Oklahoma State University	Department of Zoology

Loren M. Smith, Professor and Department Head Ph.D., Utah State University Email: loren.smith@okstate.edu Phone: 405-744-9668

(Wetland Ecology, Biodiversity, Restoration Ecology, Playa Wetlands)

Specific Interests

My research focuses on various aspects of wetland ecology and principles of biodiversity. Most of my graduate students examine wetland ecosystems in relation to (1) the needs of migratory birds, (2) biodiversity, and (3) restoration. My personal research is focused on biogeography of playa wetlands and biotic diversity in Great Plains ecosystems and is conducted throughout the United States and Canada.

Service

I am currently on the Board of Trustees for the Nature Conservancy of Texas and editorial board of Research Letters in Ecology. I am a past editor in chief of the Journal of Wildlife Management and have served on the editorial boards of Wetlands, Auk, and Gibier Faune Sauvage (Game and Wildlife; Paris, France).

Selected Publications (complete list can be found here)

• Bhattacharjee, J., J. P. Taylor, and L. M. Smith. 2007. The importance of soil characteristics in determining survival of first year cottonwood seedlings in altered riparian habitats. Restoration Ecology 15: (In press)
• Torrence, S. M., L. M. Smith, and S. T. McMurry. 2007. Larval Hannemania sp. infestations of Spea spp. on the Southern High Plains, Texas, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases: (In press).
• Moon, J. A., D. A. Haukos, and L. M. Smith. 2007. Declining body condition of northern pintails wintering in the Playa Lakes Region. Journal of Wildlife Management 71: 218-221.
• Venne, L. S., G. P. Cobb, G. Coimbatore, L. M. Smith, and S. T. McMurry. 2006. Influence of land use on metal concentrations in playa sediments and amphibians in the Southern High Plains. Environmental Pollution 144:112-118.
• Andrei, A., L. M. Smith, and D. A. Haukos. 2006. Community composition and migration chronology of shorebirds using the saline lakes of the Southern Great Plains. Journal of Field Ornithology 77:372-383.
• Taylor, J. T., L. M. Smith, and D. A. Haukos. 2006. Evaluation of woody plant restoration in the Middle Rio Grande: 10 years after. Wetlands 26:1150-1159.
• Anderson, J. T., and L. M. Smith. 2004. Persistence and colonization strategies of playa wetland invertebrates. Hydrobiologia 513:77-86.
• Gonzalez, Z., D. A. Ray, L. R. McAliley, M. J. Gray, C. Perchellet, L. M. Smith, and L. D. Densmore. 2004. Five polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Great Plains Toad, Bufo cognatus. Molecular Ecology Notes 4:9-10.
• Gray, M. J., L. M. Smith, and R. Brenes. 2004. Effects of agricultural cultivation on demographics of Southern High Plains amphibians. Conservation Biology 18:1368-1377.
• Smith, L. M. 2003. Playas of the Great Plains. University of Texas Press. Austin. 257 pp.