James E. Perry, III

• Professor of Marine Science
• B.S., Murray State University
• Ph.D., College of William & Mary

Research Interests

Dr. Perry is a Professor of Marine Science at the College of William and Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). His primary research interests involve monitoring stress and documenting long-term changes in vascular plant communities of tidal and non-tidal wetlands, and the relationship of those changes to changes in environmental parameters within watersheds. His current projects include: 1) establishing methods for determining status of watersheds and the success of created and restored habitats; 2) vegetation community dynamics in a restored and created wetlands and watersheds, and 3) life history, distribution and abundance, and threats to rare and/or endangered vascular plants. He has done research in Asia, North America, and South America, and has presented many invited seminars and lectures abroad. He is currently involved in several international wetland projects in China designed to examine the role of environmental conservation/restoration and sustainable development in coastal wetlands. The goals of the projects are to provide research directions and education opportunities for local universities as well as providing recommendations and guidelines for the establishment of environmental policies for the local and federal agencies. He teaches courses in Asian Environmental Issues, Wetlands Ecology, and Coastal Botany.

Dr.Perry is a lifetime member of the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS). He is currently the Secretary General for The Society of Wetland Scientist Professional Certification Program (SWSPCP), which he helped to develop in the early 1990's, and was one of the first wetlands ecologist to received his Professional Wetland Scientist certification. In the past he has chaired the SWSPCP Ethics Committee, the SWS South Atlantic Chapter, and has been a long time member of the SWS Outreach and Education Committee.

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Current Projects

• Establishing methods for determining status of watersheds and the success of created and restored habitats;
• Ecological assessment of the status of existing natural resource impacts from off-road vehicles use of Cape Hatteras National Seashore;
• Vegetation community dynamics in a reclaimed mined watershed;
• Vegetation dynamics and/or ecosystem stress (including role of invasive plant species on native habitat) in tidal wetlands;
• Life history, distribution and abundance, and threats to rare and/or endangered vascular plants.

Wetlands Research

Selected refereed journal articles and refereed conference proceedings:

• Bailey, David E., J.E. Perry, and D.A. DeBerry. 2006. Aeschynomene virginica (Fabaceae) Habitat in a Tidal Marsh, James City County, Virginia. Banisteria 27: 1- 9. (read the article)
• DeBerry, D.A. and J.E. Perry. 2005. A Drawdown Flora in Virginia. CASTANEA 70(4): 276–286. (read the article)
• Nichols, J.D., J.E. Perry and D.A. DeBerry. 2006. Using a Floristic Quality Assessment Technique to Evaluate Plant Community Integrity of Forested Wetlands in Southeastern Virginia, USA . Natural Areas J. 26(4):360-369. (read the article)
• Anderson, J.E. and J.E. Perry. 1996. Characterization of wetland plant stress using leaf spectral reflectance: an issue for wetland remote sensing. Wetlands 16(4):477-487. (read the article)
• Atkinson, R.B., J.E. Perry, and J. Cairns, Jr. 2005. Stability in developing wetlands: vegetation response to drought in 20 year old wetlands. J. of Wetlands Ecology and Management. (read the article)
• Atkinson, R.B., J.E. Perry, E. Smith, and J. Cairns, Jr. 1993. Use of created wetland delineation and weighted averages as a component of assessment. Wetlands 13(3):185-193. (read the article)
• Atkinson, R.B., N.L. Botkin, and J.E. Perry. 1990. New county records collected in tidal wetlands of four coastal plain counties along the James River, Virginia. Castanea 55(1):56-64. (read the article)
• DeBerry D.A. and J.E. Perry. In press (December, 2005). Obligate Draw Down Flora in Virginia. Castanea. (read the article)
• DeBerry, D.A. and J.E. Perry. 2004. Comparison of early successional plant structure and composition in a created and natural non-tidal wetland. Castanea 69(3): 185-193. (read the article)
• Friedrichs, C.T. and J.E. Perry. 2001. Tidal salt marsh morphodynamics. Journal of Coastal Research Special Issue 27: 7-38. (read the article)
• Gottgens, J.F., J.E. Perry, R.H. Fortney, J.E. Meyers, M. Benedict, and B.E. Rood. (2001). The Parana-Paraguay Hidrovia: protecting the Pantanal with lessons from the past. BioScience 51(4):559-570. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E. and R.B. Atkinson. 1997. Plant diversity along a salinity gradient: York and Pamunkey Rivers, Virginia. Castanea 62(2):112-118. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E., T. Barnard, J. Bradshaw, C. Friedrichs, K. Havens, P. Mason, W. Priest, and G. Silberhorn. 2001. Creating tidal salt marshes in the Chesapeake Bay. Journal of Coastal Research Special Issue 27: 170-192. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E. and C.H. Hershner. 1999. Temporal changes in the vegetation pattern in a tidal freshwater marsh. Wetlands 19(1):90-99. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E., D.M.E. Ware, and A.M. Mueller. (1998). Aeschynomene indica L. (Fabaceae) in Virginia. Castanea 63(2):191-194. (read the article)
• Slocum, K.R. and J.E. Perry. 2002. Remote coastal zone landscape characterization. Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference: Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environments. Miami, FL, USA. (read the article)
• Slocum, K. R., G. Wakefield, R. L. Fischer, M.V. Campbell, J.E. Anderson and J.E. Perry. 1999. Application of digital multispectral imagery to littoral zone soil and elevation modeling. Third International Conference: Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environments. Miami, FL, USA. (read the article)
• Spencer, D., J.E. Perry and G. Silberhorn. (2001). Clear-cut bottomland hardwood forests as reference sites for monitoring of created and restored wetlands. Environmental Management 27(4):301-312. (read the article)

