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Department of Natural Resource Management

Lan Xu

Lan Xu

Title

Professor

Office Building

Edgar S. McFadden Biostress Lab

Office

142C

Mailing Address

McFadden Biostress Laboratory 142C
Natural Resource Management-Box 2140B
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007

Biography

If you would like my CV or more information, please feel free to contact me at my SDState email address noted above.

Education

  • Ph.D. in rangeland ecology, minor in statistics | North Dakota State University | 1998
  • M.S. in plant ecology | University of Science and Technology, Institute of Applied Ecology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, PR China | 1988
  • B.S. in botany | Shanxi University, PR China | 1985

Academic Interests

  • Spatial distribution of vegetation in relation to environmental gradient factors.
  • Reclamation/restoration of disturbed lands and vegetation succession in semiarid and arid regions.
  • Understanding how plants adapt and grow sustainably in changing environments.
  • Plant-animal interaction, in particular, effects of grazing, competition and climate (e.g. drought) on plant survival, production and reproductive strategy.
  • Ecology of invasive plant species/soil seed and bud bank.
  • Plant ecology.
  • Rangeland ecology.

Academic Responsibilities

  • Advanced Plant Ecology (BOT 715/715L)
  • Grassland Fire Ecology (RANG 421-521)
  • Plant Ecology (BOT 419/419L)
  • Principles of Ecology (NRM 311)
  • Principles of Ecology Laboratory (NRM 311L)
  • Rangeland Assessment and Monitoring (RANG 425/425L-525/525L)
  • Undergraduate Research/Scholarship (BOT 498)
  • International Experience -Arctic (ABS 482/582)
  • Taught:
    • Biosurvey I (BIOL101/101L)
    • Biosurvey II (BIOL 103/103L)
    • General Biology - Honor (BIOL 151/151L)

Committees and Professional Memberships

  • Society for Range Management
  • South Dakota Academy of Science
  • The Honor Society of Agriculture Gamma Sigma Delta

Awards and Honors

  • Gamma Sigma Delta The Honor Society of Agriculture Teaching Award, 2017
  • David W. Willis Faculty Excellence Award, 2016
  • F.O. Butler Foundation Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2007
  • Nominee and Certificate a community of Scholars Honoring Excellence for the Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in College and University Teaching Award by USDA - Higher Education Programs, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and American Association of State Colleges and Universities; 2007, 2008, 2009. 
  • National Recognition: Biology Survey II (BIOL 103/103L) was selected as one of the top 20 examples of Best Practices Course in the nation at the College Board Advanced Placement ® Best Practices Study, 2006

Grants

  • Evaluating the potential role of belowground bud banks in providing resistance and resilience to climate change in grassland ecosystems; US-FS; 2014-2018
  • Bud bank: a promising new ecological approach for controlling invasive plants and improving wildlife habitat; SDGFP; 2012-2017
  • Mapping and Characterization of Native Grassland Habitat on South Dakota’s Prairie Coteau; USFWS; 2013-2016
  • Renewal on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation: Land, Cattle, Beef, and People; USDA; 2011-2017
  • Vegetation Ecology and Management on Active and Inactive Prairie Dog Towns; USFS; 2008-2011
  • Inter-seeding yellow-flowered alfalfa to improve depleted Northern Great Plains rangeland; USDA; 2009-2011

Areas of Research

  • Community/Vegetation Ecology and Management on prairie dog towns
  • Restoration/reclamation disturbed lands and vegetation succession
  • Natural resource sustainability

Department(s)