La Copita Ranch Research Team
Dr. Ben Wu

X. Ben Wu, Assistant Professor Landscape Ecology

Dr. Wu is an Assistant Professor and Landscape Systems Ecologist with Texas A&M University. Dr. Wu received his B.S. (1982) from Lanzhou University (China), M.S. in Ecology (1988), M.S. in Management Science (1990), and Ph.D. (1991) in Ecology from the University of Tennessee. He was a post-doctoral researcher (1992-1995) and Adjunct Assistant Professor (1994-1995) at the Ohio State University. He joined the faculty at Texas A&M University in 1995 as an Assistant Professor.

Dr. Wu teaches undergraduate courses "Fundamentals of Ecology" and "Fundamentals of Ecology Laboratory", and a graduate course "Landscape Analysis and Modeling". He also taught a graduate course "Ecosystem Modelling" at the Ohio State University.

His current research focuses on quantitative studies of interactions between spatial pattern and ecological processes using landscape analysis, spatial statistics, GIS modeling and remote sensing approaches. Recent research projects include interactions of spatial pattern and fragmentation of semi-arid landscape with landscape hydrologic processes; influence of rangeland management and policy on vegetation dynamics and water yield from semi-arid rangelands; effects of historical land use changes at landscape- and regional-scales on the abundance and population trend of bird species; multiple-scale habitat modeling for rare plants conservation; and spatial pattern and scaling of soil C&N in savanna parkland landscape. His research interest also includes wetland ecology and restoration and plant population ecology.

b-wu@tamu.edu