Heather Peckham Griscom

Associate Professor of Biology

B.A. - Smith College
M.F.S. - Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
Ph.D. - Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and the New York Botanical Garden 

E-mail - griscohp@jmu.edu
Phone - 540-568-5525
Fax - 540-568-3333
Office - Bioscience 1028H

Office Hours

Courses:   Ecology and Evolution (BIO 124), Forest Ecology (BIO 427).

Research Interests:  Forest restoration ecology in tropical and temperate regions, tree seedling response to environmental factors and site treatments.

My research interest in forest ecology currently focuses on seedling regeneration ecology, succession, and restoration of native forests in Virginia and West Virginia.  I investigate the processes affecting the regeneration of natural forests and the reintroduction of economically important, native tree (American chestnut) and herbaceous species (American ginseng).  I use experimental treatments to identify optimal locations for reintroduction of these species.   My basic applied research objective is the identification of management techniques for enhancing forest ecological integrity, maintaining forest diversity and ecosystem services. 

Publications:

Griscom, H., B. Griscom, L. Siderhurst*.  Spatial Dynamics of Canopy Trees in an Old Growth Eastern Hemlock Forest in the Central Appalachian Highlands. In Press.  Natural Areas Journal. 

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, M.S. Ashton.  2011.  Restoration of dry tropical forests in Central America: a review of pattern and process.  Forest Ecology and Management.  261.  1564-1579.

Hurney, C, J. Brown, H. Griscom, E. Kancler. 2011.   Closing the Loop:  Involving Faculty in the Assessment of Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning Skills of Biology Majors.  Journal of College Science Teaching.  40.   18-23.

Siderhurst  L.A.*, H.P. Griscom, M. Hudy,  Z.J. Bortolot.   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., B.M.P. Singhakumara, H.P. Griscom, M.S. Ashton.  2008.  Change in leaf structure in relation to crown position and size class for tree species within a Sri Lankantropical 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.  

* Graduate student co-author