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Dr. Darrel Murray – Adjunct, Ecosystem Science

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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