I am a Botanist at the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA (2010)
M.S., Natural Resources, University of Vermont (2004)
B.S., Biology, Stanford University (2000)
Science and Products
The Effect of Pre-Emergent Herbicides on Soil in The Sagebrush Steppe
Longevity of Herbicides Targeting Exotic Annual Grasses in Sagebrush-Steppe Soils
Plant-Soil-Environment Laboratory (FRESC)
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Pre and post treatment (2016-2021) vegetation cover for three southwest Idaho sites treated with pre-emergent herbicides after fire
Post-fire Chondrilla juncea and biocontrol at Boise River Wildlife Management Area 2018-2019
Post-fire vegetation cover, plant species diversity, and Ustilago bullata infection rates at Boise River Wildlife Management Area 2018-2019
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Integration of weed-suppressive bacteria with herbicides to reduce exotic annual grasses and wildfire problems on ITD right-of-ways
Plant community context controls short- vs. medium-term effects of pre-emergent herbicides on target and non-target species after fire
Post-fire management targeting invasive annual grasses may have inadvertently released the exotic perennial forb Chondrilla juncea and suppressed its biocontrol agent
A chemical and bio‐herbicide mixture increased exotic invaders, both targeted and non‐targeted, across a diversely invaded landscape after fire
Warming of alpine tundra enhances belowground production and shifts community towards resource acquisition traits
Weed-suppressive bacteria effects differ in culture compared to in soils and with or without microbial competition and separation of active ingredient
Post-fire management-scale trials of bacterial soil amendment MB906 show inconsistent control of invasive annual grasses
Synthesis of weed-suppressive bacteria studies in rangelands of the Western United States: Special section of articles in Rangeland Ecology and Management provides no evidence of effectiveness
Intraspecific variation in surface water uptake in a perennial desert shrub
Weed-suppressive bacteria have no effect on exotic or native plants in sagebrush-steppe
Weed-suppressive bacteria fail to control bromus tectorum under field conditions
An experimental test of weed-suppressive bacteria effectiveness in rangelands in southwestern Idaho, 2016–18
Non-USGS Publications**
**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
- Science
The Effect of Pre-Emergent Herbicides on Soil in The Sagebrush Steppe
We are studying how herbicides sprayed onto soil to prevent the establishment of exotic annual grasses such as cheatgrass may impact the health, growth resources and microbiota of soils in sagebrush-steppe, where herbicide use is an important and common tool. Our findings will help make herbicide applications more successful.Longevity of Herbicides Targeting Exotic Annual Grasses in Sagebrush-Steppe Soils
Pre-emergent herbicides applied to soil are a primary tool for reducing exotic annual grasses, such as cheatgrass, in sagebrush steppe rangelands. Effective herbicide application can allow existing perennials to grow and spread to outcompete cheatgrass, preventing reinvasion, but most perennials are slow-growing and require more years of relief from annual-grass competition than standard...Plant-Soil-Environment Laboratory (FRESC)
We produce basic and applied science needed to manage landscapes in ways that make them resistant and resilient to stressors such as wildfire, exotic plant invasions, drought, and temperature extremes. These stressors impact ecosystem productivity and functioning and pose costly risks to human health and safety in the western United States. We team with other state and federal agencies to find... - Data
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Pre and post treatment (2016-2021) vegetation cover for three southwest Idaho sites treated with pre-emergent herbicides after fire
Selective herbicide application is a common restoration strategy to control exotic invaders that interfere with native plant recovery after wildfire. Whether spraying with preemergent or bioherbicides releases native plants from competition with exotics ("spray-and-release" strategy) and can make communities resistant to re-invasion by exotic annual grasses (e.g., cheatgrass, medusahead), withoutPost-fire Chondrilla juncea and biocontrol at Boise River Wildlife Management Area 2018-2019
Top-down and bottom-up factors affecting invasive populations are rarely considered simultaneously, yet their interactive responses to disturbances and management interventions can be essential to understanding invasion patterns. We evaluated post-fire responses of the exotic perennial forb Chondrilla juncea (rush skeletonweed) and its biocontrol agents to landscape factors and a post-fire combinePost-fire vegetation cover, plant species diversity, and Ustilago bullata infection rates at Boise River Wildlife Management Area 2018-2019
Invasive-plant treatments often target a single or few species, but many landscapes are diversely invaded. Exotic annual grasses (EAGs) increase wildfires and degrade native perennial plant communities in cold-desert rangelands, and herbicides are thus sprayed to inhibit EAG germination and establishment. We asked how EAG-target and nontarget species responded to an herbicide mixture sprayed over - Publications
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 15Integration of weed-suppressive bacteria with herbicides to reduce exotic annual grasses and wildfire problems on ITD right-of-ways
Invasion by exotic-annual grasses such as cheatgrass is impacting semiarid rangelands and especially transportation corridors, where it causes increased wildfire and many other environmental issues. Methods of reducing exotic annual grasses and restoring native perennials are needed, particularly testing of their intended target or unintended, non-target effects. In a series of experiments arrayedAuthorsBrynne E. Lazarus, Matthew Germino, Toby M. MaxwellPlant community context controls short- vs. medium-term effects of pre-emergent herbicides on target and non-target species after fire
