Denis G Conover
Professor Educator
Educator-Professor
French Hall
6415
A&S Biological Sciences - 0006
Education
Ph.D.: University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, 1990 (biological sciences (specialty in Ecological plant physiology))
B.S.: University of Dayton Dayton, 1981 (Biology)
M.S.: University of Dayton Dayton, 1983 (Biology (specialty in Ecological plant physiology) )
Research and Practice Interests
My research focuses on various aspects of ecological restoration. This involves conducting vascular plant surveys of natural areas such as wetlands, forests and prairies. During such surveys, on several occasions I have been fortunate enough to discover previously unknown populations of rare native plants, such as the federally-endangered running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum). After locating such populations I then make recommendations on how to properly manage the sites for their protection. My research also includes studying ways of controlling invasive alien species such as Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) and Winter Creeper (Euonymus fortunei) in natural areas. Such invasive species present a major threat to the preservation of native plant species. Another project that I’m involved with is studying the impact of browsing by deer on plant populations in Hamilton County.
Positions and Work Experience
2007 -To Present Field Service (Educator) Associate Professor , Field Service Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Science of Arts and Sciences., University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
2003 -2007 AAUP Represented Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati,
2000 -2003 AAUP Represented Assistant Professor, Taught biology courses in Department of Math and Applied Sciences at University College, University of Cincinnati,
1998 -2000 Visiting Assistant Professor, Taught biology courses in Department of Math and Applied Sciences at University College, University of Cincinnati,
1997 -1998 Annual Adjunct Assistant Professor, Taught biology courses in Department of Math and Applied Sciences at University College, University of Cincinnati,
1995 -1997 Visiting Assistant Professor, Taught biology and chemistry courses in the Department of Math and Applied Science at University College, University of Cincinnati,
1990 -1994 Adjunct Assistant Professor, Taught biology courses in the Department of Math and Applied Sciences at University College, University of Cincinnati,
1985 -1990 Graduate Student Teaching Assistant, Taught Biology lab courses in the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati,
1991 -1998 Adjunct Professor . , Taught chemistry lecture and lab courses, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College,
1984 -1985 Visiting Instructor, Taught biology lecture and lab courses, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
1981 -1983 Graduate Student Teaching Assistant, Taught a variety of biology lab courses, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
Research Support
03-01-2011 -11-15-2011 Hamilton County Park District Vascular plant survey of Campbell Lakes Preserve Active Type:Grant
2010 -2011 Oxbow Incorporated Vascular Plant Survey of the Oxbow Area
2012 Chevron a vascular plant survey of the former Chevron refinery area at Hooven, Ohio, 2012. Level:Regional
Investigators:Denis Conover 03-01-2013 -09-30-2013 Floristic Quality Assessment of the Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve Role:PI Active Type:Contract Level:Local
Abbreviated Publications
Newsletters
"A Vascular Plant Survey of the Oxbow Area" by Denis G. Conover, Ph.D. for Wetland Matters the Newsletter for Oxbow Incorporated. March-April 2011, No. 148
Technical Report
Conover, D.G.(2011). Vascular Plant Survey of Campbell Lakes Preserve (Hamilton County Park District)
Conover, D.G. (2010). A Vascular Plant Survey of the Oxbow Area (Conducted for Oxbow Incorporated).
Conover, D.G. (1994-2009). Effect of Deer on vegetation in Hamilton County Parks (annual reports for Hamilton County Park District).
Conover, D.G.(1990-2010). Vascular Plant Surveys of Hamilton County Parks (annual reports for Hamilton County Park District).
Conover, D.G.(2000). Vascular plant species found on or near Oxbow Incorporated protected property based on observations made between October 1, 1997 and February 1, 2000. (Report for Oxbow Incorporated).
Geiger, D.R. and Conover, D.G. (1993). A report on the plant communities found in the Beavercreek Wetlands (Report for Greene County Park District).
Conover, D.G.(1996). A report on the plant communities found along the Great Miami River Corridor Between Dayton's Tait Station and Miamisburg's Rice Field based on observations made between July, 1995 and August, 1996 (Report for Five Rivers MetroParks).
