Meet the Scientists

Name: Becky J. Carmichael
Occupation: Graduate Student
Place of Business: Louisiana State University

E-mail: bcarmi1@tigers.lsu.edu
Phone: 812-249-1115

How did you become interested in your field and working with invasive species?
I grew up on a farm, exploring the outdoors, collecting bugs and dissecting plants. I never knew that I could make a career out of playing in nature. During my undergraduate studies at Purdue University, I discovered that I could be an ecologist and care for nature. My interest in invasive species developed after working with the National Park Service at both Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and Joshua Tree National Park in California. The two ecosystems are very different from each other, yet both are plagued by many invasive species that threaten native biodiversity. I was impressed at the power of plants, growing quickly and taking space and resources from the native plant species. Additionally, I discovered how much I enjoyed telling others about the “sneaky” invasive plants. My work at the parks provided both an opportunity for invasive species management of insects and plants, as well as experience educating park visitors about the issues of invasive species and the conservation of native ecosystems. I strongly feel that damage resulting from exotic, non-native species will not be reversed without providing education to the stakeholders (land managers, park visitors, students). It is for this reason that I am pursuing a Ph.D. in biological sciences that incorporates conservation and education. 

What do you do?
I am a graduate student in Ecology at Louisiana State University, where I study different combinations of disturbances (hurricanes, fires, animal burrowing) in a restored longleaf pine savanna. Particularly, I am interested in how fire, a necessary disturbance in the pine savanna, influences the survival and re-emergence of Japanese climbing fern, an aggressive invasive fern species.  I go out into the pine savanna, select areas infested with the fern, count the number of plants and then alter the amount of pine needles within the area before applying fire. Altering the pine needles allows me to change how hot the fire is during the annual prescribed burn. I hypothesize that increasing the heat of the fire will kill more of the fern and its subterranean rhizome that produces new shoots. This is an important question for the longleaf pine savanna because windstorms, such as hurricanes, cause pine needles, tree trunks and tree branches to accumulate in greater amounts in some areas of the savanna and lower in others. Differing amounts of fuels would change how hot a fire burns within that area and may allow for the fern to survive in one spot versus another. My work is designed in hopes of discovering management methods for controlling Japanese climbing fern invasion with minimal impact to native plant biodiversity.

What do you like about your job?
My job allows me to work outdoors in an amazingly diverse ecosystem and to investigate why plant species are invading. Posing questions and designing experiments to uncover mechanisms responsible for plant invasion is exciting and important for contributing to the overall scientific knowledge of the pine savanna ecosystem. My job also allows me to teach undergraduates and Girl Scouts about nature. Interacting with students is rewarding, especially when you see their interest develop or that spark that says “I get it.” Few individuals get to experience nature up close, and I love helping others experience the small wonders happening under their noses.

What advice would you give students who are interested in science?
Pursue what makes you happy and do not pass up an opportunity to explore different areas of science. You never know which experience will be the one that changes the course of your life. For instance, I never would have guessed that I would be able to identify plants until I accepted a position to create a virtual herbarium. Likewise, I would not have guessed that my ability to drive a tractor would have helped secure a job with the National Park Service. Because of my willingness to explore, I discovered quickly that laboratory work was not for me. Take chances, always ask questions, study hard and ask to join someone at their job.