James Madison University • Biology Department, Phone 540-908-7294 • E-mail [email protected], Website www.jmu.edu/biology/faculty_griscom.shtml
HEATHER PECKHAM GRISCOM
PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION
- 2017-present, Professor, Associate Professor 2011-2017, Assistant Professor 2006-2011; James Madison University.
- 2004-2006, Visiting Professor, Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, Virginia
- 1998-2004, M.F.S., Ph.D., Forest Ecology, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University and The New York Botanical Garden, Ashton Lab.
- 1993-1997, B.A., Biology, Smith College, Northampton, MA
REFERRED JOURNAL ARTICLES (N=30) (* denotes collaborator was an undergraduate or master’s student when work was performed)
Portmann, J.M.*, Davenport G.H.**, Starinchak B.H.*, Griscom, H.P. 2024. A preliminary assessment of water quality in silvopastoral systems of Panama’s dry tropical forest. Neotropical Biology and Conservation. 19(2).
C. Brown*, Griscom, H. 2023. Assessing red spruce restoration potential under current and future predicted climate change in Virginia. Restoration Ecology. 31(8).
Portmann*, J., Gillen*, S., Starinchak* B, Griscom, H. 2023. Case Study on Blacks Run: A Novel Approach to Assessing Urban Stream Restoration. Urban Naturalist Notes, Vol 10. Issue 6.
H. Griscom, Bergman Z**, Stark C**, Ingram C**. 2022. Response of Chestnut Hybrid Seedlings to Forest Management Strategies in an Appalachian Cove Forest Ecosystem. 10. Trees, Forests, People. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2022.100344
C. Brown*, Griscom, H. 2022. Differentiating between distribution and suitable habitat in ecological niche models: A red spruce (Picea rubens) case study. Ecological Modelling. 472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.110102
Peters, J*., Griscom, H. Highlighting an Overlooked Hotspot for American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in Virginia. 2022. Natural Areas Journal, 42(2):109-119. URL: https://doi.org/10.3375/21-2
Evans, T*. H. Griscom. 2021. Comparing the effects of four propagation methods on hybrid chestnut seedling quality
Trees, Forests, and People. 6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2021.100157
Cook-Patton, S.,Leavitt, S.M., Gibbs, D., Harris, N. Lister, K., Anderson-Teixeria, K.Jl, Briggs, R.D., Chazdon, R.L., Ellis, P.W., Crowther, T.W., Griscom, H.P. . . . Griscom, B.W. 2020. Mapping potential carbon capture from global natural forest regrowth. Nature.
H. Griscom. 2020. The long-term effects of active management and landscape characteristics on carbon accumulation and diversity within a seasonal dry tropical ecosystem. Forest Ecology and Management. 473.
Rogers, C.*, H. Griscom. 2019. The Ecology of a Rare Species, Solanum conocarpum, in St. John USVI. Caribbean Naturalist, 69: 1-12.
Thyroff, E*, Griscom. H. 2019. Experimental Study of Soil and Aspect on American Ginseng in an Appalachian Cove Ecosystem. Natural Areas Journal. 39(3): 378-383.
Horstman, E., Ayon, J., Griscom, H. 2018. Growth, Survival, Carbon Rates For Some Dry Tropical Forest Trees Used In Enrichment Planting in the Cerro Blanco Protected Forest on the Ecuadorian Coast. Journal of Sustainable Forestry. 82-96. doi: 10.1080/10549811.2017.1387153
Edgar, B.*, H. Griscom. 2017. Effect of Controlled Burns on Buck Mountain, West Virginia. Natural Areas Journal. 37 (1): 30-38.
Hartman, CJ, DeMars, C., Griscom, H, Butner, H. 2017. Assessment of Undergraduate Students’ Environmental Stewardship Reasoning and Knowledge. In Press. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 18 (4): 492-502, doi: 10.1108/IJSHE-07-2015-0128.
Griscom, H., B. Griscom, L. Siderhurst*. 2014 Spatial Dynamics of Canopy Trees in an Old Growth Eastern Hemlock Forest in the Central Appalachian Highlands. Natural Areas Journal. 34 (1): 99-104.
Siderhurst*, L., H. Griscom, C. Kyger*, J. Stutzman*, B. Trumbo*. 2012. Tree Species Composition and Diversity and the Abundance of Exotics in Forest Fragments of the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. Castanea. 77. 348-363.
