Contact Information
Biography
Shishir Paudel was born and raised in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal, where he spent much of his time immersed in nature, developing a deep appreciation for the local environment that sustained his community. He earned his Ph.D. in Plant Biology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where his research focused on the effects of climate change and environmental disturbances on plant invasion and coastal plant communities.
Currently, Shishir studies urban green spaces and their crucial role in conserving plant diversity while providing additional benefits such as habitats for pollinators and birds, maintaining healthy soil, and enhancing recreational and aesthetic value for society. To support his research, he documents plant species in these spaces using a square frame (quadrat) method.
His work aims to inspire the public, land managers, and agencies to increase the diversity of flowering plants in backyards, front yards, and public areas. A greater variety of flowering plants supports the survival of bees, butterflies, and birds, while also enriching the visual and ecological value of the landscape.
Education
- Ph.D., Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Research Interests
- Plant and invasion ecology/biology
- Climate change impacts on long-term plant community dynamics
- Plant invasion in various ecosystems
- Ecosystem services from:
- Forests
- Grasslands
- Wetlands
- Urban landscapes
Teaching Interests
- General Biology
- Plant Biology (Botany)
- Biodiversity
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Community Ecology
- Biogeography
Profile Information
Publications
- Paudel S, S States, and KP Mainali. Urban Greening with Biodiverse Perennial Meadows Improves Ecosystem Services in Human-Dominated Landscapes. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, Under Review.
- Dong, Z, DJ Bain, S Paudel, JK Buck, and C Ng. 2024. Impact of native vegetation and soil moisture dynamics on evapotranspiration in green roof systems. Science of The Total Environment, 175747.
- Sonnier, G; D Augustine, S Paudel, et al. 2024. Impact of plant diversity and management intensity on magnitude and stability of productivity in North American grazing lands. Journal of Applied Vegetation Science 27: e12776.
- Dhakal S., BB Shrestha, KP Sharma, S Paudel, and M Siwakoti. 2024. Grasslands are more vulnerable to plant invasions than forests in south-central Nepal. Environmental Challenges 15: 100929.
- Paudel S and S States. 2023. Urban green spaces and sustainability: exploring the ecosystem services and disservices of grassy lawns versus floral meadows. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 84: 127932.
- Paudel S. et al. (17 co-authors). 2023. Intensification differentially affects the delivery of multiple ecosystem services in subtropical and temperate grasslands. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 348: 108398.
- Paudel, S and JC Benavides. 2023. “Flood Ecology.” In Oxford Bibliographies in Ecology. Ed. David Gibson. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Paudel S, AB Cobb, EH Boughton, S Spiegal, RK Boughton, ML Silveira, HM Swain, R Reuter, LE Goodman, and JL Steiner. 2021. A framework for sustainable management of ecosystem services and disservices in perennial grassland agroecosystems. Ecosphere 12: e03837.
- Phillips HRP, ……SR Loss, S Paudel….. et al. 2021. Global data on earthworm abundance, biomass, diversity and corresponding environmental properties. Scientific Data 8: 1–12.
- Paudel S and LL Battaglia. 2021. Linking responses of native and invasive plants to hurricane disturbances: implications for coastal plant community structure. Plant Ecology 222: 133–148.
- John F. Gaskin, JF …S Paudel...et al. 2021. Managing invasive plants on Great Plains grasslands: A discussion of current challenges. Rangeland Ecology and Management 78: 235–249.