Jim Yoder

Jim advises the Environmental Science majors and teaches ecology, zoology, and conservation biology courses. He earned his Ph.D. from the Ohio State University and his primary research interests include conservation biology, landscape ecology, behavioral ecology and GIS (Geographical Information Systems). Past research has focused on population and behavioral responses of species to habitat fragmentation. His dissertation research at The Ohio State University was in collaboration with the Ohio Division of Wildlife and examined the effects of fragmented habitat on the dispersal and population dynamics of ruffed grouse in southeastern Ohio.

In the spring of 2006 he began a 3-year collaborative study working with Shenandoah National Park research botanist, Wendy Cass. The research is being conducted by 2-3 EMU undergraduates per year (including summers) as well as SNP personnel. The project includes intense on-site field sampling as well as mapping and analysis of exotic plant spread and impact using GIS. The project addresses two specific research questions that focus on the exotic plants invading the Shenandoah National Park: 1) What is the rate of spread of the three most threatening exotic species beginning to invade the Big Meadows Swamp Natural Heritage area and 2) What is the impact of these exotics on the continued viability of the eight rare plant species located within the area? Both of the questions are of intense interest to park biologists and land managers as well as contribute to the broader ecological study of exotic plant invasions of native ecosystems.

Jim spends as much time as possible with his family (wife Kathy and two young sons, Theodore and Tobias) and enjoys hiking, biking, and reading.

B.S., Eastern Mennonite University (1994)
M.S., Ph.D., Ohio State University (2004)

• Yoder, J.M, C.A. Yoder, C.A. Devadason, and W. Cass. 2007. The Use of GIS in Determining the Spread and Impact of Invasive Plant Species Within a Wetland Community. Abstract. Virginia Journal of Science 58: xx
  
• Yoder J.M. 2006. How the story of Jesus and the life of the church has shaped my interactions with students and my teaching practices. Proceedings of the 2006 Mennonite University Faculty Conference. Mennonite Education Agency.
  
• Yoder J. M., D. A. Swanson, E. A. Marschall. 2004. The Cost of Dispersal: Predation as a function of movement in Ruffed grouse. Behavioral Ecology 15: 469-476.
  
• Connor, E.F., J. M. Yoder, A. C. Courtney. 2000. Individuals-area relationships: The relationship between animal population density and area. Ecology 81:734-748
  
• Connor, E.F., J.M. Yoder, J.A. May. 1999. Density-related predation by Poecile carolinensis on the Leaf-Mining Moth, Cameraria hamadryadella at three spatial scales. Oikos 87:105-112
  
• Yoder, J.M., J.L. Dooley, J.F. Zawacki, M.A. Bowers. 1996. Female aggression in Microtus pennsylvanicus: Arena trials in the field. American Midland Naturalist 135: 1-8.

• The Use of GIS in Determining the Spread and Impact of Invasive Plant Species Within a Wetland Community (poster). Yoder J.M, C.A. Yoder, C.A. Devadason, and W. Cass. Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science, Harrisonburg, VA. May, 2007.
  
• Mapping Invasive and Rare Wetland Plant Species to Visualize Competition and Devise a Control Strategy. Cass, W. and J. M. Yoder. Annual Meeting of the George Wright Society, St. Paul MN. April 2007.
  
• How the story of Jesus and the life of the church has shaped my interactions with students and my teaching practices. J. M. Yoder. Mennonite University Faculty Conference, Bluffton, OH. August, 2006.
  
• The Effects of Landscape Characteristics on Ruffed Grouse Movements. Yoder J. M., D. A. Swanson, E. A. Marschall. Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Portland OR. August 1, 2004.

• The Spread of Invasive Exotic Plant Species and Their Impact on Rare Plant Populations in Shenandoah National Park, EMU Release Time Grant, 6 semester hours, $500, 2006-07.
  
• Quality Service Award, 2006, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA
  
• Graduate Teaching Award, 1998, Department of Zoology, Ohio State University, Columbus OH

• Ecological Society of America
• Society for Conservation Biology
• Association for Biology Laboratory Education
• National Science Teachers Association
• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Shenandoah Anabaptist Science Society

• Au Sable Academic Council Meeting, Seattle, WA. July 2007
• ESRI GIS Education User Conference, San Diego, CA. June 2007
• Virginia Academy of Science, Annual Meeting, Harrisonburg, VA. May 2007

Green Design, Spring 2008
Advanced Ecology and Field Biology (BIOL 451), Fall 2006

• Curator, D. Ralph Hostetter Museum of Natural History, 2005 – present
• QEP Advisory Committee, 2008 – present
• Admissions Committee, 2007 – present
• Committee on Teacher Education, 2006 – present
• Biology Faculty Search Committees, Spring 2006 (chair), Spring 2007
• Campus representative, Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies, 2006-present
• Library Advisory Committee, 2002-2006