Dr. Dawn Lemke Biography

Research

Dr. Lemke conducts applied research with a focus on broadening the available knowledge-base for an increased understanding of ecosystems and the impact humans have on them. Her research and teaching are informed by her belief that ecosystems, both natural and managed, are multidimensional systems that require an integrative and collaborative research approach. Her diverse academic background in the areas of ecology, hydrology, limnology, ecological modeling, and spatial analysis lends itself to convergent research interests. Dr. Lemke also brings strengths in technical problem solving and facilitating cross discipline collaboration, especially with diverse participants. During recent years, most of her research has focused on species distribution modeling, invasive ecology, ecohydrology, and forest dynamics.  

Area of Expertise and /or Research: Applied Ecology  

Education

• PhD, Canterbury University, New Zealand (NZ) School of Math & Statistics Environmental Science (2013) 
• MS, Massey University (NZ) Institute of Ag & Environment Ecology M.Phil. (2002)
• BS, Lincoln University (NZ) Interdisciplinary Resource Studies P.G.Dip. (2000) 
• Open Polytechnic (NZ) School of Science & Tech Water Science NZCS (1998)

Publications

• Bohlman, A., Lemke, D. & Scott, A. (2017) Modeling potential erosion differences in small tributaries in managed stands in the Bankhead National Forest, Alabama. Biennial Southern Silviculture Conference Proceedings 2017. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 

  Schweitzer, C., D. Lemke, W. Tadesse, & Y. Wang. 2015. Assessment of forest management influences on total live aboveground tree biomass in William B Bankhead National Forest, Alabama. In Proceedings of the 17th biennial southern silvicultural research conference. e–Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–203. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 8 p. 

  Lemke, D., C.J. Schweitzer, W. Tadesse, Y. Wang & J.A. Brown. 2013.  Geospatial assessment of non-native vegetation on reclaimed mines in Alabama. Invasive Plant Science and Management. 6, 401-410. 

  Miller, J. H., D. Lemke & J. Coulston. 2013. The invasion of southern forests by nonnative plants: current and future occupation with impacts, management strategies, and mitigation approaches. The Southern forest futures project: Technical report, 397-456.  

  Lemke, D., C.J. Schweitzer, I.A. Tazisong, Y. Wang & J.A. Brown. 2013.  Invasion of a mined landscape: what habitat characteristics are influencing the occurrence of invasive plants? International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment.  27, 275-293 

  Lemke, D. & J.A. Brown. 2012.  Habitat modeling of alien plant species at varying levels of occupancy. Forests. 3, 799-817. 

  Lemke, D., P.E. Hulme, J.A. Brown & W. Tadesse. 2011. Distribution modelling of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) invasion in the Cumberland Plateau and Mountain Region, USA. Forest Ecology and Management. 262, 139-149. 

  Lemke, D., J. Brown, P. Hulme & W. Tadesse. 2010. Monitoring and modeling: assessing the impact of invasive plants on the landscape. Geoworld, April, 19-22. 

  Wang, Yong; Parajuli, Shanta; Schweitzer, Callie; Smalley, Glendon; Lemke, Dawn; Tadesse, Wubishet; Chen, Xiongwen 2010  Forested land cover classification on the Cumberland Plateau, Jackson County, Alabama: a comparison of Landsat ETM+ and SPOT5 images 2010 

   Presentations 

  Over the few last years my focus has been student engagement in research thus the majority of conference presentations are with students as first (presenting) author.  

  Hancock, N., Okafor, F., & Lemke D (2019) Proposed study of the impact of spatial and temporal disturbances on stream microbial biodiversity. ARD Research Symposium 2019: Making Critical Contributions to Rural Prosperity and Challenges in Food and Agriculture. Jacksonville, FL 3/30/2019-3/4/2019 

  O’Neal, M., Henry, H., Patterson, S., & Lemke, D. (2019) Temporal variation in Escherichia coli levels at recreational sites on the Flint River, North Alabama. ARD Research Symposium 2019: Making Critical Contributions to Rural Prosperity and Challenges in Food and Agriculture. Jacksonville, FL 3/30/2019-3/4/2019 

  Shearer, S., Mullican, A., & Lemke D. (2019) Impact of road crossing on instream health in the Limestone Bay Watershed, North Alabama. ARD Research Symposium 2019: Making Critical Contributions to Rural Prosperity and Challenges in Food and Agriculture. Jacksonville, FL 3/30/2019-3/4/2019 

  Aber, J., Lemke, D., Momm, H. & El Kadiri, R. (2018) Understanding and Fostering Geoscience Student attitudes toward Agricultural Careers. Earth Educators' Rendezvous Lawrence, KS, July 16-20, 2018 

  Bohlman, A., Lemke, D. & Scott, A. (2017) Modeling potential erosion differences in small tributaries in managed stands in the Bankhead National Forest, Alabama. Biennial Southern Silviculture Conference Proceedings 2017. March 15, 2017. Blacksburg, VA 

  Bohlman, A., Lemke, D. & Tadesse, W (2017) Comparison of watershed erosion prediction models: WEPP & custom model built in ArcMap’s ModelBuilder (10.3). ESRI Water Conference Proceedings 2017, February 8, 2017. Orlando, FL 

  Phillips, C, Lemke, D. & Okafor, F. (2017) Instream Health of Limestone Bay Watershed, AL: A Study of Bacterial Contamination. National Council for Science and the Environment Conference, 2017. Washington, D.C., 

  Cook, T., Lemke, D., Schweitzer, C., Tadesse, W. (2017) Conservation and Management of Clematis morefieldii in Upland Hardwood Forests of the Southern Cumberland Plateau. 19th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference, 2017, Blacksburg, Virginia 3/14-3/16/2017.                          

