DIRAC TWIDWELL, Ph.D.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078
Office: 405.744.4607 Cell: 979.587.0055 Email: [email protected]
Webpage: http://nrem.okstate.edu/faculty/twidwell.html
PERSONAL
Birth date:
Birth place:
August 7, 1980
North Platte, Nebraska, USA
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University, 2012.
Dissertation: From Theory to Application: Extreme Fire, Resilience, Restoration, and
Education in Social-Ecological Disciplines
M.S. Rangeland Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, 2006.
Thesis: Extreme Fire and Fuel Limitations Drive Fire Effects in Juniperus Woodlands
B.S.
Biological Sciences (cum laude), Chemistry (minor), Missouri University of Science and
Technology (formerly University of Missouri – Rolla), 2003.
Research Topic: Impacts of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals on the Endangered Ozark
Hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Instructor
Research Assistant
Research Assistant
Wildlife Resource Assistant
Fisheries Resource Assistant
Research Assistant
Teaching Assistant
Oklahoma State University, 1/12 - present
Texas A&M University, 9/09 – 12/11
Texas A&M University, 6/06 – 12/11
Oklahoma State University, 1/04 - 5/06
Missouri Department of Conservation, 5/03 - 1/04
Missouri Department of Conservation, 4/03 - 5/03
Missouri University of S&T, 9/02 - 5/03
Missouri University of S&T, 1/03 - 4/03, 8/03 - 12/03
RESEARCH
Peer-Reviewed Publications
(*undergraduate student contribution, † corresponding author)
8. Twidwell, D.†, W.E. Rogers, S.D. Fuhlendorf, C.L. Wonkka, D.M. Engle, J.R. Weir, U.P.
Kreuter, C.A. Taylor, Jr. 2013. The rising Great Plains fire campaign: citizenry response to
woody plant encroachment. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment (accepted).
7. Twidwell, D.†, C.L. Wonkka, C.A. Taylor, Jr., C.B. Zou, J.J. Twidwell, W.E. Rogers. 2013.
Drought-induced woody plant mortality in an encroached savanna depends on topoedaphic
factors and land management. Applied Vegetation Science DOI: 10.1111/avsc.12044.
6. Twidwell, D.†, S.D. Fuhlendorf, C.A. Taylor, Jr., W.E. Rogers. 2013. Refining thresholds in
coupled fire-vegetation models to improve management of encroaching woody plants in
grasslands. Journal of Applied Ecology DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12063.
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Dirac Twidwell
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5. Twidwell, D.†, J.M. Meza*, C.J. Turney*, W.E. Rogers. 2013. Does prescribed fire facilitate
fire ant invasions in coastal prairies or aid management by improving mound search efforts?
Southeastern Naturalist (accepted).
4. Twidwell, D.†, W.E. Rogers, B. McMahon*, B. Thomas, U.P. Kreuter, T.L. Blankenship.
2012. Prescribed extreme fire effects on richness and invasion in coastal prairie. Invasive
Plant Science and Management 5:330-340.
3. Taylor, C.A., Jr., D. Twidwell†, N.E. Garza, C. Rosser, J.K. Hoffman*, T.D. Brooks. 2012.
Long-term effects of fire, livestock herbivory removal, and weather variability in Texas
semiarid savanna. Rangeland Ecology and Management 65:21-30.
2. Twidwell, D.†, S.D. Fuhlendorf, D.M. Engle, C.A. Taylor, Jr. 2009. Surface fuel sampling
strategies: linking fuel measurements and fire effects. Rangeland Ecology and Management
63:223-229.
1. Huang, Y.W.†, D. Twidwell*, J. Elrod. 2003. Occurrence and effects of EDCs in the
environment. in: Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in the Environment, ed. C. Adams and
A. Bhandari. ASCE Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management (HTRWM)
Practice Periodical 7:241-252.
Manuscripts in Review
1. Twidwell, D., B.W. Allred, S.D. Fuhlendorf. Scientific critique of one of the world’s largest
terrestrial management frameworks. Ecosphere. In review.
Manuscripts in Final Stages and to be Submitted
1. Twidwell, D., W.E. Rogers, C.L. Wonkka, U.P. Kreuter, C.A. Taylor, Jr. Novel intervention
potential of extreme prescribed fire and herbicide in resprouting shrublands of southern Great
Plains. Target journal: Ecological Applications
2. Twidwell, D., A. West, W. Hiatt, A. Ramirez, J.T. Winter, D.M. Engle, S.D. Fuhlendorf, J.D.
Carlson. Social-ecological feedbacks constrain variation in fire as an ecosystem process in
tallgrass prairie. Target journal: Ecology and Society
3. Wonkka, C.L., D. Twidwell, W.E. Rogers. Herbivore-induced divergence of the life cycle of
an endangered orchid, Spiranthes parksii Correll. Target journal: Conservation Biology.
Non-Refereed Proceedings
1. Taylor, C.A., D. Twidwell, R.Q. Landers, and K. Mills. 2005. Fire ecology in the central
Texas and Edwards Plateau regions of Texas. in: Fire as a tool for managing wildlife habitat in
Texas, ed. C.G. Brown and D. Rollins. Texas Cooperative Extension, San Angelo, USA, 3241.
Reports and Commodity Newsletters
1. Twidwell, D. 2013. Community wildfire hazard and risk assessment for Stillwater, OK. 102
p.
