As a liberal arts institution in south Texas, Trinity has been the ideal university for me. I am a scientist but began in the humanities and at Trinity we understand the value of working across disciplines in both teaching and research. Our interdisciplinarity is also exemplified in the way the Trinity community regards and nurtures human well-being in our living and working environments; it is a beautiful and calming place to be day-to-day. Trinity’s location is also fortuitous as my research and cultural expertise span the southwestern United States into Mexico and the Americas. My B.A. is in International Relations with specialization in Latin American affairs; I am fluent in Spanish, have worked extensively abroad, and stay closely attuned to global affairs. At Trinity, I am fortunate to be able to apply these skills and interests to my research and curriculum development. Finally, I am a native San Antonian (Go Spurs Go!) and have been fortunate to return home, a rare occurrence in this profession.
Education
- Ph.D., University of California at Davis (Ecology)
- M.S., University of California at Davis (Plant Ecological Physiology)
- B.A., American University (International Relations, Latin American Affairs)
- Study Abroad: Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Spain, Mexico
Selected Publications
- Lyons, K.G., Hermann, J.M., Kiehl, K., Kirmer, A., Kollmann, J., Overbeck, G.E. Tischew, S., Allen, E.B., Bakker, J.D., Brigham, C., Buisson, E., Crawford, K., Dunwiddie, P., Firn, J., *Grobert, D., Hickman, K., LeStradic, S., Torok, P., Temperton, V.M. 2023. Challenges and opportunities for grassland restoration: A global perspective of best practices in the era of climate change. Global Ecology and Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02612
- *Novak, E.N., Bertelsen, M., Davis, D., *Grobert, D.M., Lyons, K.G., Martina, J.P., McCaw, W.M., O'Toole, M., Veldman, J.W. 2021. Season of prescribed fire determines grassland restoration outcomes after fire exclusion and overgrazing. Ecosphere 12(9). https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3730
- Lyons, Kelly G., Mann, M. *Lenihan, M., *Roybal, O., *Carroll, K., *Reynoso, K., Kivlin, S.N., Taylor, D.L., Rudgers, J.A. 2020. Culturable root endophytes under experimental warming and along elevation gradients in the Rocky Mountains. Submitted to Fungal Ecology 49: 101002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2020.101002.
- *Havill, S., Schwinning, S., Lyons, K.G. 2015. Fire effects on invasive and native warm-season grass species in a North American grassland at a time of extreme drought. Applied Vegetation Science 18(4): 637-649.
- Lyons, K., *Maldonado-Leal, B.G., *Owen, G. 2013. Community and ecosystem impacts of buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare) and nitrogen addition in the Sonoran Desert. Invasive Plant Science and Management 6(1): 65-78.
- Lyons, K.G., *McCarthy, W.A. 2010. Early Decomposition of Juniperus ashei (Ashe Juniper) wood as a function of microclimate: Implications for grassland restoration. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 63(3):359-365.
- Lyons, K.G., Shapiro, A.M., Schwartz, M.W. 2010. Distribution and ecotypic variation of the invasive annual barb goatgrass (Aegilops triuncialis) on serpentine soil. Invasive Plant Science and Management 3(4): 376-389.
- Lyons, K.G., Schwartz, M.W. 2001. Rare species loss alters ecosystem function 'invasion resistance. Ecology Letters 4: 358-365.
- Schwartz, M.W., C. Brigham, J.D. Hoeksema, K.G. Lyons, M. Mills, P. VanMantgem. 2000. Is Biodiversity-for-ecosystem-function an appropriate conservation paradigm? Oecologia 122: 297-305.
*denotes student co-author
Selected Substantive Grants
- U.S. Department of Education. Trinity University McNair Scholars Program. $1,161,325 (2017-2021) and $1,590,000 (2022-2027). Director.
- Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. Beckman Scholars Program. Co-PI with 15 Trinity University STEM Faculty. $156,000. 2025-2028.
- International Society for Ecological Restoration/Microsoft. Standards-based Ecological
- Restoration in Action - Integrating Science and Management in a Community Partnership to Explore Best-Practices for Ecological Restoration Along the San Antonio Mission Reach. Collaborator: San Antonio River Authority. $50,000. 2023-2024
- Native Prairies of Texas/Charles Hall Foundation. Combining Biotic and Abiotic Restoration Techniques for Invasive Species Control. Dowell Ranch, TX. Collaborator: Susan Schwinning, PhD, Texas State University. $45,000. 2022-2025
- USDA NRCS Conservation Collaboration Grant. Consultant. National Center for Appropriate Technology. Soil for Water. $44,330/$977,579. 2020-2022
- NSF Research Opportunity Award. Parsing the effects of host specificity and geography on plant-fungal symbioses under climate change. $50,854.
- Shield Ranch Foundation. Restoration as Biocontrol in the Texas Hill Country. $23,000. 2016.
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Pollinator Education and Action for Sustainability (PEAS) Program. Co-PI: Hayley Sayrs, Trinity Alumna. $35,000. 2016.
- USDA - CSREES National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program - Biology of Weedy and Invasive Species in Agroecosystems. Use of Plant Traits to Design Invasion Resistant Communities. $250,000. 2008-2012.
- Texas Ecolab and Braun & Gresham. Awards various totaling over $150,000. 2007-2021.
- NSF International Post-doctoral Research Fellowship. Sonora, Mexico. $65,000. 2002.
- Fulbright-Garcia Robles Scholarship, U.S. State Department and COMEXUS. Sonora, Mexico.
Subjects Taught
- Integrative Biology
- Plant Biology
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Human Sex and Conflict
- First-Year Experience – Climate Changed
- Biodiversidad y Conservacion en Mexico (in Spanish)
- Sustainability and the Environment in Cuba’s 21st Century Economy (in Spanish/English)
- The Ecology and Bioconservation of China, Zhuhai, Guangdong (in English)
- High Lonesome Ranch (CO, U.S.A.) Nature and Culture Interdisciplinary Field Course
Community Service & Involvement
• Director. McNair Scholars Program, Trinity University.
• Advisory Board. San Antonio Arboretum
• Associate Editor. Invasive Plants Sciences and Management, Weed Science of Society of America
• Former Board President/Vice President/Current Regional Representative. Society for Ecological Restoration, Texas Chapter (TXSER)
• Former Board President. Friends of the San Antonio Natural Areas.
Teaching and Expertise
I am a botanist and ecologist. In my research lab, we study the influence of diversity on how ecosystems function and the competitive dynamics of invasive species that can homogenize ecosystems and displace valuable indigenous species. My current research focus is on restoration of Texas grasslands and rangelands with particular emphasis on interactions between plants, fungi, and competition. I served as a Fulbright Scholar and NSF Post-doctoral Fellow at the UNAM in Sonora, Mexico and my research has been supported with awards from NSF, USDA, NFWF, SER, among others. I also regularly consult with private and public landowners to bring ecological expertise to the land management process.
Trinity faculty are equally dedicated to research and teaching, and this makes it a powerful place to be a student. We conduct the bulk of our research with undergraduate student investigators and our scholarly expertise and aspirations for students to succeed in the classroom and life forms how we teach. Beginning investigators in my research program are initially trained by me and my more seasoned undergraduate research colleagues in basic skills required to conduct research. As students move up through the program, they are given more responsibilities, including developing their own theses and research projects.
Honors & Awards
- Fulbright Scholar
- NSF International Post-doctoral Fellow