My research & teaching interests include the application of ecological science toward real-world problems involving conservation of species, sustainable use of resources, land degradation, climate change, and ecosystem management I welcome undergraduate & graduate research projects.
COURSES OFFERED
Undergraduate
- WSES 4311 Fire Ecology ()
- WSES 3406 Wildland Plant Identification and Ecology ()
- WSES 3408 Dendrology and Woody Plant Identification ()
- WSES 4303 Ecological Restoration of Plant Communities ()
Graduate
- WSES 5306 Fire Ecology ()
- WSES 5302 Natural Resource Ecology ()
Workshop
- S130-190 Wildland Firefighting continuing education course (Co-instructor)
RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES
Research Activities
- Community & ecosystem-level vegetation dynamics
- The role of disturbance on vegetation communities
- Fire ecology
- Restoration of degraded wildlands
- Cultural and historical aspects of ecology
- Application of ecology within agricultural systems
Scholarly Activities
- Mesquite savanna-Texas wintergrass complex: Best management practices for conversion to native warm season grasses. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Principle Investigator. $290,000 2015-2018.
- Native Texas Milkweed Modelling Using Citizen Science Data- 2017 Conservation License Plate Grant. Texas Wildlife Diversity Program – Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Principle Investigator. $9885 2016.
PUBLICATIONS
Refereed Publications
- Yao, J., D.B. Murray, A. Adhikari , and J.D. White. 2012. Fire in a sub-humid woodland: the balance between carbon sequestration and habitat conservation. Forest Ecology and Management 280:40-51.
- Murray, D.B., J.D. White, and P. Swint. 2013. Woody vegetation persistence and disturbance in central Texas grasslands inferred from multi-decadal historical aerial photographs. Rangeland Ecology & Management 66: 297-304.
- Murray, D.B., J.D. White, and J. Yao. 2013. Loss of neighbors, fire, and climate effects on Texas red oak growth in a juniper-dominated woodland ecosystem. American Midland Naturalist 170: 348 – 369.
- Yao, J., W.C. Hockaday, D.B. Murray, A. Adhikari , and J.D. White. 2014. Changes in fire-derived soil black carbon storage in a subhumid woodland. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 119: 1807-1819.
- Thomas, J. A., J. D. White, and D.B. Murray. 2016. Tree species influence woodland canopy characteristics and crown fire potential. Forest Ecology and Management 362:169-176.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & ACCREDITATIONS
- Member, Association for Fire Ecology (AFE)
- Member, Society for Ecological Restoration (SER)
- Member, Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society
DEGREES
- PhD from Baylor University, Biology
- M.S. from Texas Christian University, Biology
- B.S. Texas A&M University, Biology