2. Twidwell, D. 2012. Prairie and savanna restoration with controlled wildfire. In: The Rob and
Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation, 2009-2011. 20 p.
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3. Twidwell, D. 2010. Ecological dimensions of prescribed extreme fire in Texas. p. 18-46 in:
Kreuter, U.P. (project director) Ecological, economic, and social dimensions of using summer
fire to restore ecosystems in the southern plains of the US. 124 p.
4. Twidwell, D. 2009. Using fire to overcome the resilience of undesirable shrublands. in:
Welder Wildlife Foundation Field Notes. December 2009, Vol. 2, 4 p.
5. Twidwell, D., 2005. Research notes from the station. in: Edwards Plateau Prescribed Burning
Association Newsletter, ed. C.A. Taylor, Jr. Texas Agrilife Research Center, Sonora, USA,
8(2): 2.
6. Twidwell, D., 2005. Research notes from the station. in: Edwards Plateau Prescribed Burning
Association Newsletter, ed. C.A. Taylor, Jr. Texas Agrilife Research Center, Sonora, USA,
8(1): 2-3.
Awards and Honors
2011
2010
2010
2009
2009
2009
2007-2010
2005-2006
2000-2003
2000-2003
2000-2001
Excellence in Rangeland Research Award, Ecological Society of America
Rangeland Ecology Section
Tom Slick Graduate Fellow, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M
University
Harry Wayne Springfield Research Award, Department of Ecosystem Science and
Management, Texas A&M University
Best Student Oral Presentation, Society of Ecological Restoration International
(SERI), Perth, Australia
Outstanding Ph.D. Student of the Year, Ecosystem Science and Management
Department, Texas A&M University
Best Graduate Presentation - 2nd Place Poster, Lead Author, Ecological Integration
Symposium
Welder Wildlife Fellow, Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation
H.F. Pat Murphy Memorial Scholar, Oklahoma State University
Curator’s Scholar, University of Missouri Science and Technology
Alumni Scholar, University of Missouri Science and Technology
Chemistry Webb Scholar, University of Missouri Science and Technology
Scholarly Recognition as Collaborating Researcher/Advisor
2013
2009
2009
Best PhD Student Oral Presentation – Coauthor, Society for Range Management. In:
Wonkka, C.L., D. Twidwell, C.A. Taylor, Jr., C.B. Zou, J.J. Twidwell, W.E. Rogers.
2013. Exceptional drought events cause patch-level patterns of woody dieback in
semiarid Texas: comparing the 2000s to the 1950s. 66th Annual Meeting of Society
for Range Management. Oklahoma City, OK, February 2-8, 2013.
Best Undergraduate Presentation - 2nd Place Poster, Advisor/Coauthor, Ecological
Integration Symposium. In: Hoffman, J.K., C.A. Taylor, Jr., D. Twidwell, N.E.
Garza, C. Rosser, T.D. Brooks. 2009. Reintroduction of the historic fire return
interval after grassland-savanna conversion to juniper woodland: long-term analysis.
10th Annual Ecological Integration Symposium. College Station, TX, March 6-7,
2009.
Best Graduate Presentation - 1st Place Poster, Coauthor, Ecological Integration
Symposium. In: Wonkka, C., W.E. Rogers, D. Twidwell. 2009. The effects of fire
and herbivory on an endangered endemic orchid, Navasota Ladies Tresses
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(Spiranthes parksii). 10th Annual Ecological Integration Symposium. College
Station, TX, March 6-7, 2009.
Invited Presentations at Scientific Meetings and Departmental Symposia
1. Twidwell, D. 2013. Wildfires in the southern Great Plains and novel approaches to fuels
management. 66th Annual Meeting of Society for Range Management. Oklahoma City, OK,
February 2-8, 2013.
2. Twidwell, D. 2012. Restoration in juniper woodlands with extreme prescribed fire and future
perspectives on climate and vegetation change and fire danger models. Department of Natural
Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, April 6, 2012.
3. Twidwell, D. 2011. Integrating physical, ecological, and social dynamics to help landowners
apply controlled wildfires for rangeland restoration. Department of Ecosystem Science and
Management, Texas A&M University, October 4, 2011.
4. Twidwell, D. 2010. New ways to conduct undergraduate research: benefits for students and
faculty. Faculty Professional Development Series Workshop, Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX, November 18, 2010.
Published Abstracts, Presentations, and Posters (*undergraduate contribution)
1. Twidwell, D., S.D. Fuhlendorf, C.A. Taylor, Jr., W.E. Rogers. 2013. Coupling fire physics
and fire ecology to quantify state transitions and guide restoration actions. 66th Annual
Meeting of Society for Range Management. Stillwater, OK, February 2-8, 2013.
2. Leis, S. and D. Twidwell. 2013. Moving toward an era of management decisions based on
sound science. 66th Annual Meeting of Society for Range Management. Stillwater, OK,
February 2-8, 2013.
3. Rogers, W.E. C.L. Wonkka, D. Twidwell, F.E. Smeins. 2013. Effects of fire and herbivory
on an endangered terrestrial orchid in a Texas post oak savanna. 66th Annual Meeting of
Society for Range Management. Stillwater, OK, February 2-8, 2013.
4. Wonkka, C.L., D. Twidwell, C.A. Taylor, Jr., C.B. Zou, J.J. Twidwell, W.E. Rogers. 2013.
Exceptional drought events cause patch-level patterns of woody dieback in semiarid Texas:
comparing the 2000s to the 1950s. 66th Annual Meeting of Society for Range Management.
