Christine Small

Courses Taught

About

My research focuses on forest ecology, conservation, and management, and the cultural dimensions that shape human relationships to natural landscapes. Since 2007, I have partnered with the U.S. Forest Service, American Herbal Products Association, and Appalachian Sustainable Development on forest products research, studying ginseng, goldenseal, black cohosh, and other medicinal forest herbs connecting Appalachian ecosystems and culture to world-wide economic markets.

Our research group also works to understand & mitigate some of today’s most pressing threats to forested ecosystems, including:  

• Conservation and sustainable management of Appalachian medicinal forest herbs
• Invasive plants, insects, and forest disease
• Forest restoration on mountaintop removal coal mining sites
• White-tailed deer-herbivory and forest regeneration
• Land-use history, altered fire regimes, and biodiversity loss
• Seasonal influences of climate change with USA National Phenology Network

Many of these projects have been incorporated into course-based undergraduate research. See the following student-designed project websites for highlights:

•  Forest Health Assessment of Wildwood Park, Radford, Virginia  (BIOL 476: Forest & Wetland Ecology)
•  Radford Phenology Monitoring Program  (BIOL 481: Field Biology & Phenology)

More than 100 undergraduate students have collaborated on field research and professional presentations related to these projects. Students interested in forest ecology and conservation projects are welcome to contact me about current projects & opportunities!