Beth A Middleton, Ph. D.
Beth Middleton is a Research Ecologist at the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.
Wetland function may be altered in the future because of dynamic shifts in droughts, water extraction, water fluctuation, salinity intrusion, CO2 levels, and storm intensity. Populations of species can be extirpated especially by drought, and tree mortality is especially common at the edges of species diestribution ranges during drought. Beth Middleton examines patterns of ecosystem function along latitudinal gradients in baldcypress swamps, monsoonal wetlands, mangrove swamps, northern peatleands, prairie fens, and floodplain wetlands. She has organized symposia, written three books, and edited three special journal volumes, which support multidisciplinary comparisons and research analysis of wetland function. Other research topics include the effects of hurricanes on coastal wetlands, flood pulsing in restoration, and biodiversity loss in fens of Europe, Asia and North America. Middleton maintains a research network of baldcypress swamps (North American Baldcypress Swamp Network) and invites other researchers to work in these study sites dedicated to the study of long term function of swamps in the southeastern US.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Botany, Iowa State University, 1989
Advisors: van der Valk/DavisM.S., University of Minnesota Duluth, 1983
B.S., University of Wisconsin Madison, 1978
Science and Products
Invasive plant species
Morphology and genetics of Lythrum salicaria from latitudinal gradients of the Northern Hemisphere grown in cold and hot common gardens
President's address for Wetland Science and Practice - October 2018
Nymphoides humboldtiana (Menyanthaceae) in Florida (U.S.A.) verified by DNA data
Turning on the faucet to a healthy coast
Tropical wetlands in the Anthropocene: The critical role of wet-dry cycles
President elect's message
Succession in ecological education
Coastal estuaries and lagoons: The delicate balance at the edge of the sea
Wetlands in a changing climate: Science, policy and management
Effects of sediment application on Nyssa aquatica and Taxodium distichum saplings
Preface: The wetland book, I: Structure and function, management, and methods
Non-USGS Publications**
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1526-100X.1995.tb00099.x/abstract
www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/2559700.pdf OR www.journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=5248088
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
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Invasive plant species
Invasive species may be one of the worts environmental problems facing the conservation of natural areas, because of their role in changing ecosystem function. At the same time, invasive species cause much human suffering and economic loss. The approach to eliminating invasive species can be improved by a better understanding of the various types of invasive species, and the scientific hypothesesAuthorsBeth A. MiddletonMorphology and genetics of Lythrum salicaria from latitudinal gradients of the Northern Hemisphere grown in cold and hot common gardens
The aim of this project was to compare the phenotypic responses of global populations of Lythrum salicaria in cold/dry and hot/humid environments to determine if phenotypic plasticity varied between the native and invasive ranges, and secondarily if this variation was linked to genetic diversity. Common garden studies were conducted in Třeboň, Czech Republic, and Lafayette, Louisiana, USA (cold/drAuthorsBeth A. Middleton, Steven E. Travis, Barbora Kubátová, Darren Johnson, Keith R. EdwardsPresident's address for Wetland Science and Practice - October 2018
As 2018 moves into its last quarter, those of us in the southern U.S. check the skies for hurricanes, academics and students return to the classroom, and researchers wrap up the last of their year’s field work. For SWS, the last quarter brings new ways to promote internationalization...AuthorsBeth A. MiddletonNymphoides humboldtiana (Menyanthaceae) in Florida (U.S.A.) verified by DNA data
Certain Nymphoides populations in Florida, U.S.A., previously identified as the non-native N. indica (L.) Kuntze, are actually N. humboldtiana (Kunth) Kuntze, as verified using nuclear and plastid DNA data. These new records of N. humboldtiana in Florida are the only known localities in the U.S.A. outside of Uvalde County, Texas. Nymphoides humboldtiana is native to Texas, México, the Caribbean, aAuthorsBeth A. Middleton, Evelyn R. Anemaet, Tracy Elsey Quirk, Nicholas P. TipperyTurning on the faucet to a healthy coast
Coastal re-engineering and freshwater extraction have reduced water flow into the estuaries of the world. Because of these activities, stressed coastal vegetation is especially vulnerable to die-off during droughts, contributing to a loss of human services related to storm protection, fisheries and water quality. The subsequent collapse of vegetation is often as related to the loss of flow as to tAuthorsBeth Middleton, Paul A. MontagnaTropical wetlands in the Anthropocene: The critical role of wet-dry cycles
In the face of climate change and increasing human water demands for agriculture, industry, and cities, the fate of wetland ecosystems in tropical wet-dry climates is threatened. To maximize biodiversity and ecological resilience, the value of the ecosystem services provided by tropical wetlands can be incorporated into regional land use and water management decisions. Environmental planners and rAuthorsMichael J. Osland, Beth A. MiddletonPresident elect's message
