D.
Christopher Holly
Invasive
Plant Ecology
Research
Interests:
The
majority of my research addresses questions of plant community ecology.
I’m
interested in the ecological phenomena that have led to
present day communities and the static constraints or dynamic
influences of
a given system. Particularly, I’m interested in examining a few
possible mechanisms
(competition, facilitation, propagule
pressure, and allelopathy) that
control plant communities and how these vectors work across gradients (environmental,
spatial, and temporal). Presently, most of my research examines
these questions through the larger plant ecology paradigm of biological
invasions.
Current
Research Topics:
Assessing the potential of non-native species to alter major
ecosystem properties and functions
Documenting the ability of a
non-native grass species (Imperata cylindrica)
Utilizing TRFLP methods to
characterize and describe changes to native microbial
Characterizing the role that landscapes play in invasion
success
Modeling the effect that landuse has
on the spread of invasive species in Mississippi
Characterizing the influence of
landscape variables (heterogeneity, connectivity, spatial structure)
on the
Evaluating the effects of reduced symbiotic relationships on the
process of invasion
Experimental
manipulations of belowground mycorrhizal assemblages and
characterization of the effects
Publications:
Holly, D. Christopher and G.N. Ervin. In Press. Effects of intraspecific seedling density, soil type, and light availability upon growth and
biomass allocation in Cogongrass,
Imperata cylindrica. Weed Technology.
Holly, D. Christopher and G.N. Ervin. 2006. Characterization and quantitative assessment of interspecific and intraspecific penetration of
belowground vegetation by cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.) rhizomes.
Weed Biology and Management 6:120-123.
Ervin, G.N., M. Smothers, D.C. Holly, C. Anderson, and J. Linville. 2006. Relative importance of wetland type vs. anthropogenic activities in
determining site invasibility. Biological
Invasions 8:1425-1432.
Ervin, G.N., B.D. Herman, J.T. Bried, and D.C. Holly. 2006. Evaluating non-native species and wetland indicator status as components of
wetlands floristic assessment. Wetlands
26:1114-1129.
Contact
Information
D.
Christopher Holly
Mississippi
State
Department
of Biological Sciences
PO
Box GY
Mississippi State, MS
39759
