Dr. Robert Tompkins

• Clemson University, Major: Plant and Environmental Sciences, Ph.D., 2011.
•  North Carolina State University, Major: Botany, M.S., 1996.
•  Guilford College, Major: Biology, B.S., 1990

• General Biology
• Research Methods
• Plant Ecology
• Plant Taxonomy
• Economic Botany
• Environmental Science
• Senior Seminar
• Organismal Biology

• Tompkins, R.D. Exotic species occurrence in remnant and restored Eastern prairie ecosystems and their relation to native species richness, evenness, and functional abundance. 2019. American Midland Naturalist 182:1-11.

• Tompkins, R.D. and C.M. Luckenbaugh. 2018. Vascular flora of Crowders Mountain State Park. Castanea 83:236-248.

• Tompkins, R.D., C. A. McAllister and S. Bloom. 2015. Polyploidy levels for some remnant eastern big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) populations: implications for conservation and restoration. Ecological Restoration 33:289-296.

• Tompkins, R.D. 2013. Prairie-relict communities of a Piedmont monadnock. Castanea 78:185- 197.

• Tompkins, R.D and W. C. Bridges, Jr. 2013. Restoration and species diversity of an eastern prairie. Native Plants Journal 14:101-113.

• Tompkins, R.D., W.C. Stringer, *K.H. Richardson, E.A. Mikhailova and W.C. Bridges, Jr. 2013. A microhabitat study of eastern Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) populations: associated species and edaphic factors. Bartonia 66:1-23.

• Tompkins, R.D., D. Trapnell, J.L. Hamrick, and W.C. Stringer. 2012. Genetic variation within and among remnant Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii, Poaceae) populations in the Carolinas. Southeastern Naturalist 11:455-468.

• Tompkins, R.D., W.C. Stringer, and W.C. Bridges, Jr. 2011. An outcrossing reciprocity study between remnant Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) populations in the Carolinas. Ecological Restoration 29:339-345.

• Tompkins, R.D., W.C. Stringer, *K.H. Richardson, E.A. Mikhailova and W.C. Bridges, Jr. 2010. Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii: Poaceae) communities in the Carolinas: Composition and ecological factors. Rhodora 112:378-395.

• Tompkins, R.D., C.M. Luckenbaugh, W.C. Stringer,*K.H. Richardson, E.A. Mikhailova and W.C. Bridges, Jr. 2010. Suther Prairie: Vascular flora, species richness and edaphic factors. Castanea 75:232-244.

• Tompkins, R.D., W.C. Stringer, *K.H. Richardson, E.A. Mikhailova and W.C. Bridges, Jr. 2010. A newly documented and significant Piedmont prairie site with a Helianthus schweinitzii Torrey & A. Gray (Schweinitz’s Sunflower) population. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 137:120-129.

• Tompkins, R.D. 2004. An ecological study of Magnolia macrophylla in Gaston County, North Carolina. Castanea. Occasional Papers in Eastern Botany 2:178-185.

• Tompkins, R.D. and J.M. Stucky. 2000. Microhabitat study of Lotus unifoliatus var. helleri: microdistribution, associated species, and potential effects of roadside mowing. Castanea 65:213- 220.

Other Publications

• Tompkins, R.D. & D. R. Beagle. 2009. The Life and Art of Ralph Ray, Jr. (Book). 124 pp. Xlibris. Philadelphia, PA.

• Tompkins, R.D. 2000. An ecological approach to teaching botany. Bios 71:137-138.

Conference Presentations

• Restoration and species diversity of an eastern prairie. 8th Eastern Native Grass Symposium. Charlottesville, VA. Oct. 2012.

• Genetic variation within and among Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii, Poaceae populations in the Carolinas. 8th Eastern Native Grass Symposium. Charlottesville, VA. Oct. 2012.

• An outcrossing reciprocity study between remnant Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) populations in the Carolinas. 7th Eastern Native Grass Symposium. Knoxville, TN. Oct. 2010.

• Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) communities in the Carolinas: Composition and ecological factors. Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting. Asheville, NC. April 2010.

• Suther Prairie: Vascular Flora; Species Richness; and Edaphic Factors. 6th Eastern Native Grass Symposium. Columbia, SC. Oct. 2008.

• An Ecological Study of Magnolia macrophylla in Gaston County, NC. Andre′ Michaux International Symposium. Belmont Abbey College, Belmont, NC. May 2002.

• Magnolia macrophylla (Big-leaf Magnolia) in Gaston Co., NC. Botanical Society of America’s Annual Meeting in Albuquerque, NM. Aug. 2001.

• A Preliminary Study of Magnolia macrophylla in Gaston County, NC. Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. April 2001.

• Microhabitat Study of Lotus unifoliatus var. helleri: Microdistribution, Associated Species, and Potential Effects of Roadside Mowing. Piedmont Ecology and Conservation Symposium, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. Gastonia, NC. Nov. 2000.

• The Microhabitat and Spatial Patterning of Lotus unifoliatus var. helleri: A Candidate Endangered Species for NC. Annual Meeting of the NC Academy of Science at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC. March 1996.

Invited Lecture Presentations

• SC Native Plant Society. “Remnant Piedmont Prairies: Their History, Ecology, and Future” May 28, 2019.

• Winthrop University. “Remnant Prairie/Savanna Communities of the Carolina Piedmont: Their Ecology, Genetics, and Conservation”. Fall 2014.

• Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. “Piedmont Prairies.” Summer 2011.

• York County, SC Museum of Natural History Lecture. “The Life and Art of Ralph Ray, Jr.” Winter 2010.

• Rotary Club of Gastonia, NC Lecture. “The Life and Art of Ralph Ray, Jr.” Fall 2009.

• Belmont Abbey College Faculty Lecture Series “The Life and Art of Ralph Ray, Jr.” Fall 2009.

• Belmont Abbey College Faculty Lecture Series. “A Piedmont Prairie” Fall 2009.

• Gaston County, NC Public Library Lecture. “The Life and Art of Ralph Ray, Jr.” Fall 2009.

• Gaston County, NC Historical Museum Lecture. “The Life and Art of Ralph Ray, Jr.” Fall 2009.

• Guilford College Biology Alumni Presentation. “Magnolia macrophylla in NC” Fall 2001.

• Belmont Abbey College Faculty Lecture Series. “Native Spring Wildflowers of the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden” Spring 1998.