About

Dr. Carrie Reinhardt Adams's ePortfolio primarily focuses on her teaching portfolio and teaching program. The page serves as a platform to showcase materials that support her teaching efforts. Dr. Adams emphasizes the value of skillful teaching, quoting Wilbert J. McKeachie: "Teaching skillfully may be less time consuming than teaching badly. Teaching well is more fun than teaching badly." The ePortfolio invites contact via her university email for further questions or information, indicating her openness to communication regarding her teaching. Beyond this, the page content does not provide additional details about her research focus, background, or key contributions.

Research topics

• Biology
• Ecology
• Geography
• Environmental science
• Political Science
• Environmental planning
• Environmental resource management
• Business
• Botany
• Horticulture
• Agronomy

Selected publications

• Trait‐based approaches to restoration ecology: Synthesizing insights from diverse systems

  Ecological Applications · 2026-03-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Under accelerating global change, trait-based approaches are emerging as essential tools in the ecological restoration toolbox. Where restoration has traditionally focused on the recovery of focal species in isolated systems, trait-based methods can provide a common language that extends beyond species- or system-specific contexts, allowing scientists and practitioners to translate insights across organisms and ecosystems and predict functional variation critical to resilience in the face of rapidly changing environmental conditions. Trait-based insights can thus help achieve restoration that is both adaptable and scalable as future climate scenarios unfold. To date, trait-based approaches to restoration have developed and proceeded independently across habitats and ecosystems, limiting information sharing and innovation. Here, we synthesize diverse perspectives and research on trait-informed restoration across ecosystems, distilling our findings into three key insights. First, variable contexts and trade-offs in trait-function linkages shape restoration outcomes at distinct ecological scales and project stages. For example, individual-level traits that underpin stress tolerance may play a critical role in initial survival and establishment during early project stages, while traits that influence species interactions and modify energy transformation may play a larger role as communities reassemble and ecosystem function becomes a priority at later stages. Second, coordinating trait-informed restoration across ecosystems can advance multi-trophic and multi-system restoration by closing the divide between "top down" approaches that target individual organisms or populations typically in large, mobile animal reintroductions and "bottom-up" approaches that target community-level organization in the restoration of foundation species. Finally, enhanced interdisciplinary communication and knowledge-sharing can help develop solutions to major challenges hindering the progress of trait-informed restoration (e.g., accounting for intraspecific variation). As novel environmental conditions continue to arise, an integrative approach to trait-informed restoration that spans ecological scales, promotes knowledge-sharing across diverse ecosystems, and fosters management-science collaboration can help unify and advance restoration efforts under current and future disturbance scenarios.

  PublisherDOI

• Integrating the disconnected: enhancing wetland restoration by uniting invasive species management and native revegetation

  Restoration Ecology · 2025-06-16 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Restoring plant‐invaded ecosystems is a significant challenge for global efforts to restore ecosystem function. In theory and in practice, restoration of plant communities is commonly divided into two distinct steps: management (reduction of invaders) and revegetation (establishing desired native plant communities). Despite both being grounded in ecological principles and contributing to ecosystem recovery, the disconnect between management and revegetation likely results in reduced restoration success and highlights the need for integrated approaches that “de‐silo” invader management and revegetation. Each practice has a unique history and context and is typically implemented at different spatial and temporal scales. Still, by reviewing the literature on these topics, we demonstrate how lessons learned from management and revegetation can be used to improve each other. We focus on wetlands, which provide critical ecosystem services but are comparably under‐researched, limiting wetland‐specific, science‐based restoration guidance. Extrapolating from research and practice in terrestrial ecosystems, as is often done, is complicated by the unique characteristics of wetlands, including the predominance of long‐lived, habitat‐forming perennials and persistent invasions. We argue that by integrating management and revegetation using common ecological principles, restoration outcomes can be improved and operational efficiencies gained. These insights also apply to other invaded ecosystems, where integrating management and revegetation will help meet restoration goals.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Creek System and Regional Patterns of Juncus roemerianus Stress and Links to Salt Marsh Loss on the Florida Gulf Coast

  Wetlands · 2025-02-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Steps to Connecting Floridians to Living Shorelines