Book sections:

• Perry. J.E. 2003. Invasive Species: the case of Phragmites australis. In: G.C. Ray and J. McCormick-Ray, Coastal-Marine Conservation: Science and Policy. Blackwell Science, UK. (read the article)
• Perry. J.E. 2003. The Paraguay Paraná Hidrovía: Protecting the Pantanal. In: G.C. Ray and J. McCormick-Ray, Coastal-Marine Conservation: Science and Policy. Blackwell Science, UK. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E. 2003. Tidal wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay. In: G.C. Ray and J. McCormick-Ray, Coastal-Marine Conservation: Science and Policy. Blackwell Science, UK. (read the article)

Selected Technical Reports:

• DeBerry, D.A and J.E. Perry. 2000. An introduction to wetland seed banks. Wetlands Program Technical Report No. 00-2. College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA, USA. (read the article)
• DeBerry, D.A and J.E. Perry. 2000. Wetland seed banks: research in natural and created wetlands. Wetlands Program Technical Report No. 00-4. College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA, USA. (read the article)
• Goldberg, J., J.E. Perry, and J. Anderson. 1999. Remote sensing of natural areas: procedures and considerations for assessing vegetation composition change, land development, and erosion. Wetlands Program Technical Report No. 99-8. College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA, USA. (read the article)
• Goldberg, J., J.E. Perry, and J. Anderson. 1999. Remote sensing of natural areas: procedures and considerations for assessing stress and pollution. Wetlands Program Technical Report No. 99-6. College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA, USA. (read the article)
• Fagan, S.L. and J.E. Perry. 1998. United States v. Wilson: Muddy Waters in the Search for Wetlands Protection, Virginia Wetlands Newsletter, 13(3). College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA, USA. (read the article)
• Gottgens, J.F., R.H. Fortney, J.E. Meyers, J.E. Perry, and B.E. Rood. 1998. The Parana-Paraguay Waterway (Hidrovia) and its impact on the Pantanal of Brazil. Society of Wetlands Scientists Bulletin 15(3):12-19. (read the article)
• Norris, L., J.E. Perry and K. Havens. 2002. A summary of methods for controlling Phragmites australis. TR-02-2. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, Virginia, USA. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E. 2003. SWS Code of Ethics and the Professional Wetland Scientist. Society of Wetland Scientists Bulletin 20(2):19-23. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E., J.E. Anderson, and A.F. Theisen. 1998. An introduction to stressed habitats. Virginia Wetlands Newsletter, 13(2). College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA, USA. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E. 1997. Natural Heritage Resources Fact Sheet: Tidal Freshwater Marshes. Dept. Conservation & Recreation, Richmond, VA, USA. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E., J.G. Bradshaw, and K.J. Havens. 1992. Field Testing the Proposed Federal Wetlands Delineation Manual. TR-92-2. . Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA, USA. (read the article)

Articles On Poisonous Plants

Refereed:

• Perry, J.E. 2005. Common Garden Plants Poisonous to Camelids. International Camelid Quarterly. 4(2): 1-7. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E. 2004. Safety and hazard awareness: Friend or foe - North American trees and camelids. International Camelid Quarterly. 3(3): 1-7. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E. and P.A. Richards. 2004. Nursery Plants That May Be Harmful To Camelids. International Camelid Quarterly. 3(4): 99-104. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E. 2003. Safety and hazard awareness: managing your ranch for poisonous plants. International Camelid Quarterly 2(4): 7-13. (read the article)

Non-refereed:

