Ecological Restoration

The field of Ecological Restoration is the study of restoring, revitalizing and reusing land and water bodies along with their plant and animal growth based on ecological principles.  The goal is to restore the ecological processes to enable the ecosystem to change and adapt as environmental conditions change.  Ecological Restoration is built on ecosystem theory, but is focused on creating and restoring viable and productive ecological systems.

The highly diverse expertise of the School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) faculty covers all the essential fields of study for an advanced degree program with emphasis in Ecological Restoration.  This area of specialization is further supported by SENR’s strong programs in forest science, wildlife and fisheries science, soil science, wetland science and the environmental social sciences.

Active Graduate Advisors:

Nicholas Basta
Peter Curtis (EEOB)
Konrad Dabrowski
Matt Davies
Scott Demyan
Stacey Fineran
David Hix
Rattan Lal
Brian Lower
Lauren Pintor
Brian Slater
Mazeika Sullivan

Recent Theses and Dissertations (available on OhioLink*)

B. Bernal

PhD

Carbon Sequestration In Wetland Soils

E. Comes

 MS Short-term Geomorphic Response to Lowhead Dam Removal in Two Mid-size Urban Rivers

K. Davidson-Bennett**

MS

Watershed Urbanization Impacts to Headwater Streams in Northeastern Ohio
S. Francino MS Variation in Pawpaw (Asimina triloba L. Dunal) Productivity and Fruit Quality Among Cultivars and Orchards in Ohio
 
D. Marois PhD Modelling Wetland Biogeochemistry and Restoration in South Florida
 

K. Minca

MS

Using Soil Nutrient Tests and 1M HNO3 to Predict Total and Bioaccessible Pb in Urban Soils
E. Monarch MS Ground Flora Composition and Diversity of Young and Mature Wildfire-regenerated Jack Pine Stands
 
J. Palus MS Influence of landscape position on succession in forests undergoing mesophication in southeastern Ohio
 
M. Pollock MS

Geomorphic Differences between Unmined and Surface Mined Lands in Southeasten Ohio
J. Reding MS Rock Climbing or Lichen Climbing? How Rock Climbing Impacts Bryophyte and Lichen Communities Within the Red River Gorge
 
S. Rose PhD Spider Community Response to Disturbances
 
J. Slater MS Historical Land Use Changes and Hydrochemical Gradients In Ohio’s Sphagnum-Dominated Peatlands
 

K. Stefanik**

PhD

Structure and Function of Vascular Plant Communities in Created and Restored Wetlands in Ohio
D. Tomashefski MS An Erodability Assessment of Central Ohio Cropland Soils
 

Y. Zhang**

MS

Predicting River Aquatic Productivity and Dissolved Oxygen before and after Dam Removal in Central Ohio, USA

*Ohio Link articles available to any current student, faculty, or staff member at The Ohio State University
**Students advised by SENR faculty in other graduate programs at The Ohio State University