The first morning home the day after I became president of SWS at the annual meeting in Denver, I note the wilting of my garden and the grumpiness of my cats as the dawn of my new reality. The extra hours that I will spend as president of SWS will manifest itself as more cat and garden unhappiness as travel and responsibilities grow. The cats gleefully blast out of the door into the backyard, becaAuthorsBeth A. MiddletonSuccession in ecological education
As complex and dynamic systems, wetlands offer the opportunity to investigate and incorporate the ecological concept of succession in educational settings. For example, the well-known, classic hydrosere concept is illustrated in numerous ecology and life-science textbooks. In this chapter, the drawbacks of using the hydrosere successional concept are assessed, and two examples of using wetlands toAuthorsDavid J. Gibson, Beth A. MiddletonCoastal estuaries and lagoons: The delicate balance at the edge of the sea
Coastal communities are increasingly concerned about the dynamic balance between freshwater and saltwater because of its implications for societal, economic, and ecological resources. While the mixing of freshwater and saltwater sources defines coastal estuaries and lagoons, sudden changes in this balance can have a large effect on critical ecosystems and infrastructure. Any change to the deliveryAuthorsPaul A. Conrads, Kirk D. Rodgers, Davina Passeri, Scott T. Prinos, Christopher Smith, Christopher M. Swarzenski, Beth A. MiddletonWetlands in a changing climate: Science, policy and management
Part 1 of this review synthesizes recent research on status and climate vulnerability of freshwater and saltwater wetlands, and their contribution to addressing climate change (carbon cycle, adaptation, resilience). Peatlands and vegetated coastal wetlands are among the most carbon rich sinks on the planet sequestering approximately as much carbon as do global forest ecosystems. Estimates of the cAuthorsWilliam R. Moomaw, G.L. Chmura, Gillian T. Davies, Max Finlayson, Beth A. Middleton, Sue M. Natali, James Perry, Nigel Roulet, Ariana Sutton-GrierEffects of sediment application on Nyssa aquatica and Taxodium distichum saplings
The decline of Taxodium distichum forests along the Gulf Coast of North America is partly due to elevation loss and subsequent flooding. In many coastal wetlands, a common approach for coastal restoration is to rebuild elevation through the application of dredge material, but this technique has not been used widely in coastal forests due to concerns of negatively impacting trees. This experiment eAuthorsIsabel Grandy, Linda Messina, Evelyn R. Anemaet, Beth A. MiddletonPreface: The wetland book, I: Structure and function, management, and methods
The Wetland Book is a hard copy and online production that provides an unparalleled collation of information on wetlands. It is global in scope and contains 462 chapters prepared by leading wetland researchers and managers. The wide disciplinary and geographic scope is a unique feature and differentiates The Wetland Book from the existing wetland literature. The editors have compiled The Wetland BAuthorsC. Max Finlayson, Mark Everard, Kenneth Irvine, Robert J. McInnes, Beth A. Middleton, Anne A. Van Dam, Nick C. DavidsonNon-USGS Publications**
Middleton, B.A. 2002. Nonequilibrium dynamics of sedge meadows grazed by cattle in southern Wisconsin. Plant Ecology 161:89-110. www.springerlink.com/content/v0l42625k0g21141/Xiao, N., D.A. Bennett, B. Middleton, and K. Fessel. 2002. SISM: a multiscale model cypress swamp regeneration. Geographical & Environmental Modelling 6:99-116. www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13615930220127314Middleton, B.A. 2002. Winter burning and the reduction of Cornus sericea in sedge meadows in southern Wisconsin. Restoration Ecology 10:1-8. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1526-100X.2002.01053.xMiddleton, B.A. 2001. A case for wetland restoration. Book review. Restoration Ecology 9:247-248. www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/118995575/PDFSTARTSpyreas, G., D.J. Gibson, and B.A. Middleton. 2001. Effects of endophyte infection in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea: Poaceae) on community diversity. International Journal of Plant Science 162:1237-1245. www.plantbiology.siu.edu/faculty/Gibson/IJPS2001.pdfMiddleton, B.A. 2000. Hydrochory, seed banks, and regeneration dynamics across landscape boundaries in a forested wetland. Plant Ecology 146:169-184. www.springerlink.com/content/w28pp67819819074/Gibson, D. J., B.A. Middleton, G.W. Saunders, M. Mathis. W.T Weaver, J. Neely, J. Rivera and M. Oyler. 1999. Learning by doing ecology: long term field experiments in ecology. IF0.3/C12 American Biology Teacher 61:217-222. www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/4450654?uid=3739688&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=55902219473Rice, M., B.A. Middleton and D. Gibson. 1999. Fractal analysis of movement pathways in vegetated and unvegetated microlandscapes. Bios 1:176-184. _/C2. www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/4608479?uid=3739688&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=55902222123Oyler, M., J. Rivera, M. Roffel, D. J. Gibson, B.A. Middleton and M. Mathis. 