The University of Vermont

Laura Hill Bermingham, PhD

Laura Hill Bermingham, Ph.D.

University of Vermont Plant Biology Department
120A Marsh Life Science Building
Burlington, Vermont 05405
PH: (802) 656-6080, FAX (802) 656-2914
Laura.Bermingham@uvm.edu

Huntington VT

Research Objectives
I am largely interested in researching how humans impact ecological systems and whole-systems design. I have recently been certified as a permaculture designer and am interested in pursuing agroecosystem research, especially ecological interactions and productivity of polyculture farming practices. Additionally, I am interested in using scientific research to inform habitat restoration policies in areas that have been severely altered by humans.  

For my doctoral research at the University of Vermont (2003-2008), I examined how various ecological and evolutionary factors affected rare plant persistence in wetland habitats.  Specifically, I tested how pollinators, herbivores, and habitat type influenced long-term population dynamics for globally threatened plant species, Polemonium vanbruntiae (Eastern Jacob's ladder).  I used a combination of field experiments and ecological modeling to discern the factors most significantly affecting extinction risk for these rare plant populations.  I am currently extending this research under a cooperative contract agreement with the USDA Forest Service and the University of Vermont to discern how forest management practices are affecting P. vanbruntiae persistence in the Green Mountain National Forest.  

P.vanbruntiae in flower
Polemonium vanbruntiae occurs in montane wetland regions throughout the
Appalachian mountain range in eastern U.S. and Canada.  


Last modified September 22 2009 01:18 PM

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