. Williamson. 2000. Magnetic compass orientation of Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus L.): Did observer effects lead to false positive results? Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 73:71-76.

Recent Posters and Presentations:

Foster, B. (Presenter & Author), Aschenbach, T. (Author Only), Research Presentation to USFS-Savannah River, US Forest Service - Savannah River, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC, "Secondary succession, community assembly and restoration in grasslands and savannas", Academic, Regional, Invited. (November 5, 2009).

Aschenbach, T. (Presenter & Author), Foster, B. (Author Only), Imm, D. (Author Only), 19th World Conference on Ecological Restoration, Society for Ecological Restoration International, Perth, Australia, "Positive effects of reducing recruitment limitation: Increases in community composition and productivity in a longleaf pine savanna restoration", Academic, International, Accepted. (August 26, 2009).

Kapolka, C. (Presenter & Author), Aschenbach, T. (Author Only), Foster, B. (Author Only), Imm, D. (Author Only) Student Scholars Day, GVSU, Allendale, MI, "Seed dispersal success of transplanted species in a longleaf pine savannah restoration experiment at the Savannah River Site, South Carolina". Academic, Local, Accepted. (poster presentation; April 8, 2009).

*Kapolka, C, T.A. Aschenbach, B. L. Foster, and D. W. Imm. January 2009. Seed dispersal success of transplanted species in a longleaf pine savannah restoration experiment at the Savannah River Site, South Carolina. The Stewardship Network Conference, East Lansing, Michigan, January 2009 (poster presentation). * GVSU Biology Undergraduate

*Chambers, D. R, T.A. Aschenbach, B. L. Foster, and D. W. Imm. January 2008. Flowering success of transplanted species in a longleaf pine savannah restoration experiment at the Savannah River Site, South Carolina. The Stewardship Network Conference, East Lansing, Michigan, January 2008 (poster presentation).* GVSU Biology Undergraduate

Aschenbach, T.A., B.L. Foster, D.W. Imm, and N. Drozda. August 2007. Community Assembly and Longleaf Pine Savanna Restoration. Ecological Society of America/Society for Ecological Restoration Joint Meeting, San Jose, California.

Aschenbach, T.A., B.L. Foster, and D.W. Imm. April 2007. Large-Scale Restoration of Longleaf Pine Savanna Understory Communities at the Savannah River Site, South Carolinia. 2^nd National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration, Kansas City, Missouri (poster presentation).

Aschenbach, T.A., B.L. Foster, and D.W. Imm. November 2006. Longleaf Pine Plant Community Restoration at the Savannah River Site: Design and Preliminary Results. 6^th Longleaf Alliance Regional Conference, Tifton, Georgia (poster presentation).

Aschenbach, T.A., B. L. Foster, and D.W. Imm. August 2006. A Tale of Two Ecosystems: Comparing Community Assembly Approaches to Restoration from a Prairie Restoration in Kansas, USA and a Pine Savannah Restoration in South Carolina, USA. 5^th European Conference on Restoration Ecology, Greifswald, Germany.

Foster, B.L., K. Keller, C. Murphy, and T.A. Aschenbach. August 2006. Effects of Tallgrass Prairie Restoration and Accelerated Succession on Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Function. 5^th European Conference on Restoration Ecology, Greifswald, Germany.

Aschenbach, T.A., B. L. Foster, and D.W. Imm. March 2006. Restoration of Pine Savannah Understory Communities at the Savannah River Site. Southeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (poster presentation).

Aschenbach, T.A. August 2005. Priority Effects Along a Nitrogen Gradient in an Early Successional Grassland. Ecological Society of America 90^th Annual Meeting. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (poster presentation).

Aschenbach, T.A. August 2004. Wall Street’s Guide to Prairie Planting. 19^th North American Prairie Conference. Madison, Wisconsin.

Aschenbach, T.A. and K. Kindscher. November 2003. Geographical Variation in Salt Tolerance in Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) A. Löve and Distichlis spicata (L.) Green. Society for Ecological Restoration 15^th Annual International Conference. Austin, Texas.

Aschenbach, T.A., K. Kindscher, and B. L. Foster. August 2003. Dispersal Limitation in an Early Successional Grassland. Ecological Society of America^th Annual Meeting. Savannah, Georgia. 88

Aschenbach, T.A. and K. Kindscher. June 2002. Comparison of Planting Treatments in a Tallgrass Prairie Restoration. 18^th North American Prairie Conference. Kirksville, Missouri.

Aschenbach, T.A. and K. Kindscher. August 2001. Comparison of Planting Strategies in a Tallgrass Prairie Restoration. Ecological Society of America^th Annual Meeting. Madison, Wisconsin. (poster presentation). 86

Aschenbach, T.A. and K. Kindscher. September 1999. Plant Community Composition at Cheyenne Bottoms, Kansas, USA. Society for Ecological Restoration 11^th Annual International Conference. San Francisco, California.

Scientific and Professional Societies:

Society for Ecological Restoration
Ecological Society of America
Natural Areas Association

Page last modified September 19, 2012