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Greg Smith

Biological Sciences
Associate Professor
Campus:
Stark
Office Location:
Science & Nursing 023E
Office Hours:
MW 2:15-2:45 pm; TR 9:00-11:00 am
Contact Information
Email:
gsmith62@kent.edu
Phone:
330-244-3395
Fax:
330-244-3482

Biography

 

I am a terrestrial ecologist studying anthropogenic changes to landscapes and how those changes impact wildlife population dynamics and community structure. Integration of the human dimension allows theory to come full-circle via on-the-ground management applications. I am also interested in science education; focusing on strategies to recruit, retain, and graduate STEM majors.


Courses Taught

  • Life on Planet Earth (BSCI 10002)
  • Lab Experience in Biology (BSCI 10003)
  • Biological Diversity (BSCI 10110)
  • Career Pathways in Biology (BSCI 30105)
  • Biogeography (BSCI 30361)
  • Conservation Biology (BSCI 40374)
  • Wildlife Resources (BSCI 40525)
  • Vertebrate Zoology (BSCI 40556)

Current and Recent Service

Recent Presentations

  • Ramey, J.E., S.A. Merritt, and G.A. Smith 2023. Potential biases in data collection for an unstructured citizen science platform. Kent State University at Stark Student Conference. 21 April.
  • Smith, G.A. 2020. Personal safety in the outyard: skunks, bears, coyotes...Oh my! LEAD for Pollinators Women in Beekeeping Conference: Becoming 21st Century Leaders. 25 October.
  • Smith, G.A. 2020. An introduction to biological diversity long-term datasets. Symposium on Biological Diversity. The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting (virtual). 28-29 September.
  • Smith, G.A. 2019. Wildlife in an urbanizing world: coyotes as a case study. Bath Township “State of the Parks” Meeting, University of Akron Field Station, 21 March. 
  • Lehnert, M., K. Reiter, G. Smith, and G. Kritsky. 2019. Cicada ovipositors are enriched with cuticular metal deposits. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, 17-20 November, St. Louis, MO.
  • Ohm, R.A., K.R. Ruegg, and G.A. Smith. 2019. Utilizing citizen science to monitor invasive species in Ohio. Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting, 3-6 April, Memphis, TN. (Poster)
  • Ruegg, K.R., R.A. Ohm, and G.A. Smith. 2019. Citizen science and the conservation of biological diversity: taxonomic bias and threatened and endangered species. Ohio Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 13 April, Columbus, OH.
  • Pace, C.K., A.C. Hoffman, C.A. Bahlai, and G.A. Smith. 2018. Activity dynamics of urban wildlife associated with feral cat colonies in northeast Ohio. Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution Annual Meeting, 18-21 July, Ontario, Canada.
  • Smith, G.A., and A.C. Hoffman. 2017. Population dynamics of feral and free-ranging domestic cat colonies in NE Ohio: landscape, turnover, and sympatric wildlife. Ohio Community Wildlife Cooperative Conference, 8 November, Columbus, OH. (Invited Poster)
  • Smith, G.A., R.J. Trimbath, and D.R. Garrett. 2017. Nesting success of Hooded Warblers in exotic shrubs: multi-trophic interactions in the forest understory. Joint meeting of American Ornithological Society and Society for Canadian Ornithologists, 31 July - 5 August, East Lansing, MI. (Poster)