Griscom, H., B. Griscom. 2012. Evaluating the ecological niche of American chestnut for optimal hybrid seedling reintroduction sites in the Appalachian Ridge and Valley Province. New Forests. 43. 441-455.
Maskiewicz, A., Griscom, H. & Welch, N. 2012. Using targeted active-learning exercises and diagnostic question clusters to improve students’ understanding of carbon cycling in ecosystems. Life Sciences Education. CBE. 11. 58-67.
Meister, K. M.S. Ashton, D. Craven, H. Griscom. 2012. Carbon dynamics of tropical forests. In M.S. Ashton, M.L. Tyrrell, D. Spalding & B. Gentry. (eds.), Managing Forest Carbon in a Changing Climate. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY.
Griscom, H.P, A.B. Connelly, M.S. Ashton, M.H.Wishnie, J.Deago. 2011. The structure and composition of a tropical dry forest landscape after land clearance; Azuero Peninsula, Panama. Journal of Sustainable Forestry. 30: 756-774.
Ashton, M.S., C.V.S. Gunatilleke, I.A.U.N. Gunatilleke, H. Griscom, P.S. Ashton and B.M.P. Singhakumara. 2011. The effect of shade on leaf structure and physiology of tree seedlings from a mixed dipterocarp forest. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 167: 332-343.
Griscom, B.G., H.P. Griscom. 2011. Species-Specific Barriers to Tree Regeneration in High Elevation Habitats of West Virginia. Restoration Ecology. 19. 660-670.
Griscom, H.P, Ashton, M., 2011. Restoration of dry tropical forests in Central America: a review of pattern and process. Forest Ecology and Management. 261: 1564-1579
Siderhurst L.A.*, Griscom H.P., Hudy M., Bortolot Z.J. 2010. Changes in light levels with loss of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) at a southern Appalachian headwater stream: implications for brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Forest Ecology and Management. 260: 1677-1688.
Griscom, H.P., B.W. Griscom, P.M.S. Ashton. 2009. Forest regeneration from pasture in the dry tropics of Panama: effects of cattle, exotic grass, and forested riparia. Restoration Ecology. 17: 117–126.
Panditharathna, P. A. K. A. K., Singhakumara, B. M. P., Griscom, H.P., M. S. Ashton. 2008. Change in leaf structure in relation to crown position and size class for tree species within a Sri Lankan tropical rain forest. Botany-Botanique. 86: 633-640.
Griscom, H.P., E.K.V. Kalko, P.M.S. Ashton. 2007. Frugivory by small vertebrates within a deforested, dry tropical region of Central America. Biotropica. 39. 278-282.
Tomohiro, S.,M.S. Ashton, B. Singhakumara, H. P. Griscom, S. Ediriweera, B.W. Griscom. 2006. Effects of fire on the recruitment of rain forest vegetation beneath Pinus caribaea plantations, Sri Lanka. Forest Ecology and Management. 226. 357-363.
Griscom, H.P., P.M.S. Ashton, G.P. Berlyn. 2005. Seedling survival and growth of three native species in pastures: implications for dry forest rehabilitation. Forest Ecology and Management. 218. 306-318.
Labova, T.A., S.A. Mori, F. Blanchard, H. Peckham, P. Charles-Dominique. 2003. Cecropia as a food resource for bats in French Guiana and the significance of fruit structure in seed dispersal and longevity. American Journal of Botany. 90. 388-403.
Simmons, N.A., R. Voss, H. Peckham, 2000. The bat fauna of the Saul region, French Guiana. Acta Chiropterologica. 2. 23-36.
NON-REFERRED PUBLICATIONS
Griscom, H. 2004. Ph.D. Dissertation, Rehabilitation of a dry tropical forest ecosystem in a cattle pasture matrix on the Azuero Peninsula, Panama; Yale University.
Peckham, H. 2000. Dietary Overlap and Relative Abundance of Two Sympatric Bat Species in Central French Guiana. TRI News. 19. 32-35.
