University of Wisconsin Stout | Wisconsin's Polytechnic University
Inspiring Innovation.
At UW-Stout, Wisconsin's Polytechnic University, we are inspiring innovation.
Amanda Little
Ph.D.
Biology
Office: 331G Jarvis Hall - Science Wing
Phone: 715/232-1148
Email: littlea@uwstout.edu
Education
Ph.D., 2005, Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.S., 2002, Botany and Landscape Architecture (double major), University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.S., 1999, Biology and Natural Resource Management (double major), University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point
Research Interests
I enjoy introducing undergraduate students to the joys and challenges of field-based plant ecology, GPS, and GIS research. If you are interested in participating in research with me, there are numerous opportunities for you to take ownership of projects that help solve society’s environmental problems! Please e-mail me at littlea@uwstout.edu for more information!
Examples of research projects YOU can get involved in:
- Ecology and management of the invasive plant, reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) in trout stream restorations.
- Landscape ecology of reed canarygrass (using GIS (geographic information systems) analysis)
- Developing restoration and vegetation management plans for local natural areas, including the on-campus Stout Outdoor Classroom, local Technology Park, and West Wisconsin Land Trust properties.
- Effects of invasive plant species on plant and animal communities and ecosystem properties.
- Plant species surveys and mapping.
Research is a powerful way to learn science and BUILD YOUR RESUME! Students really get to experience “science.” Through both failures and successes, you will learn that science is a continual process of testing and modifying hypotheses and pursuing multiple directions of evidence. I mentor my students through the project development stages, help them use field techniques and analyze data, pick out important patterns, and develop conclusions for their paper and/or poster products.
Courses Taught
BIO101: Introductory Biology (for non-Applied Science majors)
BIO141: Plants and People
BIO324: Vascular Plant Taxonomy
BIO350: Ecology
BIO352: Plant Ecology
BIO444: Problem Solving in Environmental Studies
BIO452: Geographical Information Systems Applications and Research
SMGT310: Ecology for Sustainable Management (Online with UW-Continuing Ed Sustainable Management Degree)
At University of Minnesota-Duluth: Biology and Society, General Biology II, Principles of Genetics, Plant Diversity, Ecology Lab, Senior Seminar II
At Edgewood College, Madison, WI: General Biology I and II
Mentored Undergraduate Research Projects
- Kniskern, E. 2007. Impacts of beaver and human activity on the abundance of Phalaris arundinacea, an invasive graminoid.
- Boysen, K. 2007. Invasive plant species in active vs. abandoned beaver wetlands.
- Pederson, J. 2006. A comparison of Anuran communities in beaver ponds and roadside wetlands.
Professional Organizations
Society of Wetland Scientists
Ecological Society of America
Wisconsin Wetlands Association
Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin
The Prairie Enthusiasts
Teaching Philosophy
In a laboratory setting, I enjoy teaching students using open-ended inquiry, including semester-long research projects that involve student ownership of the research question. In large-lecture settings, I enjoy using demonstrations that include students as active participants. In order to engage non-major students, I offer community service activities as a course component. In addition, I emphasize learning in a team-setting, including team quizzes and other in-class activities. In upper-level classes, I include resume-building projects and activities that will help students gain useful skills, such as comfort with plant identification, GPS, and GIS technology.
Recent Publications
Little, A.M. 2008. Sphagnum in Acadia National Park. Final Report for L.L. Bean Acadia Research Fellowship. Accepted by Acadia National Park.
Little, A.M. 2005. The effects of beaver inhabitation and anthropogenic activity on freshwater wetland plant community dynamics on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA. PhD Thesis, University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Allen, T.F.H., M. Giampietro, and A.M. Little. 2003. Distinguishing ecological engineering from environmental engineering. Ecological Engineering 20: 389-407.
Tainter, J. A., T. F. H. Allen, A. Little, and T. W. Hoekstra. 2003. Resource transitions and energy gain: contexts of organization. Conservation Ecology 7(3): 4. [online] URL: http://www.consecol.org/vol7/iss3/art4
Little, A.M. 2002. Resource quality and beaver spatiotemporal dynamics. MS Thesis, University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Presentations
Little, A.M. 2008. GIS, GPS and remote sensing, Oh my! Ecological applications of spatial technologies. UW-Stout Applied Science Seminar.
Little, A.M. 2006. How beaver and humans affect freshwater wetland plant community dynamics on Mount Desert Island, Maine. UMD Biology Department Seminar.
Little, A.M. 2005. Is wetland vegetation predictable based upon beaver activity? Ecological Society of America 90th Annual Meeting. Montreal, Canada.
Little, A.M. 2004. Beaver 101. Oral presentation. Mosquito Hill Nature Center Enrichment Session. New London, WI.
Little, A.M. 2004. The influence of beaver activity on wooded wetland dynamics. Oral presentation. Wisconsin Wetlands Association Annual Wetland Science Forum, Wausau, WI.
Little, A.M. and G.R. Guntenspergen. 2003. The influence of beaver and anthropogenic activity on the composition of poor fen plant communities on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA. Society of Wetland Scientists 24th Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA.
Little, A.M. 2002. How eager does a beaver have to be? Understanding complex systems using resource transitions. Oral presentation. Madison Ecology Group Graduate Student Ecology Symposium. Madison, WI.
Little, A.M. and T.F.H. Allen. 2001. Thermodynamics and resource quality in beaver spatiotemporal dynamics. P Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Madison, WI.
Recent Grants
2008 Carlson, K. and A.M. Little. Creation, Implementation and Marketing of a Plant Science Minor at UW-Stout. UW-Stout Curriculum Incubation Center Grant. $6000.
2007 Little, A.M. Team-based learning in a non-majors biology course. Bush Foundation Faculty Grant for UMD campus. Grant PI: Bilin Tsai.
2006 PI: Little, A.M. Sphagnum in Acadia National Park. L. L. Bean Acadia Research Fellowship Grant. $5000.
Hobbies
As a plant ecologist, of course I enjoy botanizing, gardening, hiking and camping. I also cross-country ski the Birkie each year, and am hoping to do another marathon in the next two years. In the meantime, I read novels, cross-stitch, and spend time with my husband, Matt, and our two cats, Pippin and Birkie.