Robert E. Loeb Associate Professor of Biology and Forestry The Pennsylvania State University
Address	College Place DuBois, PA 15801
Office Address	116 Smeal Building
Phone	814-375-4739
Fax	814-375-4724
E-Mail	RXL5@psu.edu

Professional Experience, Research Focus, and University Service

After two decades of service in positions of academic administration, I return to the faculty role in 2007 as Associate Professor of Biology and Forestry at Penn State DuBois. I will be teaching BIOL 110S, BIOL 220W, GEOG 105, and GEOG 411W for science majors at DuBois, especially in the baccalaureate Earth Science program at the campus. Based on my doctoral research in biology, geography and geology at New York University, I examine long term forest ecology in urban and urbanizing areas as the focus of my research. Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach that combines research in forest composition resampling and comparison, fossil pollen studies, and primary historical sources, I examine the relationships between human activities and forest changes. The management of urban forests from the historical and developmental perspectives is the applied component of the research. Foremost among my service activities is the President's Commission for Ethnic and Racial Diversity, I am a founding member and have served three terms on the Commission.

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Research Interests | Education | Publications | Professional Affiliations | Courses

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Research Interests

Historial Ecology

Urban Forestry

Palynology

Current Projects

Historical Development of Woody Flora of Central Park, New York and Fairmount Park, Philadelphia

West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia

Lake Radnor Natural Area, Nashville

One-year Pollen Cores

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Education

Ph. D. - Biology, New York University, October 1984.

B. S. - Biology, Biology Education, and Environmental Science, Long Island University, May 1977.

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Recent Publications

Loeb, R. 2008. Biogeography of invasive plant species in urban park forests. Chapter 7 in: Kohli, R., Jose, S., Batish, D. and Singh. H. (eds.), Invasive Plants and Forest Ecosystems, CRC/Taylor and Francis, London. Pp. 105-130.

Fitzgerald, J. and R. Loeb. 2008. Historical ecology of Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan, New York. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 135: 281–293.

Loeb, R. 2006. The flora of large urban parks: Intraurban and interurban similarity in the megalopolis of the northeastern United States. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 133:4:601-625.

Loeb, R. 2001. Fire in the urban forest: Long-term effects in old growth stands. Arboriculture Journal 25:4:307-320.

Loeb, R. 1998. Urban forest management and ecosystem change during the past millennium: A case study from New York City. Urban Ecosystems 2:1:1-10

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Professional Affiliations

Member, American College and University Biology Educators

Member, Ecological Society of America

Member, Economic Botany Society

Member, Forest History Society

Member, National Association of Biology Teachers

Member, Tennessee Academy of Science

Member, Torrey Botanical Society

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Courses

BIOL 110 (GN) BIOLOGY: BASIC CONCEPTS AND BIODIVERSITY (4) A study of the evolution of the major groups of organisms including the fundamental concepts of biology.

BIOL 120A (GN;US;IL) PLANTS, PLACES, AND PEOPLE (3) Useful and dangerous plants; historical (archaeological), cultural (ethnological), and economic (anthropocentric) aspects, including structural and chemical characteristics of botanical importance.

GEOG 111 (GN) BIOGEOGRAPHY AND GLOBAL ECOLOGY (3) Distribution of plants and animals on global, regional, and local scales; their causes and significance.

GEOG 411W FOREST GEOGRAPHY (3) This course studies processes that control spatial and temporal change in forests.

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