Stillwater, OK, February 2-8, 2013.
5. Wonkka, C.L., W.E. Rogers, D. Twidwell. 2013. An experimental assessment of different
restoration practices in a brush encroached South Texas rangeland. 66th Annual Meeting of
Society for Range Management. Stillwater, OK, February 2-8, 2013.
6. Twidwell, D. When patch burning doesn’t work: restoration intervention in juniper
woodlands with extreme prescribed fire. Association for Fire Ecology Southwest Conference,
Santa Fe, NM, February 27 – March 1, 2012.
7. Twidwell, D., W.E. Rogers, and C.A. Taylor, Jr. Applying prescribed extreme fire within a
resilience framework to help stakeholders adapt to changing rangeland environments. 96th
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Austin, TX, August 7-12, 2011.
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8. Rogers, W.E., D. Twidwell, E.A. McMahon*, B.R. Thomas, U.P. Kreuter and T.L.
Blankenship. Using prescribed extreme fire for coastal prairie restoration: effects on species
richness and invasion. 96th Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Austin, TX,
August 7-12, 2011.
9. Wonkka, C.L., W.E. Rogers, F.E. Smeins, and D. Twidwell. Fire-induced divergence of the
lifecycle of an endangered terrestrial orchid (Spiranthes parksii Correll). 96th Ecological
Society of America Annual Meeting, Austin, TX, August 7-12, 2011.
10. W.E. Rogers, D. Twidwell, T.L. Blankenship. Restoring west Gulf coastal prairies using
prescribed extreme fires. 5th West Gulf Coastal Plain and Big Thicket Science Conference,
Nacogdoches, Texas, April 8-10, 2011.
11. D. Twidwell, J.M. Meza*, C.J. Turney*, W.E. Rogers. Alien fire ant and native harvester ant
responses to coastal prairie restoration with fire. 5th West Gulf Coastal Plain and Big Thicket
Science Conference, Nacogdoches, Texas, April 8-10, 2011.
12. D. Twidwell, W.E. Rogers, S.D. Fuhlendorf, C.A. Taylor, Jr., D.M. Engle. Moving beyond
the myths and traditions of fire behavior in rangelands. 64th Annual Meeting of the Society
of Range Management, Billings, MT, February 6-10, 2011.
13. C.A. Taylor, Jr., D. Twidwell, W.E. Rogers. Conquering Social and Ecological Fire
Thresholds to Empower and Equip Ranchers to Manage Rangelands. 64th Annual Meeting of
the Society of Range Management, Billings, MT, February 6-10, 2011.
14. C.L. Wonkka, W.E. Rogers, F.E. Smeins, D. Twidwell. Herbivore Impacts on Life-Stage
Transitions of an Endangered Orchid, Spiranthes parksii Correll. 64th Annual Meeting of the
Society of Range Management, Billings, MT, February 6-10, 2011.
15. D. Twidwell, W.E. Rogers, S.D. Fuhlendorf, C.A. Taylor, Jr. Using prescribed extreme fire
to collapse and restore ecological systems: the benefits of quantifying resilience. 95th
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, August 1-6, 2010.
16. D. Twidwell, W.E. Rogers, S.G. Whisenant. PhD-instructed undergraduate research: More
than an undergraduate education and doctoral dissertation. 95th Ecological Society of
America Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, August 1-6, 2010.
17. W.E. Rogers, D. Twidwell, G. Sosa, and C.A. Taylor, Jr. Restoring shrub invaded rangelands
with prescribed extreme fires. 95th Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting,
Pittsburgh, PA, August 1-6, 2010.
18. C.L. Wonkka, D. Twidwell, W.E. Rogers. Experimental manipulation of biotic and abiotic
factors to determine their implications for conservation of an endangered endemic orchid
(Spiranthes parksii). 95th Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA,
August 1-6, 2010.
19. Bruton, R.K.*, D. Twidwell, C. Wonkka, U.P. Kreuter. 2010. Drivers of decision: a review
of grassland management techniques. 16th International Symposium on Society and Resource
Management. Corpus Christi, TX, June 2-6, 2010.
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20. Meza, J.*, D. Twidwell, W.E. Rogers. 2010. Can ecological restoration reverse humandriven changes in fire ant and native harvester ant numbers? 16th International Symposium
on Society and Resource Management. Corpus Christi, TX, June 2-6, 2010.
21. Washington-Allen, R.A., D. Twidwell, V. P. Mendieta, A. Delgado*, B. Redman*, W.
Trollope, L. Trollope, N. Govender, I. Smit, S. Popescu, C. de Bruno Austin, W. E. Rogers,
and M. C. Reeves. 2009. Undergraduate research experiences in support of dryland
monitoring: field and satellite remote sensing of change in savanna structure, biomass, and
carbon after prescribed fires. American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA, December
14-18, 2009.
22. Sosa, G., W.E. Rogers, C.A. Taylor, Jr., D. Twidwell. Managing a disturbed ecosystem:
prescribed fires and herbivory effectively control Opuntia cacti invasions. 19th World
Conference of the Society for Ecological Restoration International. Perth, WA, Australia,
August 23-27, 2009.
