Jim Ebersole
he/him/his
Retired Professor
Organismal Biology & Ecology
Colorado College professor from 1988-2020
Research Interests
Plant ecology, alpine vegetation restoration (with Colorado Fourteeners Initiative and Rocky Mountain Field Institute), unassisted recovery of disturbed alpine vegetation, unassisted recovery of disturbed arctic vegetation
Pedagogical Interests
- Developing, teaching, and evaluating abroad courses. I initiated and developed ecology/conservation courses in Ecuador, Tanzania (four student co-authored publications), Argentine Patagonia, Namibia, Spain (in Spanish), and co-taught additional courses in Costa Rica and the Canadian Arctic
- Active learning in all courses, including student-initiated, small-group research projects as part of all on-campus courses
- Scientific writing
- Teaching biostatistics to promote critical numeracy
Activities & Interests
Hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, international travel
Student Research Support
Published 15 papers with student co-authors in peer-reviewed journals; topics included my own research interests as well as alpine plant ecophysiology, plant-animal interactions, limitations on sagebrush growth, ant ecology, animal behavior, and an ethnographic study of relationships between the Maasai people and their dogs.
Publications
Webster, L. and J. J. Ebersole. 2020. Understanding the human-animal interface: Maasai perceptions of dogs in northern Tanzania. Society and Animals 28:357-376. DOI: 10.1163/15685306-12341574
Hägerling, H. G. and J. J. Ebersole. 2017. Roads as travel corridors for mammals and ground birds in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. African Journal of Ecology 55:701–704. DOI: 10.1111/aje.12386
Johnson, J. E. and J. J. Ebersole. 2017. Response of Acacia tortilis to elephant browsing in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania: possible above-ground compensation? Journal of Young Investigators 32:1-6. DOI: 10.22186/jyi.32.1.1-6
Walker, D. A., and 35 others including JJE. 2016. The Alaska Arctic Vegetation Archive (AVA-AK). Phytocoenologia 46:221-229. DOI: 10.1127/phyto/2016/0128
Davis, B. R. and J. J. Ebersole. 2015. Impala (Aepyceros melampus) associate with olive baboons (Papio anubis) for feeding and security in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. African Journal of Ecology 54:238–241 DOI: 10.1111/aje.12263
Greenler, S. M. and J. J. Ebersole. 2015. Bird communities in tropical agroforesty ecosystems: an under-appreciated conservation resource. Agroforesty Systems 89:691-704. DOI 10.1007/s10457-015-9805-y
Sides, C. B., B. J. Enquist, J. J. Ebersole, M. N. Smith, A. N. Henderson, L. L. Sloat. 2014. Revisiting Darwin’s hypothesis: does greater intraspecific variability increase species’ ecological breadth? American Journal of Botany 101:56-62.
Myerburg, M. M., J. J. Ebersole, L. G. Shoemaker, and M. S. Heschel. 2011. Limited plasticity of biomass allocation in alpine forbs, Pikes Peak, Colorado. Western North American Naturalist 71:431-435.
Poore, R. E., C. A. Lamanna, J. J. Ebersole, and B. J. Enquist. 2009. Controls on radial growth of mountain big sagebrush and implications for climate change. Western North American Naturalist 69:556–562.
Kempes, C. P., O. B. Myers, D. D. Breshears, and J. J. Ebersole. 2008. Comparing response of Pinus edulis tree-ring growth to five alternate moisture indices using historic meteorological data. Journal of Arid Environments 72:350-357.
Lostroh, C. P., and J. J. Ebersole. 2006. Bio 2010-Evolution as an alternative organizing theme. Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly 26:153-155.
Bay, R. F. and J. J. Ebersole. 2006. Success of alpine turf transplants in restoring alpine trails, Colorado, USA. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 38:173-178.
McCain, E. B., J. I. Zlotoff, and J. J. Ebersole. 2003. Effects of elk browsing on aspen stand characteristics, Rampart Range, Colorado. Western North American Naturalist 63:129-132.
Ebersole, J. J. 2002. Recovery of alpine vegetation on small, denuded plots, Niwot Ridge, Colorado, U.S.A. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 34:389-397.
Ebersole, J. J., R. F. Bay, and D. K. Conlin. 2002. Restoring high-alpine social trails on Colorado Fourteeners, U. S. A. pp. 389-391 in K. M. Urbanska and J. C. Chambers. High-elevation ecosystems. in A. J. Davy and M. Perrow, eds. Handbook of Restoration Ecology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Conlin, D. B., and J. J. Ebersole. 2001. Restoration of an alpine disturbance: differential success of species in turf transplants, Colorado, U.S.A. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 33:340-347.
Forbes, B. C., J. J. Ebersole, and B. Strandberg. 2001. Anthropogenic disturbance and patch dynamics in circumpolar arctic ecosystems. Conservation Biology 15:954-969.
Reynolds, J. L., and T. N. Feinstein, and J. J. Ebersole. 2000. Seedlings of Gambel oak near the northeastern limit of its range. Western North American Naturalist 60:225-227.
Terranella, A. C., L. Ganz, and J. J. Ebersole. 1999. Western harvester ants prefer nest sites near roads and trails. The Southwestern Naturalist 44:382-384.
Tonnesen, A. S. and J. J. Ebersole. 1997. Human trampling effects on regeneration and age structures of Pinus edulis and Juniperus monosperma, Garden of the Gods, Colorado. Great Basin Naturalist 57:50-56.
Bennett, J. P., R. L. Anderson, M. L. Mielke, and J. J. Ebersole. 1994. Foliar injury air pollution surveys of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.): A review. Environmental Assessment and Monitoring 30:247-274.
Enquist, B. J. and J. J. Ebersole. 1994. Effects of added water on photosynthesis of Bistorta vivipara: the importance of water relations and leaf nitrogen in two alpine plant communities, Pikes Peak, Colorado, U.S.A. Arctic and Alpine Research 26:29- 34.
Ebersole, J. J. 1989 Role of the seed bank in providing colonizers on a tundra disturbance in northern Alaska. Canadian Journal of Botany 67:466-471.
Ebersole, J. J. 1987 Short-term recovery at an Alaskan Arctic Coastal Plain site. Arctic and Alpine Research 19:442-450.
Ebersole, J. J. and P. J. Webber. 1983. Plant succession and biological decomposition following disturbance on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska. Permafrost - Fourth International Conference Proceedings. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 266-271.
Regular Classes
BE105 - Biology of Plants
BE208 - Ecology
BE220 - Biostatistics & Experimental Design
BE308 - Advanced Ecology
BE362 - Plant Ecology
BE389/BE390 - Ecology and Biogeography of Patagonia
BE440 - Ecology and Conservation in Tanzania

Education
Ph.D. Plant Ecology, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1985
B.A. Natural Science, Goshen College, 1977
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