Popular Magazine Article
Article in April, 2011 UC Magazine about my research on earlier flowering and climate change
Peer Reviewed Publications
Conover, D.G.,Wauligman, W.R. and Cody, K.(2011).Tipped Over Duck Nest Box Traps Turtles in a Restored Wetland (Ohio). In "Restoration Notes" section of Ecological Restoration 29: 211-212. Restoration Notes are reviewed and edited in-house unless additional expertise is required to evaluate the submission
Conover, D.G.(2011).Keystone Role of Beavers in a Restored Wetland (Ohio). In "Restoration Notes" section of Ecological Restoration 29: 212-213. Restoration Notes are reviewed and edited in-house unless additional expertise is required to evaluate the submission
Geiger, D.R., Conover, D.G., Wischmeyer, A.L., Brannen, D., & Jablonski, L.M. (2003). From Borrow Pit to Long-term Prairie Study Site. Proceedings of the 18th North American Prairie Conference 85-94.
Klein,J. and Conover,D.G. (2010). Restoring biodiversity by lowering deer numbers at Shawnee Lookout (Ohio). Ecological Restoration 28: 131-133
Conover,D.G. and Klein,J. (2010). Changes in a restored wetland during 18 years of management (Ohio). Ecological Restoration 28:248-250
Conover,D.G. and Pelikan,S. (2010) Earlier flowering in a restored wetland-prairie correlated with warmer temperatures (Ohio). Ecological Restoration 28: 428-430
Peer Reviewed Conover, D.G., and Geiger,D.R. (1999). Update on Glyphosate Control of Amur honeysuckle. The Ohio Woodland Journal (6:1, 13).
Peer Reviewed Conover, D.G., and Klein, J. (1994). Both planted and non-planted species populate restored wetland(Ohio). Restoration and Management Notes (12:2, 195-196).
Conover, D.G., and Geiger D.G. (1993). Glyphosate controls Amur honeysuckle in native woodland restoration (Ohio). Restoration and Management Notes (11:2, 168-169).
Peer-Reviewed Journals Conover, D.G., and Geiger D.G. (1989). Establishment of a prairie on a borrow-pit site at the Bergamo-Mount St. John Nature Preserve in Greene County, Ohio. Ohio Journal of Science (3, 42-44).
Conover,D.G., and Sovonick-Dunford, S.A. (1989). Influence of water deficits on the water relations and growth of Echinochloa turneriana, Echinochloa crus-galli and Pennisetum americanum. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 16, 291-304.
Peer-Reviewed Journals Geiger,D.R., and Conover, D.G. (1989). Prairie species used in borrow-pit reclamation (Ohio). Restoration and Management Notes (7:2, 108).
Burky,A.J., Benjamin, R.B., Conover, D.G., and Detrick, J.R. (1985). Seasonal responses of filtration rates to temperature, oxygen availability, and particle concentration of the freshwater clam Musculium partumeium (Say). American Malacological Bulletin 3, 201-212.
Peer-Reviewed Journals Conover,D.G., and Geiger, D.R. (1984). Germination of Australian Channel Millet [Echinochloa turneriana (Domin) J.M. Black] seeds. I. Dormancy in relation to light and water. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 11, 395-408.
Peer-Reviewed Journals Conover,D.G., and Geiger, D.R. (1984). Germination of Australian Channel Millet [Echinochloa turneriana (Domin) J.M. Black] seeds. II. Effects of anaerobic conditions, continuous flooding, and low water potential. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 11, 409-417.
Conover, D.G., and Sisson, T. (2016). Resurgence of Native Plants After Removal of Amur Honeysuckle From Bender Mountain Preserve (Ohio). September, 2016 issue of Ecological Restoration 34:3 187-190.
Tankersley, K.B., Conover, D.G., and Lentz, D.L. (2016). Stable Carbon Isotope Values (δ13C) of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) and their Archaeological Significance. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 7 (2016) 189-194.
Conover, D. G., Geiger, D.R., and Sisson, T. (2016). Dormant Season Foliar Spraying Slows the Spread of Winter Creeper, English Ivy and Lesser Periwinkle in Wooded Natural Areas (Ohio). Ecological Restoration 34: 19-21.
Conover, D.G., Sisson, T., Boone, D., and Riestenberg, M. (2017). A List of the Vascular Plants of Bender Mountain Preserve (Including Adjacent Parts of the Delhi Township Property and Sister’s Hill). Ohio Biological Survey Notes 7:21-33, 2017.
Conover, D.G. (2017). Foliar Spraying with Glyphosate Kills Invasive Five-leaf Aralia in a Wooded Natural Area (Ohio). Ecological Restoration 35:2 85-86.
Tankersley, K.B., Conover, D.G., and Lentz, D.L. (2016). Stable Carbon Isotope Values (δ13C) of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) and their Archaeological Significance. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 7 (2016) 189-194.
Tankersley, K.B., Conover, D.G., Lentz, D.L., Callihan, A., Weakley, J., Hassett, I., Platt, E., Laiveling, A., and Bradford, E. (2019). The Impact of Maize (Zea mays) on the Stable Carbon Isotope Values of Archaeological Soil Organic Matter. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports24 (2019) 324-329. (published February, 2019).