23. Twidwell, D., W.E. Rogers, S.D. Fuhlendorf, C.A. Taylor, Jr., U.P. Kreuter. 2009.
Overcoming ecological and social resilience to restore fire dependent ecosystems. 19th World
Conference of the Society for Ecological Restoration International. Perth, WA, Australia,
August 23-27, 2009. Best student oral presentation.
24. Bruton, R.K.*, D. Twidwell, C. Wonkka, U.P. Kreuter. 2009. Balancing risk and return in
sustaining environmental services: a review of resource management techniques. 94th
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, August 2-7, 2009.
25. Delgado, A.*, D. Twidwell, R.A. Washington-Allen, W.E. Rogers, S.C. Popescu. 2009.
Evaluating cross-scale resilience of an invaded savanna using field-based pulsed lidar. 94th
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, August 2-7, 2009.
26. Hoffman, J.K.*, D. Twidwell, C.A. Taylor, Jr., N.E. Garza, C. Rosser, T.D. Brooks. 2009.
Long-term analysis on the restoration potential of savanna using fire in different seasons. 94th
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, August 2-7, 2009.
27. Turney, C.J.*, D. Twidwell, W.E. Rogers. 2009. Small threats, big challenges: using
prescribed fire to locate and manage for fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) invasion in Texas. 94th
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, August 2-7, 2009.
28. Twidwell, D., W.E. Rogers, S.D. Fuhlendorf, C.A. Taylor, Jr., U.P. Kreuter. 2009. Predicting
the cyclic collapse between grassland and juniper woodland. 94th Ecological Society of
America Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, August 2-7, 2009.
29. Hoffman, J.K.*, C.A. Taylor, Jr., D. Twidwell, N.E. Garza, C. Rosser, T.D. Brooks. 2009.
Reintroduction of the historic fire return interval after grassland-savanna conversion to
juniper woodland: long-term analysis. 10th Annual Ecological Integration Symposium.
College Station, TX, March 6-7, 2009. Best undergraduate presentation – 2nd place poster.
30. Turney, C.J.*, D. Twidwell, W.E. Rogers. 2009. Overcoming a fiery invader: implications
for fire ant control. 10th Annual Ecological Integration Symposium. College Station, TX,
March 6-7, 2009.
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31. Twidwell, D., W.E. Rogers, S.D. Fuhlendorf, C.A. Taylor, Jr., U.P. Kreuter. 2009.
Ecological and social resilience in fire dependent systems: a preview. 10th Annual Ecological
Integration Symposium. College Station, TX, March 6-7, 2009. Best graduate presentation –
2nd place poster.
32. Wonkka, C., W.E. Rogers, D. Twidwell. 2009. The effects of fire and herbivory on an
endangered endemic orchid, Navasota Ladies Tresses (Spiranthes parksii). 10th Annual
Ecological Integration Symposium. College Station, TX, March 6-7, 2009. Best graduate
presentation – 1st place poster.
33. Herrin, J.*, D. Twidwell, C.A. Taylor, Jr. 2009. Why is there a burn ban? An evaluation of
indices used for their establishment. 62nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Range
Management: Merging Trails. Albuquerque, NM, February 8-12, 2009.
34. Toledo, D.P., U.P. Kreuter, W.E. Grant, D. Twidwell. 2009. Ecological and social
dimensions of using extreme prescribed fire to restore rangeland ecosystems in Texas. 62nd
Annual Meeting of the Society of Range Management: Merging Trails. Albuquerque, NM,
February 8-12, 2009.
35. Twidwell, D., W.E. Rogers, S.D. Fuhlendorf, C.A. Taylor, Jr., U.P. Kreuter. 2009.
Ecological and social resilience in fire dependent systems: a preview. 62nd Annual Meeting of
the Society of Range Management: Merging Trails. Albuquerque, NM, February 8-12, 2009.
36. Turney, C.J.*, D. Twidwell, W.E. Rogers. 2009. Prescribed fire impacts on red imported fire
ant (Solenopsis invicta) densities across three ecoregions in Texas. 62nd Annual Meeting of
the Society of Range Management: Merging Trails. Albuquerque, NM, February 8-12, 2009.
37. Sosa, G., W.E. Rogers, C.A. Taylor, Jr., D. Twidwell. 2008. Using prescribed fires to control
Opuntia cacti encroachment: examining the effects of seasonality and herbivory. Annual
Meeting of Texas Society of Ecological Restoration. Fort Davis, TX.
38. Twidwell, D., S.D. Fuhlendorf, D.M. Engle, C.A. Taylor, Jr., U.P. Kreuter. 2008. Evaluation
of critical factors influencing growing season fire behavior in rangelands. 61st Annual
Meeting of the Society of Range Management: Building Bridges: Grasslands to Rangelands.
Louisville, KY, January 26-31, 2008.
39. Twidwell, D., S.D. Fuhlendorf, D.M. Engle, and C.A. Taylor, Jr. 2007. A universal
framework for identifying critical factors in fire behavior in rangelands. Regional Meeting for
Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data. December 8, 2007. College Station, Texas, USA.
40. Twidwell, D. and W.E. Rogers. 2007. Savanna restoration using fire and herbicide in Texas:
the early years. Welder Wildlife Foundation Symposium. Sinton, Texas, USA, October 1921, 2007.
41. Twidwell, D., S.D. Fuhlendorf, D.M. Engle, C.A. Taylor, Jr. 2006. Probabilistic thresholds:
the potential for fire to restore grassland and savanna in juniper woodland. 14th Wildland
Shrub Symposium: Shrublands Under Fire: Disturbance and Recovery in a Changing World,
Cedar City, UT, June 6-8, 2006.
