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In July 1794, Andre Michaux collected the type
specimen of Michaux's sumac (Rhus michauxii),
a Federally listed endangered species, in Mecklenburg County, North
Carolina, where the species was apparently later extirpated.
In November 2001, students in Dr. Barden's Conservation Biology lab
re-introduced the plant to the county at a prairie restoration at Latta Plantation Park.
Courses taught
Areas of Specialization
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Conservation biology
of Helianthus schweinitzii and Rhus michauxii,
two Federally listed endangered species
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Restoration of
Piedmont prairie habitat
Professional Experience
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Biology Faculty, University of North Carolina at Charlotte (1974 -
present)
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Park Ranger, U. S.
National Park Service (1968-1971)
Education
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Ph.D. Ecology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (1974)
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M.S. Wildlife Biology,
University
of Maine, Orono (1968)
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B.A. Mathematics, Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas
(1964)
Research Interests
Schweinitz's sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii), a Federally listed endangered
species, occurs only within 100 km of Charlotte,
NC. We are using reciprocal
transplants, long-term monitoring, and habitat restoration to learn why the
species is rare and what must be done to increase its populations. We have
learned that the sunflower was one of many prairie species that once
inhabited Piedmont prairies east of the Appalachian
Mountains. We are currently restoring and monitoring three
prairie sites near Charlotte
as part of the management of the sunflower. We are also studying the ecology
and conservation of Michaux's sumac (Rhus michauxii),
a very rare dwarf shrub that occurs only in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia.
Selected Publications
2004 André Michaux’s
sumac - Rhus michauxii
Sargent: Why did Sargent
rename it and where was it found? Castanea
69: 109-115. J. F. Matthews and L. S. Barden
2002 Vascular flora of Piedmont prairies: evidence from
several prairie remnants. Castanea 67:
1-12. Eric Davis, Catherine McRae, Bret Estep, Jim Matthews, Larry
Barden.
2001 The wild east: a biography of
the Great Smoky Mountains. Ecology 82:
3563-3564. (Book Review)
2000 Population maintenance of Pinus pungens
Lam. (Table Mountain pine) after a century without
fire. Natural Areas Journal 20: 227-233.
2000 The dilemma of a common species at the edge of its
range: conservation of bear oak (Quercus
ilicifolia) and its low elevation rocky summit
community in North Carolina.
Natural Areas Journal 20: 85-89.
1999 Rocky microsites prove
best for establishing Schweinitz's sunflower, an
endangered species of the Carolina Piedmont. Ecological Restoration 17:
171-172. Eric Davis, Nancy Shinn, Donna Hood, and L. S. Barden.
1997
Historic prairies in the Piedmont of North and South Carolina. Natural Areas
Journal 17:149-152.
1997 Corrections of the chromosome number, distribution
and misidentifications of the federally endangered sunflower, Helianthus schweinitzii T&G. Torreya
124: 198-209. J. F. Matthews, L. S. Barden and C. R. Matthews.
Recent Theses Directed
2006. Lee Lehman. M.S.
Response of prairie species to restoration of natural hydrologic conditions
at Suther Prairie, Cabarrus
County, North
Carolina
2005. Sara Keisler M.S. Reciprocal migration of
prairie and old field species at Suther Prairie, Cabarrus County, North
Carolina.
2003. Suzanne Savin M.S. Genetic variation in Helianthus
schweinitzii as revealed by microsatellite analysis.
2001. Bret Estep M.S. Genetic variation in Helianthus schweinitzii as revealed by reciprocal common garden
transplants.
1999. Catherine McRae M.S. Effectiveness of tree girdling and herbicide
injection in Piedmont prairie restoration.
1996. Eric Davis M.S. Establishment
of a Piedmont prairie at Latta Plantation Park.
1996. Nancy Shinn M.S. Germination/soil disturbance requirements of
Helianthus
schweinitzii
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