Cynthia Brown

Assistant Professor

Cynthia.S.Brown@ColoState.edu  
C034 Plant Sciences
(970) 491-1949

I am currently studying the invasion of plant species into established prairie communities and mechanisms resulting in the range expansion of the exotic annual grass Bromus tectorum in high elevations. I have long been interested in the mechanisms that control the coexistence of plants and the effects of species diversity and composition on ecosystem characteristics (e.g. productivity, resource abundance, and biological invasions). Greater understanding of the factors that control the establishment and growth of new species will improve ecological theory and invasive species management, and our ability to predict which communities are vulnerable to invasion and which invaders will have the greatest impacts. I strive to conduct research that tests ecological theory while addressing practical problems of conservation and management. I am especially interested in grasslands and restoration ecology and plan to compare community and ecosystem processes in different ecosystems in future work.

Courses I Teach:

Ecology and Management of Weeds (BSPM 308) (Fall)

Invasive Plants and Weeds: Ecosystems to Molecules (BSPM 528) (Spring Odd Years)

Representative Publications:

H.I. Rowe, C.S. Brown, and M.W. Paschke. 2008. The influence of soil inoculum and nitrogen availability on restoration of high-elevation steppe communities invaded by Bromus tectorum. Restoration Ecology DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00385.x.

R. Hufft Kao, C.S. Brown, and R.A. Hufbauer. 2008. The role of local adaptation in the spread of an invader: recent range expansion of Bromus tectorum. Invasive Plant Science and Management 1:216-225.

Sher, A., §S. Gieck, C.S. Brown, S. Nissen. 2008. First-year responses of cheatgrass following Tamarix spp control and restoration-related disturbances. Restoration Ecology 16:129-135.

J.P. Freeman, T.J. Stohlgren, M.E. Hunter, P.N. Omi, E.J. Martinson, G.W. Chong, and C.S. Brown. 2007. Rapid assessment of post-fire plant invasions in coniferous forests of the western U.S. Ecological Applications 17:1656-1665.

H.I. Rowe, C.S. Brown, and V. Claassen. 2007. Comparisons of mycorrhizal responsiveness with field soil and commercial inoculum for six native montane species and Bromus tectorum. Restoration Ecology 15: 44-52. (2)