Dr. Robert D. Cox

Research Interests

I am interested in community and restoration ecology, distribution and conservation of rare and endemic plant species, and ecology of invasive species. In research, I have focused on large-scale restoration experiments with practical applications. I have also researched landscape-scale factors contributing to the decline and loss of native plant communities and rare, endemic species.

Position Announcements

I am always recruiting excellent graduate students at both the PhD and MS level. Possible projects include:
Development and biomass production of short-grass prairie spp during and after drought;
Smoke-induced germination of native species;
Restoration of plant communities;
Etc;

Courses Taught

1. NRM 3302 Range Plant Ecology
2. NRM 3309 Restoration Ecology
3. NRM 3402 Range, Forest, Wetland Plants, and Plant Identification
4. NRM 4302 Range Improvements
5. NRM 5308 Advanced Restoration Ecology
6. NRM 5310 Advanced Range Ecology

Recent Publications

Humagain, K., C. Portillo-Quintero, R.D. Cox, and J.W. Cain, III. 2017. Mapping Tree Density in Forests of the Southwestern USA Using Landsat 8 Data. Forests 8:287.

Ott, J.E., R.D. Cox, and N.L. Shaw. 2017. Comparison of postfire seeding practices for Wyoming big sagebrush. Rangeland Ecology and Management 70(5): 625-632.

Cox, R.D., Chou, Y.F., and D.B. Wester. 2017. Smoke water and heat influence emergence of shortgrass prairie species. Fire Ecology 13:138-148.

Cavalcante, A.M.B., and R.D. Cox. 2016. Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. -A Potentially Invasive Alien Species? International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences 42: 209-215

Roberts, C.P., J.W. Cain III, R.D. Cox. 2016. Application of Activity Sensors for Estimating Behavioral Patterns. Wildlife Society Bulletin 40:764-771.

Ott, J.E., R.D. Cox, N.L. Shaw, B.A. Newingham, A.C. Ganguli, M. Pellant, B.A. Roundy, and D.L. Eggett. 2016. Post-fire Drill-seeding of Great Basin Plants: Effects of Contrasing Drills on Seeded and Nonseeded Species. Rangeland Ecology and Management 69:373-385.

Fritts, S.F., B.A. Grisham, D.A. Haukos, C.W. Boal, M.A. Patten, D.H. Wolfe, C.E. Dixon, R.D. Cox, and W.R. Heck. 2016. Long-term evaluation of lesser prairie-chicken nest ecology in response to grassland restoration at two spatial scales. Journal of Wildlife Management 80:527-539.

Kramer, D.W., G.E. Sorensen, C.A. Taylor, R.D. Cox, P.S. Gipson, and J.W. Cain III. 2015. Ungulate Exclusion, Conifer Thinning and Mule Deer Forage in Northeastern New Mexico. Journal of Arid Environments 113:29-34.

Cox, R.D., K.L. Preston, R.F. Johnson, R.A. Minnich, and E.B. Allen. 2014. Influence of Landscape-scale Variables on Vegetation Conversion to Exotic Annual Grassland in Southern California, USA. Global Ecology and Conservation 2:190-203.

Cox, R.D., and B.G. Johns. 2014. Dragged-rail Treatments for Reducing Cholla Infestation in SE New Mexico, USA. Weed Technology 28-286-289.

Chou, Y., R.D. Cox, and D.B. Wester. 2012. Smoke water and heat shock influence germination of shortgrass prairie species. Rangeland Ecology & Management 65:260-267.

Cox, R.D., L.H. Kosberg, N.L. Shaw, and S.P. Hardegree. 2011. Effect of fungicides on Wyoming big sagebrush seed germination. Native Plants Journal 12:263-267.

Cox, R.D., and E.B. Allen. 2011. The roles of exotic grasses and forbs when restoring native species to California annual grassland. Plant Ecology 212:1699-1707.

Cox, R.D., and E.B. Allen. 2008. Stability of exotic annual grasses following restoration efforts in southern California coastal sage scrub.  Journal of Applied Ecology 45:495-504.

Cox, R.D., and E.B. Allen. 2008. Composition of soil seed banks in southern California coastal sage scrub and adjacent exotic grassland.  Plant Ecology ("online first" publication DOI 10.1007/s11258-007-9383-9).

Allen, E.B., R.D. Cox, T. Tennant, S.N. Kee, and D. Deutsman.  2005.  Landscape restoration in southern California forblands: Response of abandoned farmland to invasive annual grass control.  Israel Journal of Plant Science 53:237-245.