Cathy Mabry McMullen

515-294-1604
mabry@iastate.edu

B.A. Biology, Drake University, 1981
M.A. Biology, Drake University, 1984
M.T.S. (Master of Theological Studies), Harvard Divinity School, 1991
Ph.D. Botany, Iowa State University, 2000

Teaching

My teaching focuses on Dendrology, a four-credit course offered each fall. Enrollment is about 40 students and the course is part of the core curriculum for forestry and animal ecology majors. I also mentor and advise many students outside of class. My goals are for students to gain competency in woody plant identification and in understanding management issues facing the major North American forest regions, and to learn through cooperation and collaboration, in the process building professional skills that they need to succeed in jobs and graduate school.

   Dendrology Website
   Woodland Restoration Website

Research

My research focuses on how to restore ecological function to the landscape. I have three ongoing components of research on restoration of forest diversity and function:  1) establishing baseline data on the diversity, composition and function of the best quality forests remaining in Iowa; 2) documenting the loss of species and function with forest degradation and their lack in newly established forests; 3) the series of steps involved with re-establishing species and forest function. Because restoration success is best assessed by evaluating both animal use and the plant community, animal use of restored habitats another line of research that I am pursuing.

Publications

Dettman, C. L, and Mabry, C.M. Lessons leaned about research and
management: a case study from a Midwest lowland savanna. Restoration Ecology, in press.

Dettman, C.L., Mabry, C.M., and L. Shulte. 2008. Midwestern U.S. 
Savannas: one size does not fit all. Restoration Ecology, in press.

Brudvig, L. and C.M. Mabry. 2008. A trait-based analysis of species lists to guide restoration of Midwestern oak savannas. Restoration Ecology, in press.

Mabry, C.M. Gerken, M.E. and J.R. Thompson. 2008. Nutrient uptake by the herbaceous layer in disturbed and intact forests in central Iowa, USA. Applied Vegetation Science 11: 35-42.

Brudvig, L., C.M. Mabry, J.R. Miller, and T.A. Walker. 2007. 
Evaluation of central North American prairie management using species diversity, life-form, and individual species metrics. Conservation Biology 21(3): 864-874.

Mabry, C.M., and C.M. Caruso. 2006. Evidence for genetic differentiation of Iowa and Minnesota populations of two forest
herbs: implications for restoration. Ecological Restoration 24: 191-192.

Mottl, L.M., C.M. Mabry, and D.R. Farrar. 2006. Seven-year survival of perennial herbaceous transplants in temperate woodland restoration. Restoration Ecology. 14: 330-338.

Mabry, C.M. 2005. Establishing native shade tolerant perennials in highly degraded woodlands (Iowa). Ecological Restoration 23: 198-199.

Asbjornsen, H., L.A. Brudvig, C.M. Mabry, C.W. Evans, and H.M. 
Karnitz. 2005. Defining reference information for restoring ecologically rare tallgrass oak savannas in the Midwest. Journal of Forestry 103: 345-350

Mabry, C.M. 2004. The number and size of seeds in common versus restricted woodland herbaceous species in central Iowa, USA. Oikos
107: 497-504.

Mabry, C.M. 2002. Effect of cattle grazing on woodlands in central Iowa. Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science 109:53-60.

Mabry, C.M., D.D. Ackerly, and F. Gerhardt. 2000. Landscape and species-level distribution of morphological and life history traits in a temperate woodland flora. Journal of Vegetation Science 11:213-224.

Mabry, C.M., and T. Korsgren. 1998. A permanent plot study of vegetation and vegetation-site factors fifty-three years following hurricane disturbance. EcoScience 5:232-40.

Mabry, C.M., S. Hamburg, T.C. Lin, F.W. Horng, H.B. King, and Y.J. 
Hsia. 1998.  Typhoon disturbance and stand-level damage patterns at Fu-Shan Experimental Forest, Taiwan. Biotropica 30:238-250.

Mabry, C.M., and P.W. Wayne. 1997. Defoliation of the annual herb Abutilon theophrasti:  mechanisms underlying reproductive compensation. Oecologia 111:225-232.

Mabry, C.M., M. Jasienski, J.S. Coleman, and F.A. Bazzaz. 1997. 
Genotypic variation in Polygonum pensylvanicum:  nutrient effects on plant growth and aphid colonization. Canadian Journal of Botany 75:546-551.

Mabry, C.M., and J.L. Christiansen. 1991. The activity and breeding cycle of Scaphiopus bombifrons Cope in Iowa. Journal of Herpetology 25:116-119.

Christiansen, J.L., and C.M. Mabry. 1985. The amphibians and reptiles of Iowa's loess hills. The Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science 92:159-163.