• Perry, J.E. 2004. An Introduction to Poisonous Plants. Mid-Atlantic Alpaca Association Newsletter. 4(12): 4. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E. 2005. Part 2: Managing for Poisonous Plants. Mid-Atlantic Alpaca Association Newsletter. 5(3): 5. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E. 2005. Poisonous Plants: Cherry, Apple, and other Members of the Rose Family. Mid-Atlantic Alpaca Association Newsletter. 5(5): 5. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E. 2005. Poisonous Plants: the Heath (blueberry) Family. Mid-Atlantic Alpaca Association Newsletter. 5(10): 4-5. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E. 2005. Poisonous Plants: the Walnut Family. Mid-Atlantic Alpaca Association Newsletter. 5(10): 5. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E. 2005. Poisonous Plants: Pine. Mid-Atlantic Alpaca Association Newsletter. 5(12): 8. (read the article)
• Perry, J.E. 2004. Winter Poisonous Plants. Mid-Atlantic Alpaca Association Newsletter. 4(11): 4. (read the article)

Special Topics Papers:

• Bevington, A. 2006. Hydrophytic plants and their environment: stressors and adaptations
• DeBerry, D. 2005. The Biotic Integrity Concept in Freshwater Wetlands
• Gerald, L. 2006. The Influence of Land Use Change on Catchment Soil Erosion and Biogeochemical Characteristics: Waipaoa River Case Study
• Appendix of C4 Wetland Plants of the Mid-Atlantic US

• Azure Bevington, MS 2008
  

• Bailey, David E. MS (2006) Thesis title: Wetland Vegetation Dynamics and Ecosystem Gas Exchange in Response to Organic Matter Loading Rates.
• DeBerry, Douglas A. PhD (2006) Dissertation title: Floristic Quality Index: Ecological And Management Implications In Created And Natural Wetlands.
• Davies, Sarah M.S. (2004) Thesis title: Temporal Changes in Vegetation Patterns at Sweet Hall Marsh, Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Virginia.
• Landry, Cynthia M.S.(2004) Thesis title: Assessing the Impacts of Off-road Vehicle Use on Populations of Ghost Crabs (Ocypode quadrata) at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina.
• Roggero, Molly M.S. (2003) Thesis title: Ecosystem gas exchange in natural and created tidal salt marshes of Tidewater, Virginia.
• Wu-Stanhope, Jennifer M.S. (2003)Thesis title: Relationships between watershed characteristics and base flow nutrient discharges to eastern shore coastal lagoons, Virginia.
• Campana, Michael, M.S. (1999). Thesis title: The effect of common reed ( Phragmites australis ) invasion on nutrient flux, sedimentation, and plant species diversity in a tidal freshwater marsh.
• Goldberg Jason, M.S. (2000). Thesis title: Comparing remote sensing to traditional approaches of monitoring wetland vegetation in a tidal mitigation bank.
• Laird, Rosemary, M.S. (2001). Thesis title: Spatial and temporal variation in plant communities of three tidal salt marshes along the York River, Virginia.
• McKenney-Mueller, Amanda, M.S. (1998). Thesis title: Small mammal habitat use of two natural and two created wetlands in southeastern Virginia.
• Meyer Jill E., M.S. (2000). Thesis title: Accuracy of bottomland hardwood boundary delineations based on multispectral video images.
• Mountz, Elizabeth, M.S. (2002). Thesis title: Use of remote sensing to identify essential habitat for Aeschynomene virginica (L.) BSP, a threatened freshwater wetland plant.
• Slocum, Kevin, Ph.D. (2002). Thesis title: Coastal zone landscape classification using remote sensing and model development.
• Spencer, David, M.S. (1999). Thesis title: Early secondary succession in the bottomland hardwood forests of southeastern Virginia.

• MS 580/Enst 440-02 Asian Environmental Issues
• MS 527 Coastal Botany
• MS 579 Wetlands Ecology (w/ C. Hershner)

• NOAA/NERRS Graduate Research Fellowship (Davies, 2003-2005)
• Knauss Fellowship (Mountz, 2001; Goldberg and Meyer, 2000)
• Virginia Space Grant Scholarship (Mountz, 2000)
• Society of Wetland Scientist Scholarship (Meyer, 1999)

• American Institute of Biological Sciences
• Appalachian Botanical Society
• Ecological Society of America
• Estuarine Research Association
• Society of Wetland Scientists

• Establishment of a wetland research program in the Palaeocoastal Reserve, Tianjin, China (w/NOAA, Tianjin Univ.).
• Ecological processes in restored habitat for the Chinese alligator, Chongming Island, China (Wildlife Conservation Service).