Melinda S. Hughes:  

Melinda is a Research Associate in the School of Renewable Natural Resources at Louisiana State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry and a Master of Science in Botany, from Louisiana Tech University. 

Her work experience includes Research Associate at Louisiana Tech University where she coordinated two projects funded by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.  She also served as a Research Associate for the Hill Farm Research Station and worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a Soil Scientist where she was instrumental in developing and implementing the first, national, long-term forest soil productivity study. Her work experience also includes three years as an Environmental Specialist for Louisiana’s Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Water Quality. 

As a research associate for the School of Renewable Natural Resources, Melinda served as the coordinator of the project “Managing Louisiana Forests for Water Quality” where she worked closely with local, state, and federal agencies to address forestry and water quality issues within the State. She was instrumental in co-publishing “Managing Louisiana’s Forests for Water Quality”, an overview of the importance of protecting forested stream habitats and wetland ecosystems.  

Currently her research efforts include baldcypress and bottomland hardwood growth responses to environmental stresses, and regeneration of bottomland hardwoods. She is a member of the Governor's Coastal Wetland Forest Conservation and Use Science Working Group. 

Publications

Chambers, J.L., Conner, W.H., Day, J.W., Faulkner, S.P., Gardiner, E.S., Hughes, M.S., Keim, R.F., King, S.L., McLeod, K.W., Miller, C.A., Nyman, J.A., and Shaffer, G.P. 2005. Conservation, protection and utilization of Louisiana’s Coastal Wetland Forests. Final Report to the Governor of Louisiana from the Coastal Wetland Forest Conservation and Use Science Working Group. (special contributions from Aust, W.M., Goyer, R.A., Lenhard, G.J., Souther-Effler, R.F., Rutherford, D.A., and Kelso, W.E.). 121p.

Keim, R.F., J.L. Chambers, M.S. Hughes, W.H. Conner, J.W. Day Jr., S.P. Faulkner, E.S. Gardiner, S.L. King, K.W. McLeod, C.A. Miller, J.A. Nyman, G.P. Shaffer, and L. Dimov. In press, 2006. Long-term success of stump sprouts in baldcypress. Proceedings, 13th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference, Memphis, Tenn. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report.

Keim R.F., J.L. Chambers, W.H. Conner, J.W. Day Jr., S.P. Faulkner, E.S. Gardiner, M.S. Hughes, S.L. King, K.W. McLeod, C.A. Miller, J.A. Nyman, and G.P. Shaffer. In press 2006. Ecological consequences of changing hydrological conditions in wetland forests of coastal Louisiana. American Institute of Hydrology. International Conference on Challenges in Coastal Hydrology and Water Quality. May 21–24, 2006. Baton Rouge. Invited Paper.

Chambers, J.L., W.H. Conner, R.F. Keim, S.P. Faulkner, J.W. Day Jr., E.S. Gardiner, M.S. Hughes, S.L. King, K.W. McLeod, C.A. Miller, J.A. Nyman, and G.P. Shaffer. 2006. Towards sustainable management of Louisiana’s coastal wetland forest: Problems, constraints, and a new beginning. pp. 150-157. ASABE International Conference on Forest Hydrology and Management of Forest Wetlands. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, St. Joseph Michigan.

Chambers, J.L., R.F. Keim, W.H. Conner, J.W. Day Jr., S.P. Faulkner, E.S. Gardiner M.S. Hughes, S.L. King, K.W. McLeod, C.A. Miller, J. A. Nyman, and G.P. Shaffer. 2005. Conservation of Louisiana’s coastal wetland forests. pg.117-135. Louisiana Natural Resources Symposium.  July 18-20, 2005 Lod Cook Conference Center, Louisiana State University. Baton Rouge, LA. 156 p. ..

Melinda S. Hughes, William E. Kelso, D. Allen Rutherford. Managing Louisiana’s Forests for Water Quality. 1997. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center publication. 29 p.

J. Melinda Slay, B.G. Lockaby, J.C. Adams, C.G. Vidrine. Influences of Site Preparation on Forest Soil Chemical Properties in the Coastal Plain of the Southern United States. 1986. Forest Ecology and Management.

J. Melinda Slay, B.G. Lockaby, J.C. Adams, C.G. Vidrine. Effects of Site Preparation on Soil Physical Properties, Growth of Loblolly Pine, and Competing Vegetation. 1986. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry. 11:2, 83-85.

J. Melinda Slay, B.G. Lockaby, J.C. Adams, C.G. Vidrine, 1987. The Influence of Pre-treatment Forest Soil Characteristics on Interpretation of Post-treatment Results. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 50:1594-1597.

B.G. Lockaby, J. Melinda Slay, J.C. Adams, C.G. Vidrine. Site Preparation Influences on Below Ground Competing Vegetation and Loblolly Pine Seedling Growth. 1988. New Forests 2:131-138.