Name: Hybrid Lunchbox Talk: Hemiparasitic Plants in Grassland Restoration
Start: 2026-04-23T12:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-04-23T13:00:00-04:00
Location: North Carolina Botanical Garden

Hybrid Lunchbox Talk: Hemiparasitic Plants in Grassland Restoration

Full title: Hybrid Lunchbox Talk: Bridging the Knowledge-to-Practice Gap: Hemiparasitic Plants in Grassland Restoration
with Jordan Argrett, PhD candidate, University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology
Thursday, April 23, 2026
12:00 PM-1:00 PM ET
Hybrid - Join us in person or on Zoom!
Free; preregistration required: https://reg.learningstream.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0005-0014-f081f25856f3416db8dd24a55cb523d1

Grasslands across North America, including the remnant prairies, glades, and savannas of the Southeast, are some of the most diverse and threatened ecosystems on Earth. Urban growth, habitat fragmentation, and changes in natural disturbances like fire and grazing have made it harder to restore native plant diversity at scale.
In this Lunchbox Talk, learn about Jordan Argrett’s research on an underused restoration tool: native root hemiparasitic plants. These plants form symbiosis by tapping into the roots of their neighbors for nutrients. Acting as “pseudo-grazers,” they can make big impacts on plant communities by curbing dominant species, rebalancing the competitive landscape, and creating space for native wildflowers to thrive. Drawing on experimental ecology, conservation horticulture, and restoration strategies, Jordan’s work aims to provide southeastern conservation practitioners with practical, scalable tools to help bring back biodiversity.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Jordan Argrett is a 5th year PhD Candidate at the University of Georgia's Odum School of Ecology. Jordan is broadly interested in symbiosis and how species interactions can alter ecosystem processes. His dissertation research focuses on how plant-to-plant parasitism and plant-fungal mutualisms influence community structure and nutrient cycling in North American alpine meadows. Alongside his dissertation research, Jordan is a regional and local advocate for parasitic plants in the Southeast. By combining experimental ecology, restoration science, and community collaboration, Jordan aims to deliver actionable, evidence-based tools to conserve southeastern parasites, and utilize their unique ecology to enhance the success of grassland restoration efforts.