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Michele Schutzenhofer, Ph.D.

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Office: Voigt Science Hall 217B

Phone: (618) 537-6934


Education


Ph.D., Ecology, Evolution & Systematics, Saint Louis University

B.S., Biology, McKendree College


Research Interests


I am a community and population ecologist interested in the mechanisms that drive the establishment and success of rare and invasive species. More specifically, I investigate the interactions between community assembly, abiotic conditions, and interspecific interactions in prairie and forest ecosystems. 

I am actively involved in ongoing research projects at Washington University's Tyson Research Center, Nachusa Grasslands, and other local field sites in rural Ilinois. I am eager for students interested in participating in research to join me.


Teaching Interests


I love teaching at McKendree and sharing my excitement for ecology and biology in general. Overall, my teaching philosophy is based on active classroom engagement, inquiry-based learning, and open communication. Courses that I currently teach include:


• Principles of Organismal and Population Biology

• Introduction to Environmental Science

• General Ecology

• Field Botany


Teaching Awards

 

McKendree University's 2021 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award

McKendree University’s 2016 United Methodist Exemplary Teacher Award

 

Peer-Reviewed Publications


Wohlwend, M.R., Schutzenhofer, M.R., and Knight, T.M. 2019. Long-term experiment manipulating community assembly results in favorable restoration outcomes for invaded prairies. Restoration Ecology 27 (6): 1307-1316.

Vitt, P., Knight, T.M., Schutzenhofer, M.R., Kleiman, W., Havens, K. and Bittner, T. 2017. Experimental grazing and grass-specific herbicide application benefit rare forb recruitment. Natural Areas Journal 37(2):161-169.

Ernest, S.K.M., G.M. Yenni, G. Allington, E.M. Christensen, K. Geluso, J.R. Goheen, M.R. Schutzenhofer, S.R. Supp, K.M. Thibault, J.H. Brown, T.J. Valone. 2016. Long-term monitoring and experimental manipulation of a Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem near Portal, Arizona, USA (2003-2013). Ecology 97 (4): 1082.

Burns, J.H., Pardini, E.A., Schutzenhofer, M.R., Chung, Y.Y.A., Seidler, K.J. and Knight, T.M. 2013. Greater sexual reproduction contributes to differences in demography of invasive plants and their noninvasive relatives. Ecology 94(5): 995-1004

Allington, G.R.H., Koons, D., Ernest, S.K.M.,Schutzenhofer, M.R., and T.J. Valone. 2013. Niche opportunities and invasion dynamics in a desert annual community. Ecology Letters 16: 158-166.

Schutzenhofer, M.R., Valone, T.J., and T.M. Knight. 2009. Herbivory and population dynamics of invasive and native Lespedeza. Oecologia 161 (1): 57-66.

Schutzenhofer, M. R. and T. M. Knight. February 2009, posting date. When Biocontrol Isn’t Effective: Making Predictions and Understanding Consequences. Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology, Vol. 6: Issues Figure Set #1

Allan, B.F., Langerhans, R.B., Ryberg, W.A., Landesman, W.J., Griffin, N.W., Katz, R.S., Oberle, B.J., Schutzenhofer, M.R., Smyth, K.N., de St. Maurice, A., Clark, L., Crooks, K.R., Hernandez, D.E., McLean, R.G., Ostfeld, R.S., and Chase, J.M. 2009. Ecological correlates of risk and incidence of West Nile virus in the United States. Oecologia 158: 699-708.

Valone, T.J. and Schutzenhofer, M.R. 2007. Reduced rodent biodiversity destabilizes plant populations. Ecology 88 (1): 26-31.

Schutzenhofer, M.R. and Knight, T. M. 2007 Population-level effects of augmented herbivory on Lespedeza cuneata: Implications for biological control. Ecological Applications 17 (4): 965-971.

Schutzenhofer, M.R. 2007. Herbivory affects mating system and fecundity in congeneric Lespedeza. International Journal of Plant Sciences 168 (7): 1021-1026.

Schutzenhofer, M.R. and Valone, T.J. 2006 Positive and negative effects of exotic Erodium cicutarium on an arid ecosystem. Biological Conservation 132: 376-381.