TEACHING
Assistant/Associate/ Full Professor (2006- present) James Madison University, Harrisonburg Virginia
- Majors courses include: Quantitative Ecology and Evolution lecture and lab (96 students), Forest Ecology lecture and lab (20 students), Tropical Ecology and Forest Restoration
- Graduate courses include: Seminar in Restoration Ecology
- Majors courses include: General Ecology, Field Natural History, Plant Biology, Physiological Plant Ecology, Introduction to Cells, and Introduction to Biology Lab.
- Non-Majors Courses include: Plant and Human Affairs
EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
- Lead a forest ecology workshop for Virginia Master Naturalists, 2008, 2010.
- Co-leader on a two day wildflower pilgrimage in West Virginia for enthusiastic naturalists (2009, 2010).
- SCHEV Professional Development Workshop for Teachers. Inquiry Approaches to math and Science. Conducted professional development workshop for secondary education teachers on hands-on plant science in the classroom. Sweet Briar College, 2005-2009.
- Judged at the local science fair at JMU, 2009.
- Interviewed for the local radio station (WXJM) on science at JMU, 2009.
FUNDED GRANTS – post-dissertation (Total = $120,000.00)
- Cinquegrana Presidential Chair Teaching in Excellence Award. $40.000
- Jeffress Memorial Trust. Shifting Competitive Hierarchy? Implications for Restoration of the American chestnut, Castanea dentata. Supplemental Grant 2011-2013. $10,000.
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station. Predicting the future forest underneath a dying eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) stand in a headwater ecosystem. Implications for native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations. Supplemental Grant, 2010-2011. $10,000
- Jeffress Memorial Trust. Shifting Competitive Hierarchy? Implications for Restoration of the American chestnut, Castanea dentata. Supplemental Grant 2008-2009. $10,000.
- Jeffress Memorial Trust. Shifting Competitive Hierarchy? Implications for Restoration of the American chestnut, Castanea dentata. 2007-2008. $25,000.
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station. Predicting the future forest underneath a dying eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) stand in a headwater ecosystem. Implications for native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations. A proposal to the Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service 2007-2008. $20,000.
- Tickle Bliss Foundation Summer Support For Undergraduate Research. James Madison University. 2008. $4000
- Faculty Assistance Summer Research Grant. James Madison University. 2007. $3000.
- Seed Research Grant. Sweet Briar College. 2006. $1000
FUNDED DOCTORAL GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS ($31,000 excluding fellowship)
- Supplemental USDA Travel Grant. 2002. $10,000.
- International Areas Studies Scholarship, Yale University. 2002. $6000.
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Scholarship, Yale University. 2002. $3000.
- T. Roosevelt Memorial Fund Scholarship, American Museum of Natural History. 2002. $2000.
- Bat Conservation International Scholarship, Bat Conservation International (BCI). 2002. $2000.
- Tropical Research Institute Scholarship, Yale University. 2001. $3000.
- G. Evelyn Hutchinson Fellowship, Yale University. 2001. $5000.
- USDA Fellowship in joint degree Ph.D. program with Yale and NYBG. 2000-2003. $68,000. University Fellowship Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. 2000-2004.
RESEARCH MENTORING
Undergraduate faculty research supervisor (2006-present)
1. Megan Lively (Academic Year 2006-2008); Successional dynamics of old growth hemlock forests.
2. Annie Raup (Academic Year 2006-2008); American chestnut research in the greenhouse.
3. Devon Flaherty (Academic Year 2008-2010); Restoration plan at the JMU Farm.
4. Hunter Bedard (Summer 2008, Academic Year 2008-2009); Successional dynamics of old growth hemlock forests in West Virginia.
5. Andrew Buijs (Summer 2008, Academic Year 2008-2009); Successional dynamics of old growth hemlock forests. Carly Ferro (Academic Year 2009); JMU Farm restoration plan.
