James Grace, Ph.D.
James Grace is a Senior Research Scientist at the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.
BACKGROUND
2015 - present Senior Research Scientist. U.S. Geological Survey, ST
2002 - 2014 Senior Research Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, GS-15
1993 - 2019 Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology, University of Louisiana
2002 – 2005 Affiliate Faculty, School of Renewable Natural Resources, LSU
1992 - 2002 Research Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Division
1990 - 1993 Professor, Department of Botany, Louisiana State University
1985 - 1990 Associate Professor, Department of Botany, Louisiana State Univ.
1989 Visiting Professor, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
1986 Visiting Scientist, Div. Wildlife, CSIRO, Darwin, Australia
1980‑1985 Assistant Professor, Dept. Botany and Microbiology, Univ. Arkansas summer
After graduate school, he held faculty positions at the University of Arkansas and Louisiana State University, where he reached the level of Full Professor. In 2000, he received the millennium Meritorious Research Award from the Society of Wetland Scientists and in 2003 received the National Science Excellence Award from the U.S. Geological Survey. He was selected to be a Fellow of the Ecological Society of America and promoted to the Senior Scientist ranks in 2014. Since 2019 he has been designated as a ‘Highly-Cited Researcher’ by the Web of Science in recognition of his scientific impact during the past decade. In 2021 he received the Presidential Rank Award, which is given out by the President of the United States and is the highest performance award given to career senior scientists and administrators. He has published over 200 papers and reports, including 3 books, one on competitive interactions, one on community analysis, and one on structural equation modeling. As of 2020, Grace has given over 200 invited lectures and workshops in 9 countries during his career.
For more information, search 'Jim Grace USGS'.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Michigan State University
M.S., Clemson University
B.S., Biology, Presbyterian College
Science and Products
A Floristic Quality Assessment system for the coastal prairie of Louisiana
Effects of invasive alien plants on fire regimes
Multivariate control of plant species richness and community biomass in blackland prairie
Temporal dynamics of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) and two species of flea beetles (Aphthona spp.) used as biological control agents
Effects of disturbance on germination and seedling establishment in a coastal prairie grassland: A test of the competitive release hypothesis
Changes in density and height of the shrub baccharis halimifolia following burning in coastal tallgrass prairie
The importance of competition in regulating plant species abundance along a salinity gradient
Interactions between fire and invasive plants in temperate grasslands of North America
Identifying determinants of nations' wetland management programs using structural equation modeling: An exploratory analysis
The roles of community biomass and species pools in the regulation of plant diversity
Science and Products
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A Floristic Quality Assessment system for the coastal prairie of Louisiana
Evaluation systems to assess the biotic integrity of plant communities exist for some ecosystems, but not the increasingly rare coastal prairies of Louisiana. A list of plant species occurring in Louisiana's coastal prairie was created and coefficients of conservatism (C) were assigned for each species. A Floristic Quality Index (FQI), which is calculated using the C values provided by a panel ofAuthorsLarry K. Allain, Latimore Smith, Charles Allen, Malcolm Vidrine, James B. GraceEffects of invasive alien plants on fire regimes
Plant invasions are widely recognized as significant threats to biodiversity conservation worldwide. One way invasions can affect native ecosystems is by changing fuel properties, which can in turn affect fire behavior and, ultimately, alter fire regime characteristics such as frequency, intensity, extent, type, and seasonality of fire. If the regime changes subsequently promote the dominance of tAuthorsM.L. Brooks, C. M. D'Antonio, D.M. Richardson, J.M. DiTomaso, J.B. Grace, R.J. Hobbs, J. E. Keeley, M. Pellant, D. PykeMultivariate control of plant species richness and community biomass in blackland prairie
Recent studies have shown that patterns of plant species richness and community biomass are best understood in a multivariate context. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a multivariate hypothesis about how herbaceous biomass and richness relate to gradients in soil conditions and woody plant cover in blackland prairies. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate howAuthorsE. Weiher, S. Forbes, T. Schauwecker, J.B. GraceTemporal dynamics of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) and two species of flea beetles (Aphthona spp.) used as biological control agents
The goal of this study was to evaluate the biological control program of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) in a large natural area, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, western North Dakota, USA. Aphthona lacertosa and Aphthona nigriscutis have been released at more than 1800 points in the 18,600-ha South Unit of the park beginning in 1989; most releases have occurred since 1994. We established permanenAuthorsD. L. Larson, J.B. GraceEffects of disturbance on germination and seedling establishment in a coastal prairie grassland: A test of the competitive release hypothesis
1. We evaluated the responses of native grassland sods to a variety of types of disturbance in order to assess hypotheses about the competitive effects of established vegetation on seed germination and seedling establishment. In particular, we consider whether germination is more responsive to the magnitude and duration of vegetation removal (competitive release) or to individual disturbance typesAuthorsH.M. Jutila, J.B. GraceChanges in density and height of the shrub baccharis halimifolia following burning in coastal tallgrass prairie
No abstract available.AuthorsLarry K. Allain, James B. GraceThe importance of competition in regulating plant species abundance along a salinity gradient
Current theories differ in their predictions concerning the effects of interspecific interactions on species growth and distribution along environmental gradients. In this study, we examined the influence of competition on species composition across a salinity gradient. This work involved three common fresh and brackish marsh species. The three species, Spartina patens, Sagittaria lancifolia, andAuthorsM. K. Greiner La Peyre, James B. Grace, E. Hahn, I.A. MendelssohnInteractions between fire and invasive plants in temperate grasslands of North America
A substantial number of invasive grasses, forbs and woody plants have invaded temperate grasslands in North America. Among the invading species are winter annuals, biennials, cool-season perennials, warm-season perennials, vines, shrubs, and trees. Many of these species have been deliberately introduced and widely planted; some are still used for range improvement, pastures, lawns, and as ornamentAuthorsJames B. Grace, Melinda D. Smith, S.L. Grace, Scott L. Collins, Thomas J. StohlgrenIdentifying determinants of nations' wetland management programs using structural equation modeling: An exploratory analysis
Integrated management and policy models suggest that solutions to environmental issues may be linked to the socioeconomic and political Characteristics of a nation. In this study, we empirically explore these suggestions by applying them to the wetland management activities of nations. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate a model of national wetland management effort and one of nationAuthorsM.K. La Peyre, I.A. Mendelssohn, M.A. Reams, P.H. Templet, J.B. GraceThe roles of community biomass and species pools in the regulation of plant diversity
Considerable debate has developed over the importance of community biomass and species pools in the regulation of community diversity. Attempts to explain patterns of plant diversity as a function of community biomass or productivity have been only partially successful and in general, have explained only a fraction of the observed variation in diversity. At the same time studies that have focusedAuthorsJ.B. Grace - News