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42. Twidwell, D., S.D. Fuhlendorf, D.M. Engle, C.A. Taylor, Jr. 2006. Spatial dependence of fire
spread and fire effects to fuel heterogeneity. 59th Annual Meeting of the Society of Range
Management: Rangelands to Rainforests, Vancouver, Canada, February 12-17, 2006.
43. Twidwell, D., S.D. Fuhlendorf, D.M. Engle, C.A. Taylor, Jr. 2005. Spatial variation of fire
effects within a Juniperus-Quercus savanna. Tall Timbers’ 23rd Fire Ecology Conference: Fire
in grassland and shrubland ecosystems, Bartlesville, OK, October 17-20, 2005.
44. Elrod, J., Y.W. Huang, P. Nam, and D. Twidwell*. 2003. Endocrine disruption study of
Ozark Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) in Eleven Point and White Rivers.
Online abstract in the Missouri Life Sciences Week, March 2003, Missouri, USA.
45. Elrod, J., D. Twidwell*, and Y.W. Huang. 2003. Assessment of water quality, endocrine
disruption, and hematology of Ozark hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) in
Eleven Point and White Rivers. Semi-annual Hellbender Working Group Meeting. Feb. 14,
2003. West Plain, Missouri, USA.
46. Huang, Y.W., J. Elrod, D. Twidwell*, M. Solis, and J. Phillips. 2003. Finding possible
causes of the population decline in Ozark hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
bishopi): Water quality analysis, endocrine disruption, and hematology. July 24-25, 2003. A
national hellbender symposium in Unicoi State Park in Helen, Georgia.
Funded Grants, Contracts, and Awards
Overview: $323,340.50 from 16 awards.
2013
2013
2011
2011
2010
2010
2010
Managing Fuels while Enhancing Prairie Chicken Habitat. Joint Fire Science
Program. Funded $274,218 for 3 years. Thacker, E (Principal Investigator), D
Twidwell, D Elmore, SD Fuhlendorf, DM Engle, T Hovick.
Description: Led conceptual approach to the grant and co-led writing along with
Eric Thacker. Eric Thacker served as budget administrator and hence was
designated as PI.
Community Wildfire Risk and Hazard Assessment for Stillwater, OK. City of
Stillwater and Oklahoma Forest Service. Funded $8000 for 2.5 months. Twidwell, D
(Principal Investigator).
Applying prescribed extreme fire within a resilience framework to help stakeholders
adapt to changing rangeland environments. Excellence in Rangeland Research
Award. Ecological Society of America Rangeland Ecology Section. Funded $350.
Twidwell, D (Principal Investigator).
Continuation of studies investigating the ecological effects of prescribed extreme
fires in a coastal prairie ecosystem. Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation.
Funded $9600 over 1 year. Rogers, WE (Principal Investigator) and D Twidwell.
Theoretical and applied aspects of rangeland restoration. Tom Slick Fellowship,
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Funded $22,375 plus tuition over 1 year.
Twidwell, D (Principal Investigator).
Effect of fire and mechanical brush removal on plant community dynamics and
distributed recharge of the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer. TWRI Mills Scholarship, Texas
Water Resources Institute. Funded $1500 over 1 year. Twidwell, D (Principal
Investigator).
Restoration with fire and herbicide in thorn-scrub woodland. Harry Wayne
Springfield Research Award, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management,
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Texas A&M University. Funded $800 over 1 year. Twidwell, D (Principal
Investigator).
2010
Using prescribed extreme fire to collapse and restore ecological systems: the
benefits of quantifying resilience. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Travel Grant,
Texas A&M University. Funded $622.50. Twidwell, D (Principal Investigator).
2009
Raising the bar: more than an undergraduate education - RLEM 491.
Inquiry/Research-Based Education for Undergraduates, IILC Grant Program,
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University. Funded $1325
over 6 months. Twidwell, D (Principal Investigator).
2009
Undergraduate research experiences in ESSM. Department of Ecosystem Science
and Management, Texas A&M University. Funded $1250 over 1 year. Twidwell, D
(Principal Investigator).
2009
Overcoming resilience in post-fire dependent systems. Scientific Presentation Travel
Grant, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University. Funded
$500. Twidwell, D (Principal Investigator).
2007-2011 Ecological and social perspectives of extreme fire. Department of Ecosystem
Science and Management Travel Grants, Texas A&M University. Funded $2800
total from 5 awards. Twidwell, D (Principal Investigator).
Unfunded proposals:
2012
Co-PI (w/ Brady W. Allred, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, David M. Engle). SouthCentral Climate Science Center, “Conceptual model development for sustaining
landscapes in the south-central US under a changing climate.”
2011
Co-PI (w/ William E. Rogers, Jason B. West, Urs P. Kreuter, Roel Lopez, and
Charles A. Taylor, Jr.), USDA Rangelands Research Program, “Evaluating the
ecological impacts of prescribed extreme fire and helping landowners confront legal
constraints to restore juniper degraded rangelands.”
2010
Co-PI (w/ William E. Rogers, Jason B. West, and Carissa Wonkka), Wintergarden
Groundwater Conservation District, Texas Water Conservation Association,
“Effect of fire and mechanical brush removal on plant community dynamics: a
complimentary manipulation to the study of distributed recharge of Carrizo-Wilcox
aquifer.”