6. Beth Napoda (Academic Year 2008-2009); Chestnut greenhouse data and extensively used her statistical knowledge.
7. Wesley Bailey (Academic Year 2009-2010); National study on tree phenology and climate change.
8. Michael Belovich (Academic Year 2009-2011); Chestnut seedlings in the field and in the greenhouse.
9. Allison Scire (Academic Year 2009-2011); Chestnut project.
10. Lauren Hurst (Academic Year 2010-2011); Intersection of agriculture & forests in the Shenandoah valley.
11. Taylor Evans (Academic Year 2011-2013); Natural regeneration under dying hemlocks.
12. Jessie Ward (Academic Year 2012-2013). Data collection on chestnut seedlings in the field
13. Katherine O’Donnell (Academic Year 2012-2013). Data collection on chestnut seedlings in the field
14. Emily Thyroff (Academic Year 2012-2014). Ginseng restoration project.
15. Anna Nordseth (Academic Year 2014-2015). Data collection on chestnut seedlings in the field
16. Olivia Vito (Academic Year 2013-2015). Data collection on chestnut seedlings in the field
17. Ben Pisano (Academic Year 2014-2015). Data collection on chestnut seedlings in the field
18. Anna Nordseth (Academic Year 2014-2017). Shade grown coffee experiments. Honor’s thesis. JMU Hillcrest and National Udall scholarship recipient. Outstanding Senior in Biology award.
19. Megan Budnik (Academic Year 2014-2016). Restoration chestnuts 1.0 in West Virginia
20. Andrew Sharp (Academic Year 2015-2016). Restoration chestnuts 1.0 in West Virginia
21. Matthew Morrissey (Academic Year 2015-2016). Data collection on chestnut seedlings in the field
22. Chris Coggin (Academic Year 2015-2016). Data collection on chestnut seedlings in the field
23. Guy Stewart (Academic Year 2015-2016). Data collection on chestnut seedlings in the field
24. Ashley Warrington (Academic Year 2015-2017). Ginseng restoration project. Botany award recipient.
25. Abigail Goszka (Academic Year 2015-2016). Ginseng restoration project.
26. Charles Holmes (Academic Year 2016-2017). Mycorrhizae and Ginseng
27. Cecilia Rogers (Academic Year 2016-2018). Conservation of an endangered, endemic plant species. Honor’s thesis. Hillcrest recipient. Botany award recipient. Margaret Gordon recipient.
28. Zoe Bergman. (Academic Year 2017-2019).Data collection on chestnut seedlings in the field. Botany award recipient. Margaret Gordon recipient.
29. Cassie Stark. (Academic Year 2017-2018). Data collection on chestnut seedlings in the field
30. Brooke Thompson. (Academic Year 2016-2018). Ginseng restoration project.
31. Amanda Leonard. (Academic Year 2017-2018). Ginseng restoration project.
32. Cindy Ingram (Academic Year 2018-2019). Data collection on chestnut seedlings in the field
Graduate Student Mentoring
1. Leigh Siderhurst, JMU, Biology, M.S. 2010 (chair)
2. Brad Trumbo, JMU, Biology, M.S. 2010 (committee member)
3. Chas Kyser, M.S. 2010 (committee member)
4. Julia Stutzman, M.S. 2010 (committee member)
5. Jennifer Courtwright, M.S. 2011 (committee member)
6. Brinton Domangue, M.S. 2011 (committee member)
7. Jamie Smith, M.S. 2014 (committee member)
8. Barry Edgar, M.S. 2014 (chair)
9. Katelyn Walters, M.S., 2015 (chair)
10. Kelly Livernoch, M.S. 2015-2017 (chair)
11. Suzanne Allison, M.S. 2014-2016 (committee member)
12. Matthew Harris, M.S. 2016-2018 (co-chair)
13. Emily Murray, M.S. 2016-2018 (chair)
14. Chris Coggin, M.S. 2017-2019 (chair)
15. Tyler Kovacs, M.S. 2017-2019 (chair)
16. Warner 2017-2019 (committee member)
17. Melissa Encinias 2017-2019 (committee member)
18. Morgan Hussey 2018-2020 (committee member)
19. Jacob Peters 2018-2020 (chair)
20. Taylor Evans 2019-2021 (chair)
JOURNAL REFEREE ACTIVITY
Biotropica, Forest Ecology and Management, Journal of Sustainable Forestry, Ecological Applications, Journal of Tropical Ecology, New Forests, Revista de Biología Tropical
PAPERS PRESENTED AND INVITED SEMINARS (since 2007)
Griscom, H. EEB revision. Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB, Memphis). April 2019. Presentation.
Griscom, H. Resilience of a dry tropical forest. James Madison University. April 2018. Invited speaker for a seminar series
Griscom, H. Resilience of a dry tropical forest. Purdue University. November 2017. Invited speaker for a seminar series.
Griscom, H. Experimental trials with American Ginseng. Blandy Farm Seminar. June 2016. Invited speaker for a seminar series.