Select Grants

  • Herbert W. Hoover Foundation. 2023. Collaborative research and education - Conservation genetics of deep-sea fishes: biodiversity, genome structure, and molecular adaptation. PI with Co-PI's R. Hamilton and M. Shivji. ($189,192)
  • Ohio Department of Transportation. 2022. Updated GIS model for predicting bat use of bridges in Ohio. PI with Co-PI’s R. Liu, A. Scholl, and A. Sharag-Eldin. ($100,000 – Not Funded)
  • Herbert W. Hoover Foundation. 2019. Collaborative research and education - Flood risk reduction benefits of Florida's mangroves: ecosystem conservation at the land-water interface. PI with Co-PI’s M. Beck, R. Hamilton, and S. Narayan. ($100,000)
  • Ohio Department of Higher Education, Choose Ohio First. 2016. Choose Ohio First STEMM Scholarship Program: enhancing STEMM opportunities at a regional campus. Co-PI with A. Kasturiarachi and C. Kauth. ($61,425; renewable, $327,871 total)
  • National Science Foundation – Division of Undergraduate Education. 2016. Enhancing STEM opportunities at a regional campus: pathways to STEM degrees and careers. PI with Co-PI’s C. Earley, A. Guercio, M. Lehnert, and C. Schweitzer. ($649,980 – Not Funded)
  • Dominion Foundation Higher Educational Partnership. 2016. Wired wetland: technology-enhanced education in the environmental sciences. ($25,000)    
  • Division of Research and Sponsored Programs, Kent State University. 2015. Population dynamics of feral and free-ranging domestic cat colonies with implications for management. ($6,500)
  • Summit Metro Parks.  2011-2014. Industrial/Community Assistantship Program in Graduate Education. ($86,168)
  • Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife. 2012. Movement and migratory behavior of tree bats (Lasiurus and Lasionycteris) within the western basin of Lake Erie. ($110,997)
  • National Science Foundation – Division of Integrative Organismal Systems: Processes, Structures, and Integrity. 2011. Collaborative Research: Natural selection on growth and locomotor development in eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus). Co-PI with J. Young and M. Butcher. ($350,558 total with all collaborators)
  • National Center for Science and Civic Engagement. 2009. GLISTEN (Great Lakes Innovative Stewardship Through Education Network) Subgrant - Northeast Ohio Collaborative Cluster. Co-PI with T. Beyerle. ($45,000)
  • National Science Foundation – Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement. 2009. Collaborative Research: Transformative Model of STEM Education for First-Year Students at an Urban-Commuter Campus. Co-PI with L. Chism, J. Cordonnier, J. Crooks, W. Donovan, A. Gavrin, K. Ross-Alaolmolki, E. Wheland, and B. Williams. ($257,856 total with all collaborators) 
  • SENCER (Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities) Implementation Award. 2008. SENCERizing an exploratory learning community: increasing interest in STEM disciplines through experiential learning. Co-PI with J. Brantner, W. Donovan, H. Qammar, K. Ross-Alaolmolki, S. Strnad, E. Wheland, and B. Williams.  ($3000)
  • National Science Foundation – Research Experiences for Undergraduates. 2008. Ecology at the urban-rural interface. Co-PI with R. Mitchell and J. Pan. ($180,001)

Education

Ph.D., Zoology, University of Oklahoma; M.S., Biological Sciences (minor in Statistics), Mississippi State University; B.S., Zoology, University of Florida