2009
Co-PI (w/ William E. Rogers, Wayne Hamilton, and Richard Conner), Joint Fire
Sciences Program, “Improving non-forested fuels mapping using the Burning Risk
Advisory Support System (BRASS): Experimental studies at the Aransas National
Wildlife Refuge, Texas.”
2009
Co-PI (w/ William E. Rogers, J. Richard Conner, Urs P. Kreuter, Charles A. Taylor,
Jr., Jason B. West), United States Department of Agriculture-AFRI Biology of
Weedy and Invasive Species in Agroecosystems, “Restoring Texas rangelands
degraded by shrub and cactus invasions: utilizing resilience frameworks to
overcome ecological, economic, and societal constraints.”
Media Coverage of Research
Newspaper and Magazine Articles:
Livestock Weekly
Popular Science Websites:
Life Science Weekly
Newswise.com
ScienceDaily.com
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Mentoring
Overview:
I have served as primary research mentor for 11 undergraduate student
researchers, co-mentor for 1 undergraduate student researcher, and supervisor for
an additional 8 research technicians during my PhD and postdoctoral
appointments.
Undergraduate Student Researchers:
at Oklahoma State University:
Taylor Winter, B.S. candidate in Natural Resource Ecology and Management
Abbey Ramirez, B.S. candidate in Natural Resource Ecology and Management
William Hiatt, B.S. candidate in Natural Resource Ecology and Management
at Texas A&M University:
Richard Bruton, B.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Management
Jordan Herrin, B.S. in Forestry
James Hoffman, B.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Management
Katie Hurst, B.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Management
Elizabeth McMahon, B.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Management
Jennifer Meza, B.S. in Renewable Natural Resources
Bryan Tarbox, B.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Management
Charles Jack Turney, B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science
Alfredo Delgado, B.S. in Spatial Sciences (primary advisor, R. Washington-Allen)
Research Technicians
at Oklahoma State University:
Andrew West, M.S. in Wildlife Sciences
Taylor Winter, B.S. candidate in Natural Resource Ecology and Management
Abbey Ramirez, B.S. candidate in Natural Resource Ecology and Management
at Texas A&M University
Melinda Barnes, M.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Management
Melanie Nash-Loop, M.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Management
Austin Box, B.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Management
Bret Hamm, B.S. in Ecological Restoration
Emily Jackson, B.S. in Renewable Natural Resources
Kyle Landolt, B.S. in Ecological Restoration
Nick Randall, B.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Management
TEACHING
Courses developed at Oklahoma State as Postdoctoral Researcher
2013
Fire and Fuels Management Research (NREM 4990)
Description:
Provided advanced and qualified undergraduates an opportunity to conduct research important
to the growing wildfire problems in the Great Plains. Participating students worked as a team
to empirically evaluate the dynamic nature of fuels inputs used to parameterize grassland fuel
models and fire danger rating systems. Three undergraduates participated in the course and
reported their findings in a peer-review publication.
Curriculum Vitae
Dirac Twidwell
Page 10 of 15
Manuscripts prepared in the course: (*indicates undergraduate student)
Twidwell, D., A. West, W. Hiatt, A. Ramirez, J.T. Winter, D.M. Engle, S.D. Fuhlendorf, J.D.
Carlson. Social-ecological feedbacks constrain variation in fire as an ecosystem process in
tallgrass prairie. Target journal: Ecology and Society
Courses Developed at Texas A&M University as PhD Student
2008 - 2011
Undergraduate Research (ESSM 491)
Description:
Initiated a research course to fill gaps in departmental curriculum, provide opportunities to
conduct mentored, autonomous research (previously lacking), instill a research culture at the
undergraduate level, and train undergraduates to perform tasks required of them at the next
level of their careers. Eight undergraduates have participated in the course with majors
ranging from Rangeland Ecology and Management, Forestry, and Wildlife and Fisheries.
Undergraduates presented their research at various scientific conferences (see presentations
below) and contributed to the following publications:
Manuscripts prepared in the course: (*indicates undergraduate student)
Twidwell, D., W.E. Rogers, B. McMahon*, B. Thomas, U.P. Kreuter, T.L. Blankenship.
2012. Prescribed extreme fire effects on richness and invasion in coastal prairie. Invasive
Plant Science and Management 5:330-340.
Taylor, Jr., C.A., D. Twidwell, N.E. Garza, C. Rosser, J.K. Hoffman*, T.D. Brooks. 2012.
Long-term effects of fire, livestock herbivory removal, and weather variability in Texas
semiarid savanna. Rangeland Ecology and Management 65:21-30.
Twidwell, D., J.M. Meza*, C. J. Turney*, W.E. Rogers. Does prescribed fire facilitate fire ant
invasions in coastal prairies or aid management by improving mound search efforts?
Southeastern Naturalist (accepted).
Instructor of Record
2013
2009 – 2011
Fire and Fuels Management Research (NREM 4990)
Fire Ecology and Natural Resource Management (RLEM
416/ESSM 626)
Undergraduate Research (ESSM 491)
2008 – 2011
Invited Lecturer
2012
2011
Principles of Rangeland Management (NREM 3613)
Principles of Range Management (RLEM 314)
Fundamentals of Ecology (RENR 205)
Terrestrial Landscape Restoration (RLEM 320)
Principles of Range Management (RLEM 314)
Introduction to Restoration (RLEM 120)
Terrestrial Landscape Restoration (RLEM 320)
Fire Ecology and Natural Resource Management (RLEM
416/ESSM 626)
2010
2009
2008
EXTENSION, OUTREACH, AND MANAGEMENT
Changes in Clientele and Agency Policies/Practices
Overview:
I have worked directly with extension specialists in the southern Great Plains to
contribute to changes in policy and land management practices as a result of my
research.
