Peer reviewed publications
A significant part of SGI’s mission is to further the science behind understanding the biodiversity of the grasslands of the Southeastern U.S. Research staff work closely with other SGI staff to complement our restoration, native seed, tribal, and community engagement programs. Below is a base list of scientific publications that have undergone the rigorous peer-review process by other experts in relevant fields and published in scientific journals. Check back for updates and new publications on this page.
Selected scientific journal articles
2025. G. LeFevre, D. Estes, E. Rehm. Better reproductive success of an invasive thistle than its native relative under pollinator exclusion. Plant Biology.
2024. Witsell, T. and R. Lance. Clarification of the status of Crataegus ouachitensis (Rosaceae) and a reevaluation of its var. minor. Phytoneuron 2024-55: 1–14.
2024. Witsell, T., V.L. McDaniel, B.T. Baker, D.M. Zollner, G.L. De Jong, S.L. Hooks. Coefficients of conservatism for the vascular flora of Arkansas. Phytoneuron 2024-46: 1–99.
2023. Estes, D., Tracey, C., Zimmerman, E., Knapp, W., Vanderhorst, J., Singhurst, J., & Witsell, T. Riverscour ecosystems of eastern unglaciated North America: A review. Natural Areas Journal, 43(3), 148-168.
2022. Ciafre, C. M., Gienger, C. M., Rehm, E. M., & Estes, L. D. Deterministic and stochastic factors jointly drive plant community composition and diversity in isolated wetlands. Wetlands, 42(7), 1–11.
2022. Ciafre, C. M., & Estes, L. D. Two Coastal Plain Dichanthelium (Poaceae: Paniceae) Disjunct in Tennessee Grasslands and Their Conservation. Castanea, 87(1), 121–128.
2022. McDaniel, V.L., B. Baker, T. Witsell, & S.L. Hooks. 2022. Significant range extension of Streptanthus squamiformis (Brassicaceae), a Ouachita Mountain endemic. Journal of Botanical Research Institute of Texas 16(2): 559–563.
2022. Murphy, T. H., Harris, J., & Estes, L. D. Morphometric and Molecular Evidence Delimit Six Species in Clematis reticulata s.l. (Ranunculaceae: Clematis subg. Viorna). Systematic Botany, 47(3), 667–690.
2021. Noss, R. F., Cartwright, J. M., Estes, D., Witsell, T., Elliott, G., Adams, D., ... & Weakley, A. Improving species status assessments under the US Endangered Species Act and implications for multispecies conservation challenges worldwide. Conservation Biology, 35(6), 1715-1724.
2021. Soteropoulos, D.L., C.R. De Bellis, T. Witsell. Citizen science contributions to address biodiversity loss and conservation planning in a rapidly developing region. Diversity 13 (6):255.
2019. Lynch, D.T., T. Witsell, B.A. Rupar, W.C. Holimon, D.W. Bowman. The devil and the deep blue lake: How natural area acquisition and stewardship helps protect the major drinking reservoir in northwestern Arkansas. Natural Areas Journal 39(1): 78-89.
2013. Estes, D. Penstemon kralii (Plantaginaceae), a new species from Alabama and Tennessee, with an updated key to the southeastern U.S. taxa. Journal of Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 6(1), 1-8.
2012. Norton-Taylor, K., Estes, L.D. The floristic and community ecology of seasonally limestone glade seeps of Tennessee and Kentucky. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 6(2), 711-724.
2011. Estes, L.D., Beck, J. A new species of Polymnia (Asteraceae: Tribe Polymnieae) from Tennessee. Systematic Botany, 36(2), 481-486.
2011. Weakley, A. S., LeBlond, R. J., Sorrie, B. A., Witsell, C. T., Estes, L. D., Gandhi, K., ... & Ebihara, A. New combinations, rank changes, and nomenclatural and taxonomic comments in the vascular flora of the southeastern United States. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 437-455.
2008. Estes, D., & Small, R. L. Phylogenetic relationships of the monotypic genus Amphianthus (Plantaginaceae tribe Gratioleae) inferred from chloroplast DNA sequences. Systematic Botany, 33(1), 176-182.
2007. Estes, L.D., Small, R.L. Two new species of Gratiola (Plantaginaceae) from eastern North America and an updated circumscription for Gratiola neglecta. Journal of Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 1(1), 146-170.