Newspaper Article
“Bringing the Past to Life in Shaker Trace Wetlands” by Billie Dziech – October 27, 2005 in College of Arts and Science of Arts and Sciences, University of Cincinnati, News and Events Web Site. Article discusses my research. (http://asweb.artsci.uc.edu/CollegeMain/news_events/newsDetail.cfm?articleID=577
"U.C. Biologist Takes Survey of Plant Life" - article discussing my survey of the Schunk Woods for the Hamilton County Park District. Appeared Sunday, May 7, 2000 in The Cincinnati Enquirer.
“Budding Research Links Climate Change and Earlier Flowering Plants”
University of Cincinnati research published in the December issue of Ecological Restoration shows that global warming may be impacting the blooming cycle of area plants.” by John Bach – November 15, 2010 in University of Cincinnati, News and Events Web Site. Article discusses my research.
Editorial
“UC Research Finds That a Duck’s Boon Might be a Turtle’s Bane”
University of Cincinnati biologist Denis Conover discovers that overturned duck nest boxes can be death traps for wetland turtles. By Ryan Varney – November 3, 2011 in University of Cincinnati, News and Events Web Site. Article discusses my research
Presentations
Invited Presentations
Conover, D.G.,Wauligman, W.R. and Cody, K. (11-05-2011. ) Tipped Over Duck Nest Box Traps Turtles in a Restored Wetland (Ohio). Annual Meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society, Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita, Kansas. Professional Meeting. . Level:National
Conover, D.G. (09-09-2011. ) Tipped Over Duck Nest Box Traps Turtles in a Restored Wetland (Ohio) .Presentation to Cincinnati Wildflower Preservation Society, Avon Woods Nature Center, Cincinnati, OH. Level:Local
denis conover (02-14-2012. ) Observations on a Variety of Things in the Great Outdoors .talk presented to Oxbow, Inc., Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Level:Regional
Denis Conover (04-27-2013. ) Plants of the Western Wildlife Corridor .College of Mt. St. Joseph. Other Institution. . Level:Local
Denis G. Conover (09-2014. ) New Potentially Invasive Plants of This Region .. Presented at a conference on Invasive Plants , Cincinnati Ohio.
Tim Sisson and Denis Conover (03-2016. ) The Story of Bender Mountain .Cincinnati, Ohio. Level:Local
denis conover (07-22-2017. ) Rare plants found in the Shaker Trace Wetlands and Prairies. .Ohio Prairie Conference, Miami Whitewater Forest. Level:Regional
denis conover (04-08-2017. ) Slowing the Spread of Winter Creeper in Wooded Natural Areas in Ohio. Ohio Academy of Science Annual Meeting, University of Cincinnati.
Poster Presentations
Conover, D. G., Geiger, D.R., and Sisson, T. (02-2016. ) (2016 Dormant Season Foliar Spraying Slows Spread of Winter Creeper in Wooded Natural Areas. .OIPC Research Conference "Preventing, Understanding, and Combating Plant Invasions, Columbus, Ohio. . Level:State
Lecture
Denis Conover (2017. ) Conover, D. G., Geiger, D.R., and Sisson, T. (2017). Slowing the Spread of Winter Creeper in Wooded Natural Areas in Ohio. Ohio Academy of Science Annual Meeting .Cincinnati. Professional Meeting. Level:State
Denis Conover (2017. ) Conover, D. G. (2017). Rare plants found in the Shaker Trace Wetlands and Prairies .Miami Whitewater Forest. Professional Meeting. Level:State
Conover, Geiger, Sisson (2016. ) Dormant Season Foliar Spraying Slows Spread of Winter Creeper in Wooded Natural Areas. .Columbus. Professional Meeting. Level:Regional
Denis Conover (2014. ) New Potentially Invasive Plants of This Region .Cincinnati. Conference. Level:Regional
Denis Conover (2011. ) Tipped Over Duck Nest Box Traps Turtles in a Restored Wetland (Ohio) .Kansas. Professional Meeting. Level:Regional
Wischmeyer, A.L., Jablonski, L.M., Conover, D.G., and Geiger, D.R. (2000. ) Assessment of vegetation changes after 13 years of restoration at the Mount St. John/Bergamo prairie. .Ohio Northern University. Professional Meeting.
