Sammy King, PhD
Unit Leader - Louisiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Research Interests
Dr. King is interested in wetland systems and wetland-dependent wildlife. His students study a wide range of wetland processes and wetland wildlife, however, the ultimate focus is to better understand wetland systems to guide their conservation, restoration, and management.
Teaching Interests
Dr. King team teaches graduate courses in wetlands and floodplain ecology as well as special field-based courses on selected wetlands around the country. He believes that integrating classroom work with targeted, intensive field trips creates the greatest learning opportunities for students. Past special topics courses have included wetlands in the Ridge and Basin and Middle Rio Grande regions.
Professional Experience
Unit Leader, Louisiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 2003-
Education and Certifications
Ph D Texas A&M University 1994
MS Auburn University 1990
BS Nicholls State University 1987
Science and Products
Conservation planning for the coastal prairie region of Louisiana
The ecology, restoration, and management of southeastern floodplain ecosystems: A synthesis
Conservation and use of coastal wetland forests in Louisiana
Ecological consequences of changing hydrological conditions in wetland forests of coastal Louisiana
The role of the Wetland Reserve Program in conservation efforts in the Mississippi River Alluvial Valley
Relationships between gap makers and gap fillers in an Arkansas floodplain forest
Canopy disturbance patterns in a bottomland hardwood forest in northeast Arkansas, USA
Response of bird communities to natural disturbance
Suggestions for new and aspiring graduate students in wildlife science
Plant succession and greentree reservoir management: Implications for management and restoration of bottomland hardwood wetlands
Science and Products
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- Publications
Filter Total Items: 46
Conservation planning for the coastal prairie region of Louisiana
No abstract available.AuthorsBradley A. Pickens, Sammy L. King, Bill Vermillion, Latimore Smith, Larry K. AllainThe ecology, restoration, and management of southeastern floodplain ecosystems: A synthesis
Floodplain ecosystems of the southeastern United States provide numerous services to society, but hydrologic and geomorphic alterations, agricultural practices, water quality and availability, and urban development continue to challenge restorationists and managers at multiple spatial and temporal scales. These challenges are further exacerbated by tremendous uncertainty regarding climate and landAuthorsSammy L. King, Rebecca R. Sharitz, John W. Groninger, Loretta L. BattagliaConservation and use of coastal wetland forests in Louisiana
No abstract available.AuthorsStephen Faulkner, J. L. Chambers, William H. Conner, Richard F. Keim, John W. Day, Emile S. Gardiner, M.S. Hughes, Sammy L. King, K.W. McLeod, Craig A. Miller, J. Andrew Nyman, Gary P. ShafferEcological consequences of changing hydrological conditions in wetland forests of coastal Louisiana
Large-scale and localized alterations of processes affecting deltaic coastal wetlands have caused the complete loss of some coastal wetland forests and reduced the productivity and vigor of many areas in coastal Louisiana. This loss and degradation threatens ecosystem functions and the services they provide. This paper summarizes ecological relationships controlled by hydrological processes in coaAuthorsRichard F. Keim, J. L. Chambers, M.S. Hughes, J. Andrew Nyman, Craig A. Miller, Blake J. Amos, W.H. Conner, Jon Day, Stephen Faulkner, Emile S. Gardiner, Sammy L. King, K.W. McLeod, Gary P. ShafferThe role of the Wetland Reserve Program in conservation efforts in the Mississippi River Alluvial Valley
The Mississippi River Alluvial Valley includes the floodplain of the Mississippi River from Cairo, Illinois, USA, to the Gulf of Mexico. Originally this region supported about 10 million ha of bottomland hardwood forests, but only about 2.8 million ha remain today. Furthermore, most of the remaining bottomland forest is highly fragmented with altered hydrologic processes. During the 1990s landscapAuthorsSammy L. King, Daniel J. Twedt, R. Randy WilsonRelationships between gap makers and gap fillers in an Arkansas floodplain forest
Question:In floodplain forests, does frequent flooding allow for self-replacement of shade-intolerant tree species or do small canopy gap openings lead to replacement by shade-tolerant tree species?Location:Cache River, Arkansas, US; 55 m a.s.l.Methods:The species, diameter-at-breast height, and elevation of primary gap-maker trees were determined for new gaps from 1995–1998. The size and speciesAuthorsSammy L. King, T. J. AntrobusCanopy disturbance patterns in a bottomland hardwood forest in northeast Arkansas, USA
We characterized canopy disturbance patterns in a bottomland hardwood forest and identified linkages to tree species characteristics and interannual flooding patterns. We located 116 newly formed canopy gaps created by 136 gapmakers of 13 species. Over 83% of the gapmakers were snapped or uprooted (i.e., windthrow). The probability of any given gapmaker snapping or uprooting differed among years,AuthorsSammy L. King, T. J. AntrobusResponse of bird communities to natural disturbance
No abstract available.AuthorsMichael P. Guilfoyle, Wylie C. Barrow, Paul B. Hamel, James S. Wakely, Sammy L. King, T. J. AntrobusSuggestions for new and aspiring graduate students in wildlife science
The transition from an undergraduate to a graduate program can be a difficult experience for students. Many undergraduates are unfamiliar with the process of preparing for graduate school, especially the search for a graduate program. Once in graduate school, they may be unfamiliar with requirements (both written and unwritten) and expectations, and they may also lack the necessary knowledge or sAuthorsRichard A. Fischer, Sammy L. KingPlant succession and greentree reservoir management: Implications for management and restoration of bottomland hardwood wetlands
Bottomland hardwood forests are distributed along rivers and streams throughout the central and eastern United States, with the greatest concentration in the Southeast. Past and projected losses of bottomland hardwoods and degradation of remaining stands suggest that habitat management and/or restoration strategies that target multiple species and multiple uses will be necessary to maintain, enhanAuthorsSammy L. King, James A. Allen