  EDIS · 2025-12-22

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The goal of this publication is to provide a roadmap of UF/IFAS and internet-accessible resources to living shorelines that will help coastal property owners or natural resource practitioners focused on coastal management. This information applies to the implementation of living shorelines on both private and managed lands. Across Florida, living shorelines are becoming a frequently used management tool for shoreline protection. Coastal armoring, in the form of seawalls, bulkheads, and concrete riprap, create an unnatural barrier to natural processes and can exacerbate sediment loss. As an alternative, living shorelines are shoreline stabilization methods that use planted vegetation and/or oyster reefs, sometimes in combination with other structures, to protect coastal properties. To most effectively plan a living shoreline, knowing when and where to start can be difficult. This publication maps out the broad steps for developing a living shoreline from start to finish.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Sediment stability is optimized by manipulating planting design during coastal marsh establishment

  Scientific Reports · 2025-06-05 · 4 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Seaside communities increasingly harness the shoreline protection functions of coastal ecosystems by constructing nature-based infrastructure. Practitioners often install vegetation into these "living shorelines" because coastal plants have traits that limit erosion by attenuating waves and increasing soil shear strength. However, failure is common during plant establishment, highlighting a need for planting designs that enhance short-term sediment stability. Here we combined hydrodynamic modelling with mesocosm experiments to assess planting approaches for the marsh grass Spartina alterniflora. The model compared random and regular planting arrangements containing plant clumps of different sizes and densities. The experiments evaluated the influence of plant collection source, arrangement, and sediment environment on plant traits. Model results showed random arrangements outperform regular arrangements, reducing areas of high-velocity flow. Large-diameter, high-stem-density Spartina clumps attenuated flow better than small-diameter clumps, even when site-wide vegetation coverage was identical. Experiments revealed multiple factors that influence the diameter and density of clumps, including plant source, sediment organic matter, and plant spatial arrangement. Some plant sources had larger diameters and more biomass than others, yet relative performance of sources varied with time and environment; thus, planting multiple sources would increase the likelihood that high-performers are included in variable and often-unexamined planting sites. Furthermore, a clumped planting arrangement was most effective for generating large, dense clumps that facilitate sediment stability.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Prehospital Management of Pediatric Behavioral Health Emergencies: A Scoping Review

  Cureus · 2025-09-12

  reviewOpen access

  Pediatric behavioral health emergencies (BHE) are increasing in prevalence, yet there are no evidence-based guidelines or protocols for prehospital management. The primary objective of this scoping review is to identify prehospital-specific pediatric BHE research and publicly available emergency medical services (EMS) protocols for pediatric BHE. Secondary objectives include identifying the next priorities for research and EMS protocol considerations for children with neurodevelopmental conditions. This is a scoping review comprised of a research literature search for publications from 2012-2022 and an internet search for publicly available EMS protocols from the United States. Included publications contain data on the epidemiology of pediatric BHE or describe prehospital management of pediatric BHE. EMS protocols were included if they had advisements specific to pediatric BHE. A total of 50 research publications and EMS protocols from 43 states were screened. Seven publications and four protocols were included in this study. Research studies indicated an increase in pediatric BHE over the last decade, but few papers discuss current prehospital management (n=4). Two EMS protocols were specific to pediatric BHE or pediatric agitation, and the other two EMS protocols focused on adult populations with integrated pediatric recommendations. All four EMS protocols encouraged nonpharmaceutical interventions prior to the use of pharmacologic restraints. Although there is a substantial rise in pediatric BHE, there is sparse research data and clinical EMS protocols to support best practices for prehospital pediatric BHE management. This scoping review identifies important future research aims to inform best practices for the prehospital management of pediatric BHE.

  PublisherDOI

• Testing seed mixtures featuring ruderal grasses in restoration of pine savannas in the southeastern, <scp>United States</scp>

  Restoration Ecology · 2025-07-10 · 1 citations

  article

  Florida's pine savannas, known for their biodiversity and fire‐adapted species, have faced extensive degradation due to land use changes, prompting active restoration efforts. This study evaluates the use of native ruderal grasses as alternatives to wiregrass ( Aristida beyrichiana ) in restoration, given wiregrass's low seed viability and high restoration costs. We examined, in a 48‐plot field study, the establishment and cover of seeded grasses and forbs over 2 years post‐seeding in various treatments, comparing wiregrass, Lovegrass ( Eragrostis spectabilis ), and Broomsedge ( Andropogon virginicus ). Results indicated wiregrass failed to establish, while Lovegrass showed significant establishment and cover, outperforming Broomsedge. Lovegrass cover reached 66.38% in high seeding treatments in the second year, significantly reducing the cover of non‐native species. Seeded species like lopsided Indiangrass ( Sorghastrum secundum ) and Silkgrass ( Pityopsis trayci ) established well with Lovegrass, suggesting Lovegrass does not hinder native species recovery. Non‐native pasture grasses declined significantly in Lovegrass treatments, indicating potential for weed suppression. Our study highlights Lovegrass's cost‐effectiveness and higher establishment success compared to wiregrass, making it a viable candidate for pine savanna restoration. The positive correlation of Lovegrass with seeded species and its perceived flammability suggests it can support fire‐dependent ecosystems. However, the long‐term impacts of ruderal grasses and their interaction with fire regimes require further investigation. The failure of wiregrass and several other seeded species to establish underscores the need for improved seeding strategies and understanding of germination barriers. Future research should explore higher seeding rates and alternative methods to enhance restoration outcomes.

