Michele Schutzenhofer, Ph.D.
Professor
Office: Voigt Science Hall 207
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.
Other Publications
Schutzenhofer, M.R. and Camilo, G. September 9, 2018. CLIFFnotes by Clifftop. The Vital Role of Bees in Pollination. http://www.clifftopalliance.org/2018/09/the-vital-role-of-bees-in-pollination/ A version of this article appeared in the September 7, 2018 edition of the Monroe County Independent newspaper.
Schutzenhofer, M.R. 2015. Teaching ecological concepts through game-based learning. Proceedings of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education. Vol 37.
Schutzenhofer, M.R. 2009. Linking multiple concepts in an active introductory diversity lab at the zoo. Proceedings of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education. Vol 31.
Schutzenhofer, M.R. 2007. Jigsaw: Indirect effects of a biological control agent. Proceedings of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education. Vol 29.