Curriculum Vitae
Dirac Twidwell
Page 11 of 15
1. Creation and Growth of Landowner Prescribed Burn Cooperatives. I have helped
extension specialists start prescribed burn cooperatives in Texas and Oklahoma. Prescribed
burn cooperatives are landowner-led organizations where citizens pool equipment, resources,
money, and personnel to overcome many of the sociopolitical impositions that prevent
widespread use of prescribed fire. These prescribed burn cooperatives are the largest societal
movement to restore fire to the Great Plains biome (Twidwell et al. in review). I am currently
working with extension specialists to better understand the needs, challenges, and operating
procedures of these burn cooperatives.
2. Landowner Adoption of Extreme Prescribed Fire for Ecological Restoration and
Changes in State Legislation. I have collaborated with university extension specialists to (1)
show landowners the potential to use extreme prescribed fire to restore grasslands from
woody-dominated rangelands (Twidwell et al. 2012; Twidwell et al. 2013) and (2) to help
landowners design pastoral areas to light and control these types of fires. I have provided
advice to members of the Texas Department of Agriculture Prescribed Burning Board, which
sets legislative standards for prescribed burning and establishes certification and education
requirements for prescribed burners. Efforts from the Prescribed Burning Board has resulted
in special legal exemptions that allow qualified prescribed burners the ability to burn during
periods of government-mandated outdoor burning bans.
3. Texas USDA-NRCS Policy Change in Prescribed Fire Prescriptions. Texas USDA-NRCS
changed its prescribed fire prescription to accommodate the need to conduct prescribed fires
in a broader range of environmental conditions. The change corresponded, in part, with
evidence from my research that evaluated the ecological implications of using high intensity
fires in the growing season.
4. Wildland-Urban Interface Fuels Management Policy. I am working with a city planning
and development advisory board to change fuels management practices at the wildland-urban
interface for Stillwater, OK. The advisory board includes representatives from local fire
departments, city government, university administration, real estate companies, banks, and
state natural resource agencies. The project is in its initial phases.
Invited Presentations at Stakeholder/Agency Meetings
1. Twidwell, D. 2013. Wildfire hazard and risk assessment for the city of Stillwater, OK.
Stillwater City Council. Stillwater, OK, May 8, 2013.
2. Twidwell, D. 2013. Wildfire hazard and risk assessment for Stillwater, OK. City of Stillwater
Fire Department. Stillwater, OK, April 30, 2013.
3. Twidwell, D. 2013. Fire and fuels management. USDA Natural Resource Conservation
Service Fire Training. Stillwater, OK, February 11-15, 2013.
4. Twidwell, D. 2012. Fire restoration and state-and-transition models. US Department of
Agricultural Natural Resource Conservation Service Burn School, Pushmataha Wildlife
Management Area, Pushmataha, OK, March 26-29, 2012.
5. Twidwell, D. 2011. Restoration of Texas ecosystems with fire. US Forest Service Staff
Workshop, New Waverly, TX, December 12, 2011.
Curriculum Vitae
Dirac Twidwell
Page 12 of 15
6. Twidwell, D. 2011. Extreme fire ecology research. Certified Prescribed Burn Manager
Training Workshop, College Station, TX, October 5, 2011.
7. Twidwell, D. 2010. The ecological, political, and organizational benefits of the prescribed
fire network database. Edwards Plateau Prescribed Burn Association, Fire Management
Workshop, Fredericksburg, TX, July 28, 2010.
8. Twidwell, D. 2009. Prescribed Fire Network: an online database network and information
system for landowners and government agencies. Edwards Plateau Prescribed Burn
Association, Fire Management Workshop, Sonora, TX, July 30, 2009.
Participation in Field Tours, Clientele Management, and Other Extension
1. Field Tour Demonstrations and Workshop Participation with Stakeholders. I have
participated in the following field tours and workshops that brought together landowners,
agency professionals, politicians, extension specialists, and scientists:
i.
Oklahoma Prescribed Fire Council. Oklahoma City, OK, May 2012.
ii.
US Forest Service Staff Workshop. New Waverly, TX, December 2011.
iii.
Texas State Burn Board Meeting. Sonora, TX. November 2011.
iv.
Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Training Workshop. College Station, TX,
October 2011.
v.
Edwards Plateau Prescribed Burn Association Fire Management Workshop,
Fredericksburg, TX, July 2010.
vi.
Edwards Plateau Prescribed Burn Association Fire Management Workshop,
Sonora, TX, July 2009.
vii.
Tallgrass Prairie Preserve Field Day. Pawhuska, OK, April 2005.
2. Prescribed Fire Training Schools. I have assisted in teaching two formal prescribed fire
training courses for undergraduate students and graduate students at Oklahoma State
University and two burn schools for US Department of Agriculture Conservation Service
employees. Trainees learned proper use of suppression equipment and techniques for fire
suppression, fire ignition techniques, fire weather, fire clothing, and guidelines to determine
which suppression equipment is appropriate given different levels of fire behavior.
