Lissa Leege

Professor & Center for Sustainability Director Georgia Southern University

  • Statesboro GA

Lissa Leege's research focuses on plant conservation ecology, plant population and community ecology and threats to biodiversity.

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Georgia Southern University

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Biography

Professor Lissa Leege's research focuses on plant conservation ecology with regards to plant population and community ecology and threats to biodiversity. In particular, she is interested in the ecology of rare and invasive plants and how they interact to influence each other’s population dynamics. Her students use field and greenhouse experiments and observations to answer questions about the role of herbivores, fire, invaders, and other disturbances in regulating plant population and community dynamics. In recent years her research has included work on three endangered species in Georgia, Trillium reliquum, Trillium persistens and Baptisia arachnifera. Her research is based primarily in the southeastern U.S. and in Michigan.

Areas of Expertise

Biology of Plants
Principles of Biology
Environmental Biology
Issues in Sustainability

Accomplishments

Keep Bulloch Beautiful, Golden Can of Service Award

2012 Keep Bulloch Beautiful, Golden Can of Service Award

Who’s Who Among American Women

2010 Who’s Who Among American Women

Education

Michigan State University

Ph.D.

Botany and Plant Pathology

1997

Westminster College of Salt Lake City

Ed.D.

Teacher's Certification

1990

St. Olaf College

B.A.

Biology

1988

Articles

The recovery of Lake Michigan sand dune communities following invasive pine removal

Restoration Ecology

2014

Invasive species removal is an important first step toward restoring invaded ecosystems; however, restoration following removal may be hindered by (1) unintended consequences of management, such as habitat destabilization, and/or (2) legacy effects of the invader, such as persistent alterations of soil structure or plant community composition. During 1956–1972, approximately 26,000 individuals of the non‐native pine, Pinus nigra, were planted into multiple freshwater sand dune habitats as a stabilization measure on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan in Allegan County, MI, U.S.A. From 2004 to 2010, we evaluated the recovery of foredune and blowout habitats following P. nigra removal in 2003–2005. We compared sand movement and plant community structure, composition, and richness between removal and control sites over the 6 years following pine removal. In addition, we evaluated the impact of litter removal on recolonization of native graminoids in foredunes. Sand movement patterns never differed between removal and control sites in foredunes; however, accumulation was more common in removal sites in blowouts 1 and 6 years following pine removal. Vegetation cover in removal sites became indistinguishable from control sites in both foredunes and blowouts, but species richness for both forb and woody species was higher in removal sites in blowouts. Removal sites in both foredunes and blowouts had higher cover by forbs and lower cover by graminoids. Pine litter did not inhibit recolonization of foredunes by native graminoids. These results suggest that high disturbance habitats, such as sand dunes, have the potential to recover from invasion if the mechanism of disturbance is restored and pioneer species are present to recolonize the system.

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Impacts of laurel wilt disease on redbay (Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng.) population structure and forest communities in the coastal plain of Georgia, USA

Biological Invasions

2013

Laurel wilt disease (LWD), a fungal disease vectored by the non-native redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff), has caused mortality of redbay (Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng.) in the coastal plain of Georgia since 2003. Despite its rapid spread, little research has evaluated its impacts on redbay population structure and forest communities. Diseased populations of redbay in five sites (2–4 years post infestation) were compared to healthy populations in three uninfested sites in five counties in Georgia. The results showed high redbay mortality, shifts in size structure, and changes in community .

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Improving learning outcomes in large environmental science classrooms through short-term service-learning projects

Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences

2011

We conducted an investigation on the efficacy of service-learning in large environmental biology classes. We were interested in whether or not service-learning in classes with over 200 students has an impact on content learning, and attitudes/behaviors related to the content. Students completed a pre-survey, a service project, and reflection paper (experimental group), and a post-survey. Comparing pre- and post-surveys, student responses to attitude, and behavior questions revealed a positive impact on environmental worldview. Student confidence in understanding course content improved in the specific areas related to service projects. Overall, our study shows that large classroom learning is enhanced by short-term service-learning projects.

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