Honors and Awards
2007 Center for First Year Experience and Learning Communities University of Cincinnati Outstanding Learning Community Partner Award University of Cincinnati Learning Community Status:Recipient Level:University Type:Recognition
2011 Faculty Honored by Darwin T. Turner Scholars, Jerome S. Jackson Breakfast of Champions Medal, 2011. Turner Scholar invited me as a mentor who has made a difference to them here at UC. The Turner scholars program targets first generation college students, students from underrepresented groups, and students with financial need. Status:Recipient Level:University Type:Recognition
Service
(Anatomy and Physiology Steering Committee ) Committee Member Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 2012 -To Present
department of biological sciences Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 10-15-2012
department of biological sciences Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 04-16-2012
(Anatomy and Physiology Steering Committee ) Committee Member Type:Departmental Service Level:Department
Oxbow, Inc. Board Member Type:Community Service Level:Local 1999
Oxbow, Inc. Type:Community Service Level:Local 08-25-2013
Fernald Preserve Type:Community Service Level:Local 07-06-2013
Courses Taught
15-BIOL-104 LIFE ON EARTH Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-102 BIOLOGY Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-101 BIOLOGY Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-105 HOW LIFE REPRODUCES Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-102 BIOLOGY Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-103 BIOLOGY Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-106 HOW LIFE WORKS Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-102 BIOLOGY Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-103 BIOLOGY Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-101 BIOLOGY Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-105 HOW LIFE REPRODUCES Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-102 BIOLOGY Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-201 ANAT & PHYS I Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-201 ANAT & PHYS I Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-668 FLOWERING PLANT CLS Level:Both
15-BIOL-106 HOW LIFE WORKS Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-103 BIOLOGY Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-102 BIOLOGY Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-102 BIOLOGY Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-203 ANAT & PHYS III Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-686 BIOLOGY CAPSTONE Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-604 SPEC PROBLEMS Special Problems- Field Botany Level:Both
15-BIOL-202 ANAT & PHYS II Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-202 ANAT & PHYS II Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-202 ANAT & PHYS II Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-686 BIOLOGY CAPSTONE Level:Undergraduate
-BIOL-1021 INTRO BIOLOGY I Level:Undergraduate
-BIOL-2001C ANAT PHYS I Level:Undergraduate
-BIOL-2001C ANAT PHYS I Level:Undergraduate
-BIOL-2001C ANAT PHYS I Level:Undergraduate
Flowering Plant Classification Level:Both
-BIOL-2002C ANAT PHYS II Level:Undergraduate
-BIOL-2002C ANAT PHYS II Level:Undergraduate
-BIOL-2002C ANAT PHYS II Level:Undergraduate
-BIOL-1021 INTRO BIOLOGY I Level:Undergraduate
-BIOL-5050 CAPSTONE Level:Undergraduate
-BIOL-1003 PLANTS AND PEOPLE Level:Undergraduate
Field Botany Level:Graduate
Wildflowers and Trees of Ohio Level:Undergraduate
15-BIOL-670 PLANT PHYSIOLOGY Level:Undergraduate
Faculty Development Activities
11-14-2011 “From Lecture to Learning: Teaching More by Talking Less” presented by Dr. Robin Wright University of Cincinnati Type:Seminar
11-15-2011 “Start Where You Are: Incorporating Active Learning in Your Lecture” Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning University of Cincinnati Type:Workshop
2005 Lilly Conference on College Teaching International conference on college teaching., Miami University Type:Conference Attendance
2006 Lilly Conference on College Teaching International Conference on College Teaching, Miami University Type:Conference Attendance
2007 Lilly Conference on College Teaching International conference on college teaching, Miami University Type:Conference Attendance
2008 Lilly Conference on College Teaching International conference on college teaching, Miami University Type:Conference Attendance
2009 Lilly Conference on College Teaching International Conference on College Teaching, Miami University Type:Conference Attendance
2010 Teach Large Enrollment Classes Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning University of Cincinnati Type:Workshop
2010 Innovations in Teaching: Biological Sciences and Anatomy and Physiology University of Cincinnati Type:Workshop
2009 Active Learning in Large Classes workshop on teaching large enrollment classes, University of Cincinnati Type:Workshop
2007 Designing Effective and Innovative Courses: A Practical Strategy all day workshop, University of Cincinnati Type:Workshop
2006 Active Learning in Larger Enrollment Classes University of Cincinnati Type:Workshop
2006 -2012 Personal Response System (PRS) Training University of Cincinnati Type:Workshop
2006 Library Resources for Distance Learning University of Cincinnati Type:Workshop
2006 Course Development for the 21st Century University of Cincinnati Type:Workshop
02-12-2012 -02-12-2012 Preventing Harassment On-line mastery test on-line readings and test on harassment, University of Cincinnati Type:Self-Study Program