Publications

  • Young, J.W., A.D. Foster, G.A. Russo, G.A. Smith, and M.T. Butcher. 2022. Only the good die old? Ontogenetic determinants of locomotor performance in eastern cottontail rabbits... Integrative Organismal Biology. doi.org/10.1093/iob/obab037.
  • Hollstein, M., and G.A. Smith. 2020. Civic environmentalism: integrating social studies and environmental education through curricular models. Journal of Social Studies Education Research 11:223-250.
  • Franckowiak, G.A., M. Perdicas, and G.A. Smith. 2019. Spatial ecology of coyotes in the urbanizing landscape of the Cuyahoga Valley, Ohio. PLoS ONE 14(12): e0227028. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227028.
  • Lehnert, M.S., K.E. Reiter, G.A. Smith, and G. Kritsky. 2019. An augmented wood-penetrating structure: cicada ovipositors enhanced with metals and other inorganic elements. Scientific Reports 9:19731:doi:10.1038/s41598-019-56203-6.
  • Foster, A.D., M.T. Butcher, G.A. Smith, G.A. Russo, R. Thalluri, and J.W. Young. 2019. Ontogeny of effective mechanical advantage in eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus). Journal of Experimental Biology 222:jeb205237 doi:10.1242/jeb.205237.
  • Butcher, M.T., J.A. Rose, Z.D. Glenn, N.M. Tatomirovich, G.A. Russo, A.D. Foster, G.A. Smith, and J.W. Young. 2019. Ontogenetic allometry and architectural properties...in eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus). Journal of Anatomy 235:106-123.
  • Smith, G.A., and S.K. Hatch. 2015. Movement and migratory behavior of tree bats (Lasiurus and Lasionycteris) within the western basin of Lake Erie. Final report submitted to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Columbus, OH.
  • Donovan, W.J., E.R. Wheland, G.A. Smith, and A. Bilia. 2014. Green Action Through Education: a model for fostering positive attitudes about STEM...American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.
  • Kurz, D.J., N.A. McGinty, S.A. Stankavich, A.J. Nowakowski, and G.A. Smith. 2013. Restored wetlands can support mammalian assemblages comparable to those in nonmitigated reference wetlands. American Midland Naturalist 170:260-273.
  • Wheland, E.R., W.J. Donovan, J.T. Dukes, H.K. Qammar, G.A. Smith, and B.L. Williams. 2013. Green action through education: a model for fostering positive attitudes about STEM. Journal of College Science Teaching 42:46-51.
  • Riordan, B.T., R.J. Duff, and G.A. Smith. 2012. The origin of coyote populations in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Ohio Journal of Science 112:15. (Abstract)
  • Smith, G.A. 2007. Various entries (Bison, Deer). In Encyclopedia of Oklahoma history and culture. Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, OK.
  • Lomolino, M.V., and G.A. Smith. 2007. Baseline avian inventory at Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, Oklahoma. Final report submitted to the National Park Service, Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, Cheyenne, OK.
  • Smith, G.A. 2005. Great wildlife of the Great Plains: a book review. Great Plains Research 15:157-158.
  • Smith, G.A. 2004. Various entries (American Kestrel, Eastern Kingbird, Ferruginous Hawk, Horned Lark, Loggerhead Shrike, Long-billed Curlew, Mountain Plover, Northern Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Swainson’s Hawk). In OK Breeding Bird Atlas, OU Press, Norman.
  • Smith, G.A., and M.V. Lomolino. 2004. Black-tailed prairie dogs and the structure of avian communities on the shortgrass plains. Oecologia 138:592-602.
  • Lomolino, M.V., and G.A. Smith. 2003. Terrestrial vertebrate communities at black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) towns. Biological Conservation 115:89-100.
  • Lomolino, M.V., G.A. Smith, and V. Vidal. 2003. Long-term persistence of prairie dog towns: insights for designing networks of prairie reserves. Biological Conservation 115:111-120.
  • Lomolino, M.V., and G.A. Smith. 2003. Prairie dog towns as islands: applications of island biogeography and landscape ecology for conserving nonvolant terrestrial vertebrates. Global Ecology and Biogeography 12:275-286.
  • Smith, G.A., and J.A. Jackson. 2002. Gray Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis). In The Birds of North America, No. 668 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.
  • Lomolino, M.V., and G.A. Smith. 2001. Dynamic biogeography of prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) towns near the edge of their range. Journal of Mammalogy 82:937-945.
  • Lomolino, M.V., R. Channell, D.R. Perault, and G.A. Smith. 2001. Downsizing nature: anthropogenic dwarfing of species and ecosystems. Pages 223-243 in Biotic homogenization (J. L. Lockwood and M. L. McKinney, eds.). Kluwer/Plenum Press, New York, NY.
  • Lomolino, M.V., and G.A. Smith. 2001. Baseline inventory of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians at Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, Oklahoma. Final report submitted to the National Park Service, Washita Battlefield NHS, Cheyenne, OK.
  • Lomolino, M.V., and G.A. Smith. 1999. Islands in a sea of grass. Biosurvey News 1:4-5.
  • Smith, G.A. 1997. Morphology and habitat use of wintering American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) in east Mississippi. Wingspan 6:16. (Abstract)
  • Smith, G.A. and J.A. Jackson. 1994. Red-bellied woodpecker predation on a green anole. Mississippi Kite 24:7-8.

Affiliations

American Association for the Advancement of Science National Association of Biology Teachers Ohio Academy of Science The Wildlife Society

Awards/Achievements

  • Distinguished Teaching Award Finalist, Kent State Alumni Association, Kent State University
  • Faculty Recognition Award (“Teaching that made a difference.”), University Teaching Council, Kent State University
  • Distinguished Teaching Award Finalist (Three Times), Kent State University at Stark
  • National Residence Hall Honorary “Favorite Faculty,” University of Akron
  • Elected Full Member, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society

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