  PublisherDOI

• Sand Source and Fertilizer Addition Effects on the Growth of Two Foundational Dune Grasses: Implications for Restoration

  Estuaries and Coasts · 2025-12-27

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Creek system and regional patterns of Juncus roemerianus stress and links to salt marsh loss on the Florida Gulf Coast

  Research Square · 2024-08-29

  preprintOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Progress on Mechanisms and Impacts of Wetland Plant Invasions: A Twenty-Year Retrospective Analysis and Priorities for the Next Twenty

  Figshare · 2023-01-01

  datasetOpen access

  Invasive plants are ubiquitous features of many wetland systems, resulting in impacts that are extremely costly in both economic and ecological terms. Approximately twenty years ago, these impacts and many of the mechanisms underlying invasion were crystallized in a pair of now-classic review papers on the topic. These two contributions have guided substantial research efforts over the past two decades. Here, using a state-of-the-art review, we present an overview of research progress from the past 20 years and identify research priorities for the next 20 years. We structure these insights around key themes that emerge from those earlier reviews and emphasize ways wetland invasions might be distinguished from plant invasions in uplands. We first highlight research progress and priorities around the impacts of wetland plant invasions. We then do the same for seven broad mechanisms that have been postulated to enhance invasion success in wetlands. Invasive plants clearly impact wetlands across all levels of ecological organization and up to landscape scales, but generalizable conclusions are still lacking concerning what drives variation in impact magnitudes. One of the key mechanisms underlying invasion success reflects site-level variation in resource availability and, although we know that increased resources often lead to more opportunities for invasion, the role of discrete resource pulses and the way resource availability may interact with propagule pressure variability are poorly understood. Second, although release from natural enemies is a long-held potential driver of invasion success, recent insights support speculation that these effects may be especially pronounced in wetlands. Third, although most invasive wetland plants are considered good competitors, their simultaneous role as stress tolerators raises questions about whether expectations regarding life history tradeoffs may be less applicable for wetland invaders than for the upland species around which these theories were designed. Fourth, despite a keen understanding that wetland plant invaders are opportunistic, establishing quickly in response to disturbance, the central importance of seed and seedling traits has not been adequately studied to integrate life history theory across ontogenetic stages. Fifth, although many invasive wetland plants reproduce both sexually and asexually, the extent to which this mixed strategy contributes to their success as invaders has not been rigorously assessed. Sixth, despite observations that wetland invaders often exhibit a high degree of phenotypic variability, causal connections between the success of wetland invaders and either high population genetic diversity or high phenotypic plasticity have not been clearly established. Lastly, despite long-standing interests in whether interspecific hybridization contributes to wetland invader success, recent studies have highlighted evolutionary processes leading to variation in polyploidy and genome size as alternatives requiring additional study. We conclude with a vision for prioritizing wetland plant invasions research, presenting insights from this review aimed at inspiring future studies on remaining key uncertainties regarding the relative impacts of wetland vs. upland invaders and the relative importance of phenotypic plasticity, population genetic diversity, enemy release, and anthropogenic disturbances for influencing the success of invasive plants in wetland vs. upland systems.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Elizabeth Zorovich

  University of Florida Health

  64 shared

• Rachael Alter

  University of Florida

  64 shared

• Lia Mojica

  Baylor College of Medicine

  64 shared

• Jennifer N. Fishe

  University of Florida

  64 shared

• Kathleen Adelgais

  University of Colorado System

  64 shared

• Kathryn Kothari

  Baylor College of Medicine

  64 shared

• Aaron Salinas

  University of Florida

  64 shared

• Marc Auerbach

  Yale University

  64 shared

Labs

• Plant SciencePI

Education

• PhD, Water Resources

  University of Minnesota

  2004

• MS, Interdisciplinary Ecology

  The Pennsylvania State University

  1999

• BS, Environmental Resources Management

  The Pennsylvania State University

  1996