Griscom, H., Ludwig, P. Nuts and bolds of a curriculum revision. Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB). March 2016. Poster session.
Thyroff, E.*, Griscom, H. Ginseng restoration. Ecological Society of America (ESA). Conference,Balimore, MD. August, 2015. Poster session.
Griscom, H., Cresawn, K, Ludwig, L. Using DQCs to evaluate student retention of central biological concepts through a sequence of introductory biology courses. Ecological Society of America (ESA). Conference, Portland, Oregon. August, 2012. Poster session.
Griscom, H. Reintroduction of the American Chestnut. Shenandoah University. Invited speaker for a seminar series. October 2010
Griscom, H., Ashton, M.A. Restoration of dry tropical forests in Central America. Association of Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC). July, 2010. Conference, Bali, Indonesia. Invited speaker in an organized session.
Maskiewicz, A., Griscom, H., Welch, N. Where's the Carbon? Increasing Public Understanding of Global Warming with Improved College Science Education. Ecological Society of America (ESA). Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. August, 2010. Invited speaker in an organized session.
Griscom, H. Niche differentiation of Castanea dentata (American chestnut), Castanea hybrids, and other native tree species in Virginia. Association of Southern Biologists. April, 2010. Conference, Asheville, North Carolina. Presentation.
Griscom, H. Restoration work in Virginia. Invited speaker for the Virginia Native Plant Society. February 2010.
Griscom, H. Shifting Competitive Hierarchy? Implications for Restoration of the American chestnut, Castanea dentata. Invited Speaker for the UVA Ecology Seminar. November 2009
Griscom, H. Restoration of the American Chestnut. Invited keynote speaker for the annual meeting of the American Chestnut Foundation. October 2009.
Hartley, L., C. Anderson, B. Wilke, C. D’Avanzo, B. Abraham, A. Dickman, H. Griscom, A. Maskiewicz, C. Picone. Student Reasoning Related to Matter and Energy Flow through Ecosystems: Lessons from Diagnostic Question Clusters. Ecological Society of America (ESA). Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. August, 2009. Poster Session.
Griscom, H., A. Maskiewicz, N. Welch. Using DQCs and active learning strategies to assess ecology students’ alternative conceptions about carbon cycling in ecosystems. Ecological Society of America (ESA). Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. August, 2009. Poster Session.
Griscom, H., B. Napoda*. Ecological Society of America (ESA). Shifting Competitive Hierarchy? Implications for Restoration of the American chestnut, Castanea dentata. Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. August, 2009. Presentation
Griscom, H. Restoration of the American Chestnut. July, 2009. Blandy Farm Research Seminar.
Griscom, H., H. Kraenzle, Z. Bortolot. Mapping the current and potential distribution of red spruce (Picea rubens) in Virginia: Implications for the restoration of degraded high elevation habitat. Ecology and Management of High-Elevation Forests of the Central and Southern Appalachian Mountains. Conference, Slatyfork, WV. May, 2009. Poster session.
Griscom, H.P., B.G. Griscom, L. Siderhurst**, M.S. Ashton. Spatial Dynamics of Canopy Trees in an Old Growth Hemlock Forest in the Central Appalachian Highlands. Association of Southern Biologists. April, 2009. Conference, Birmingham, Alabama. Presentation.
Siderhust, L.**, H.P. Griscom. Changes in light levels with loss of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) at a southern Appalachian headwater stream: implications for brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Assocation of Southern Biologists. April, 2009. Conference, Birmingham, Alabama. Poster Session.
Griscom, H.P. B.W. Griscom. The restoration of a degraded forested habitat in the high elevation forests of West Virginia. Ecological Society of America (ESA). Conference, Milwaukee. August, 2008. Poster Session.
Griscom, H.P, H. Kraenzle. Red Spruce Forests and Climate Change. Virginia Association of Forest Health Professionals. Conference, Charlottesville, VA, 2008. Invited Speaker.
Griscom, H.P. Restoration of Tropical and Temperate Forests. WEBS (Women Evolving Biological Sciences). Symposium, Seattle Washington. 2007. Invited participant.
* Undergraduate student
** Graduate student
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
ESA (Ecological Society of America), SABS (Southern Appalachian Botanical Society), ASB (Association of Southeastern Biologists)