3. Land Management Assistance for Private Landowners. I helped private landowners
conduct 28 prescribed fires on 3500 acres of rangeland, forestland, or agricultural land (range
= 5 – 1,795 ac) from 2004-2008.
4. Wildfire Suppression Assistance and Coordination. I organized fire suppression efforts of
volunteer firefighters and landowners for a 5,000 acre wildfire west of Rocksprings, TX
(2005), and assisted in suppressing three wildfires near Stillwater, OK (2004-2005, 2012).
RANGELAND MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE
1. Prescribed Fire Experience in Rangelands. I have conducted 158 prescribed burns on
6,650 acres of rangeland
i.
Served as burn boss on 81 prescribed fires
ii.
Received special exemptions to conduct 55 prescribed burns as burn boss during
government-imposed burn bans
iii.
Conducted prescribed fires in three states (Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas)
iv.
Burned in agricultural fields, introduced pasture, and native
grasslands/shrublands
Curriculum Vitae
Dirac Twidwell
Page 13 of 15
2. Herbicide Application for Weed Control. I have sprayed herbicide for exotic invasive
weeds and shrubs, as well as native encroaching woody plants in Missouri and Texas (2003,
2007-2009).
3. Grass and Forb Seeding for Grassland Restoration and Tree Plantings for Riparian
Restoration. I seeded native grasses and wildflowers as part of a tallgrass prairie restoration
project and planted shrubs and trees to reclaim riparian areas with Missouri Department of
Conservation (2003)
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Peer-Reviewer for Journals and Proposals
Journals:
Ecological Applications
Plant Ecology
Oikos
Rangeland Ecology and Management
Scientific Reports
Southwestern Naturalist
Weed Technology
Proposals:
National Research Foundation, 2012
For Texas A&M University as PhD Student
Student Chair and Member of Faculty Executive Committee for Interdisciplinary Research
Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), 2010-2011
Description:
Coauthored a proposal for the development of a new PhD degree program in EEB at Texas
A&M University. Served on the Executive Board of EEB to help formalize future directions
of the program, to provide advice and input on the strengths, weaknesses, and potential
growth, and to contribute to the development of a new, integrated academic center or
institution at Texas A&M. Created a university-recognized EEB graduate student organization
that coupled faculty and student scholastic and social activities.
Panelist on Faculty Professional Development Series Workshop: New Ways to Conduct
Undergraduate Research: Benefits for Students and Faculty. 2010
Description:
Served on a panel sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Faculties & Associate Provost and
Center for Teaching Excellence and Honors and Undergraduate Research to introduce a PhDstudent led undergraduate research program (that I developed) to university administrators,
department chairs, institute directors, and faculty. From the workshop description: “Studies of
undergraduate research have indicated that students report increased understanding of how to
conduct a project, greater understanding of science, growth in confidence in research skills,
and greater awareness of what graduate school will be like. Also, undergraduate research can
play important roles in helping faculty members move their research programs forward. Five
Texas A&M faculty members (Karen Butler-Purry, Christopher Quick, Daniel Romo, Dirac
Twidwell and Sumana Datta) from a spectrum of departments will share their experiences with
radically different mechanisms for including undergraduates in research projects. These
mechanisms offer various approaches to undergraduate research that will be appropriate for
different types of programs.”
Search Committee for Ecosystem Forest Science Assistant Professor, 2009
Description:
Curriculum Vitae
Dirac Twidwell
Page 14 of 15
Served on an interview panel of a departmental search committee for one candidate for the
hiring of an entry-level, assistant professor position.
Speaker for Honors Invitational Program, Undergraduate Recruitment, 2009
Description:
Spoke to high-school students interested in enrolling in the College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences to promote the quality and breadth of education in the Department of Ecosystem
Science and Management (ESSM); specifically the talk, “Research Opportunities in
Ecosystem Science and Management: making the most of your undergraduate experiences,”
addressed the need to incorporate research into their undergraduate careers and how the
institutional framework in ESSM was in place for them to fully realize their potential.
Ecosystem Science and Management Departmental Review, Graduate Advisory Board, 2008
Description:
Worked with the Departmental Advisory Board, consisting of department heads from similar
departments at other universities, to provide input on the status and direction of the
department, its short- and long-term scholastic and research goals, the necessary changes
required to meet those goals, and how to improve the department for future students.
Symposia and Workshops Organized
1. Fire and fuels modeling: emerging applications for rangelands. 2013. Society for Range
Management. Oklahoma City, OK. Speakers: Mark Finney, Janice Coen, Richard Guyette,
Chad Hoffman, Devan McGranahan, JD Carlson, Sherry Leis.
2. Resilience from genes to ecosystems: ecological, evolutionary, and social perspectives in
sustainable conservation. 2009. Ecological Integration Symposium. Texas A&M
University. (Cooperating organizer with Katie Roach, chair) Speakers: Lance Gunderson,
Randall Hughes, Ken Whitney, Donald DeAngelis, Mary Power, Craig Allen.
Professional Memberships:
Current memberships:
The Association for Fire Ecology, 2011 - present
Council of Undergraduate Research, 2009-present
Society of Range Management, 2005-present
Ecological Society of America, 2004-present
Past memberships:
American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2009-2012
Botanical Society of America, 2011
Wildlife Society, 2004-2005
Phi Sigma, 2004
Curriculum Vitae
Dirac Twidwell
Page 15 of 15