1999. The macaroni lab: a directed inquiry project on predator-prey relationships. American Biology Teacher 40:39-41. IF0.3/C1 www.plantbiology.siu.edu/faculty/gibson/macaron.pdfMiddleton, B.A. 1999. Flood pulsing in restoration: a feasible alternative for India? Journal of the Ecological Society 12:10-14.Mathis, M. and B.A. Middleton. 1999. Simulated herbivory and vegetation dynamics in coal slurry ponds reclaimed as wetlands. Restoration Ecology 7:392-398. IF2.2/C10 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1526-100X.1999.72034.x/abstractMiddleton, B.A. 1998. Succession and herbivory in monsoonal wetlands. Wetland Ecology and Management 6:189-202. IF0.3/C32 www.springerlink.com/content/r30811h62j6741u5/Middleton, B.A. 1998. The water buffalo controversy in the Keoladeo National Park, India. Ecological Modelling 106:93-95. IF2.7/C9 http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=2218674Middleton, B.A. 1998. Reply to: The water buffalo controversy in the Keoladeo National Park, India. Ecological Modelling 106:95-98. IF2.7/C9 http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=2218674Middleton, B.A., E. Sanchez-Rojas, B. Suedmeyer and A. Michels. 1997. Fire in a tropical dry forest of Central America: A natural part of the disturbance regime? Biotropica 29:515-517. IF2.6/C47 www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2388944?uid=3739688&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=55901Akanil, N. and B.A. Middleton. 1997. Leaf litter decomposition along the Porsuk River, Eskisehir, Turkey. Canadian Journal of Botany 75:1394-1397. www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/b97-853 OR www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/b97-853Middleton, B.A. 1995. Ecology of greenways. Book review. Restoration Ecology 3: 319-322.Middleton, B.A. 1995. Seed banks and species richness potential of coal slurry ponds reclaimed as wetlands. Restoration Ecology 3:311-318.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1526-100X.1995.tb00099.x/abstract
Middleton, B.A. and U. Melkania. 1995. Decomposition of wet grassland species in a stream of the Himalayan terai, Pantnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences 21:163-168. www.nieindia.org/ijees/abstracts/v21/abstrv21_163.aspMiddleton, B.A. 1995. Sampling devices for the measurement of seed rain and hydrochory in rivers. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Club 122:152-155. www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2996454?uid=3739688&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=55901569553Middleton, B.A. 1994. Decomposition and litter production in a northern bald cypress swamp. Journal of Vegetation Science 5:271-274. www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/3236160.pdfMiddleton, B.A. and E. Sanchez. 1994. Microhistological analysis of food habits in the tropics. Vida Silvestre 3:41-47.Middleton, B.A. 1994. Management of monsoonal wetlands for Greylag and Barheaded Geese in the Keoladeo National Park, India. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences 20:1263-171. www.nieindia.org/ijees/abstracts/v20/abstrv20_163.aspvan der Valk, A. G., B.A. Middleton, R. L. Williams, D. H. Mason and C. Davis. 1993. The biomass of an Indian monsoonal wetland before and after being overgrown with Paspalum distichum. Vegetatio 109:81-90. www.springerlink.com/content/w3866315p4450555/fulltext.pdfMiddleton, B. A. 1992. Habitat and food preferences of geese overwintering in the Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, India. Journal of Tropical Ecology 8:181-193.
www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/2559700.pdf OR www.journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=5248088
Middleton, B.A., A.G. van der Valk, C.B. Davis, D.H. Mason, and R.L. Williams. 1992. Litter decomposition in an Indian monsoonal wetland overgrown with Paspalum distichum. Wetlands 12:37-44. www.springerlink.com/content/w3866315p4450555/Middleton, B.A. and D.H. Mason. 1992. Seed herbivory by nilgai, feral cattle, and wild boar in the Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, India. Biotropica 24:538-543. www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/2389017.pdfMiddleton, B.A., A.G. van der Valk, R.L. Williams, D.J. Mason, and C.B. Davis. 1991. Vegetation dynamics and seed banks of a monsoonal wetland overgrown with Paspalum distichum in northern India. Aquatic Botany 40:239-259. www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0304377091900619Middleton, B.A. 1990. Effect of water depth and clipping frequency on the growth and survival of four wetland plant species. Aquatic Botany 37:189-196. www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/030437709090091XMiddleton, B.A.1988. Food habits of geese in northern India. Journal of the Ecological Society (India) 1:37-45.Middleton, B.A. and A.G. van der Valk. 1987. The food habits of Greylag and Barheaded Geese in the Keoladeo National Park, India. Wildfowl 38:94-102. /C122 http://wildfowl.wwt.org.uk/index.php/wildfowl/article/view/774/774Middleton, B.A. and D.J. Schimpf. 1986. Sand movement and vegetation in the Apostle Islands, Lake Superior. Canadian Journal of Botany 64:1671-1674. www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/b86-223**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.