Schwinning Lab

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  • Karst Ecohydrology
  • Tree mortality
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Current Lab Personnel

Susan Schwinning, Professor

I am interested in all aspects of plant water relations from single plants to ecosystems. I am particularly interested in the way in which fluctuating water availability in the environment affects vital processes from germination, seedling growth and competition to the death of individuals. Ultimately, my research is focused on advancing conceptual understanding of community-forming processes. Since moving to Central Texas, I have become curious about how these processes unfold in the rocky and shallow soils of the Edwards Plateau and other karst areas in the world.

Kayla Sustaita, M.S. student

My research is based on theories of holistic management of cattle grazing and its relationship with vegetation dynamics. Particularly, I conducted an experiment on how clipping frequency (used to simulate rotational grazing) affects forage quantity and quality in the Texas Hill Country. I hope to one day be a rangeland manager focused on restoring native grasslands.

Aarin Sengsirirak, M.S. student

I am interested in drought events in forested ecosystems. I am currently investigating what happens to tree seedlings and saplings after mature overstory trees have died. Other than field research, I enjoy running, biking, coffee, and cats.

Silas Jenkins, M.S. student

Silas investigates relationships amongst juniper, oak, and their fungal partners in the liminal and familiar forests of Central Texas’s Balcones Canyonlands. Their research focuses on the role of mycorrhizal networks and mature trees in the germination, growth, and survival of Texas red oak seedlings. Endlessly fascinated by symbioses of myriad life forms, Silas delves into these little-known underground interactions, deriving inspiration and solace from the Wendell Berry poem “To Know the Dark”:

Owen Moorhead, M.S. student

I study plant ecology and ecological restoration in central Texas rangelands. Specifically, my research focuses on reintroduction of native plants into degraded and neglected grasslands, comparing treatment (e.g. fire, herbicide) and revegetation modalities for efficacy of exotic species control, native establishment and recruitment success, and cost of application. I hope to contribute to the development of evidence-based, efficient, and practicable techniques of grassland restoration that will facilitate conservation and stewardship of our declining grasslands.

Evan Simons, Undergraduate student

I am interested in the dynamics between people, trees, and groundwater here in the Texas Hill Country. Currently, my research examines how several different species of trees located along the Balcones Escarpment have responded to severe drought conditions over the summer of 2022. More specifically, I'm observing how plant water potentials and the isotopic signature of water corresponds with vertical distance from the Edwards Aquifer. My interests include reading, gardening with native plants, and caring for my pet boa constrictor.