  Bohlman, A., Cao, L., & Lemke, D. (2016) Model Comparisons of LIDAR and hyperspectral metrics of the Yushan Mountain National Park in Jiangsu, China. USDA NIFA China Research Experience, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, 7/5/2016. 

  Cook, T., Lemke, D., Tadesse, W., & Schweitzer, C. (2016) A Proposed Study of the Spatial Ecology of Clematis morefieldii. American Public Gardens Association 2016 Annual Conference, Miami, Florida. 6/6-10/2016. 

  Johnson, D.  Brazleton, R.  Bohlman, A. & Lemke, D.  (2016) Assessing the Water Quality Between Limestone Creek & Flint River Watersheds. Alabama A&M University Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Day April 14, 2016 

  Lemke, D. (2016) REEFS: Resources for Ecology Education, Fair and Share, Integration of real world environmental data in computer skill courses. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting: Novel Ecosystems in the Anthropocene. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 8/7/16-8/12/16. 

  Lemke, D., Moss, E., Tadesse, W. & Overton, A. (2016) Value of engaging diverse students in research experiences. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting: Novel Ecosystems in the Anthropocene. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 8/7/16-8/12/16. 

  Rodes, J., Bohlman, A., Williams, C.J., Brazelton, R., Johnson, D., Pruitt, L., Fowlkes, A., Lemke, D. (2016) Assessing the Impact of Land Use Change on Water Quality in Northern Alabama. Ecological Society of America Conference, 2016, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 8/7-8/12/2016. 

  Smith, D., Williams, C., Lemke, D., & Tadesse, W. (2016) Assessing the potential impact of Zika virus through geospatial analysis. Alabama A&M University Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Day April 14, 2016 

  Tadesse, W., Lemke, D., & Acharya, A. (2016) Research and Education Activities at Geospatial Research and Education Center, Alabama A&M University. 3rd annual Project Director (PD) Conference for the 1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG) Program, September 18 – 20, 2016, Virginia Beach, Virginia 

  Tigner, D. & Lemke D. (2016) Spatial Analysis of lead levels in Alabama. Alabama A&M University Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Day April 14, 2016 

  Bohlman, A., Fowlkes, A., Pruitt, L., & Lemke, D. (2015) Esherichia coli monitoring of the Flint River and Limestone Bay Watersheds in North Alabama. Alabama Water Resources Conference 2015, Orange Beach, AL. 9/9-11/2015  

  Bohlman, A., Lemke, D. & Tadesse, W (2015) Evaluating the effects of active forest management and sediment loading in small tributaries. Southern Forest and Natural Resource Management GIS conference, Athens, GA Dec 2015 

  Garrison, B., Scott, D.A. & Lemke D. (2015). Spatial heterogenetity of soil strength, bulk density, and tree volume response in compacted Loblolly Pine plantations. 2015 Alabama A&M University Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Day. April 10, Huntsville, AL. 

  Johnson, D., Lemke, D., Bohlman, A., & Jackson, J. (2015). Influence of Land Use on Stream Sedimentation in Limestone Watershed, AL: A Geospatial Approach to Identifying Problems and Solutions. Alabama A&M University Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Day. April 10, Huntsville, AL. 

  King, X., Borthwick, R. & Lemke, D (2015) Historical water quality data compilation for the Wheeler Lake Watershed, Alabama. Alabama Water Resources Conference 2015, Orange Beach, AL. 9/9-11/2015 

  Pruitt, L., Lemke, D., Bohlman, A., & Jackson, J. (2015). Influence of Land Use on Bacteriologcial Water Quality in Limestone Watershed, AL: A Geospatial Approach to Identifying Problems and Solutions. Alabama A&M University Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Day. April 10, Huntsville, AL.  

  Rucker, L., Lemke, D. & Wang, W. (2015) Impact and Potential Mitigation of Stream Siltation: Case study Flint River in Northern Alabama. Alabama Water Resources Conference 2015, Orange Beach, AL. 9/9-11/2015 

  Russaw-Scissum, G., Moss, E., & Lemke, D. (2015) Identification and Enumeration of E. coli and the Impact of Climate Change and Variability to determine the Water Quality in the Flint Creek Watershed. Alabama Water Resources Conference 2015, Orange Beach, AL. 9/9-11/2015 

  Williams, C., & Lemke, D. (2015) Influence of Agricultural Practices on Water Quality in Limestone Bay, AL Alabama Water Resources Conference 2015, Orange Beach, AL. 9/9-11/2015 

  Williams, J., Jackson, J. & Lemke D. (2015) Campus Wetlands and Rain Gardens: Green Infrastructure Demonstration Project. Alabama Water Resources Conference 2015, Orange Beach, AL. 9/9-11/2015 

  Britt, A., Lemke, D., Okafor, F. & Ragland, B (2014) Breast Cancer Incidence in the Southeastern USA. GEOHuntsville, Huntsville, AL