Questions: Selective herbicide application is a common restoration strategy to control exotic invaders that interfere with native plant recovery after wildfire. Whether spraying with preemergent or bioherbicides releases native plants from competition with exotics (“spray-and-release” strategy) and can make communities resistant to re-invasion by exotic annual grasses (e.g., cheatgrass, medusaheadAuthorsBrynne E. Lazarus, Matthew GerminoPost-fire management targeting invasive annual grasses may have inadvertently released the exotic perennial forb Chondrilla juncea and suppressed its biocontrol agent
Top-down and bottom-up factors affecting invasive populations are rarely considered simultaneously, yet their interactive responses to disturbances and management interventions can be essential to understanding invasion patterns. We evaluated post-fire responses of the exotic perennial forb Chondrilla juncea (rush skeletonweed) and its biocontrol agents to landscape factors and a post-fire combineAuthorsBrynne E. Lazarus, Matthew GerminoA chemical and bio‐herbicide mixture increased exotic invaders, both targeted and non‐targeted, across a diversely invaded landscape after fire
QuestionsInvasive‐plant treatments often target a single or few species, but many landscapes are diversely invaded. Exotic annual grasses (EAGs) increase wildfires and degrade native perennial plant communities in cold‐desert rangelands, and herbicides are thus sprayed to inhibit EAG germination and establishment. We asked how EAG target and non‐target species responded to an herbicide mixture sprAuthorsBrynne E. Lazarus, Matthew J. GerminoWarming of alpine tundra enhances belowground production and shifts community towards resource acquisition traits
Climate warming is expected to stimulate plant growth in high‐elevation and high‐latitude ecosystems, significantly increasing aboveground net primary production (ANPP). However, the effects of simultaneous changes in temperature, snowmelt timing, and summer water availability on total net primary production (NPP)—and elucidation of both above‐ and belowground responses—remain an important area inAuthorsYan Yang, Julia A. Klein, Daniel E. Winkler, Ahui Peng, Brynne E. Lazarus, Matthew Germino, Katherine Suding, Jane G. Smith, Lara M. KueppersWeed-suppressive bacteria effects differ in culture compared to in soils and with or without microbial competition and separation of active ingredient
Weed-suppressive bacteria (WSB), specifically the D7 and ACK55 strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens, were previously reported to selectively inhibit growth of invasive annual grasses (IAGs) that have caused severe ecosystem degradation across much of the western US. However, recent studies show highly mixed evidence for WSB effectiveness in field settings. We evaluated how the effectiveness of WSB,AuthorsBrynne E. Lazarus, Kevin Feris, Matthew GerminoPost-fire management-scale trials of bacterial soil amendment MB906 show inconsistent control of invasive annual grasses
Rangeland managers need tools to control invasive annual grasses, particularly following wildfire. We assessed responses of native and invasive/exotic grasses to the MB906 soil amendment containing live cultures of a purportedly weed-suppressive strain of the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens (“WSB”). MB906 was applied alone and in combination with the pre-emergent herbicide imazapic on >3000 ha aAuthorsBrynne E. Lazarus, Matthew Germino, Martha Brabec, Logan Peterson, Ryan N Walker, Ann MoserSynthesis of weed-suppressive bacteria studies in rangelands of the Western United States: Special section of articles in Rangeland Ecology and Management provides no evidence of effectiveness
No abstract available.AuthorsMatthew Germino, Brynne E. LazarusIntraspecific variation in surface water uptake in a perennial desert shrub
Despite broad recognition that water is a major limiting factor in arid ecosystems, we lack an empirical understanding of how this resource is shared and distributed among neighbouring plants. Intraspecific variability can further contribute to this variation via divergent life‐history traits, including root architecture. We investigated these questions in the shrub Artemisia tridentata and hypothAuthorsAndrii Zaiats, Brynne E. Lazarus, Matthew Germino, Marcelo D. Serpe, Bryce A. Richardson, Sven Buerki, T. Trevor CaughlinWeed-suppressive bacteria have no effect on exotic or native plants in sagebrush-steppe
Approaches and techniques for control of exotic annual grasses are a high priority in rangelands including sagebrush steppe. Strains of the soil bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens have been proposed to be selectively pathogenic to multiple species of exotic annual grasses (“Pf,” weed-suppressive bacteria, “WSB”). However, defensible tests of the target and nontarget effects of these WSB strains inAuthorsMatthew Germino, Brynne E. LazarusWeed-suppressive bacteria fail to control bromus tectorum under field conditions
The exotic winter annual grass Bromus tectorum L. (downy brome or cheatgrass) infests millions of hectares of western rangelands. Weed-suppressive bacteria (ACK55 and D7 strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula 1895) have been shown to reduce B. tectorum populations in eastern Washington. Unfortunately, outside of Washington, little is known about the efficacy of these or other weed-suppressive bAuthorsKurt O Reinhart, Chris H Carlson, Kevin P Feris, Matthew Germino, Clancy J Jandreau, Brynne E. Lazarus, Jane M. Mangold, Dave W Pellatz, Philip Ramsey, Matthew J. Rinella, Morgan ValliantAn experimental test of weed-suppressive bacteria effectiveness in rangelands in southwestern Idaho, 2016–18
Approaches and techniques for control of exotic annual grasses are a high priority in sagebrush-steppe and other rangelands. Strains of the soil bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf) have been proposed to be selectively pathogenic to multiple species of exotic annual grasses with effects evident by the second year, and with no effect on native or desirable species including native bunchgrasses. HAuthorsBrynne E. Lazarus, Matthew J. GerminoNon-USGS Publications**
Lazarus, B.E., J.H. Richards, V.P. Claassen, R.E. O’Dell, and M.A. Ferrell 2011. Species specific plant-soil interactions influence plant distribution on serpentine soils. Plant and Soil 342:327-344Lazarus, B.E., J.H. Richards, P.E. Gordon, L.R. Oki, and C.S. Barnes 2011. Plasticity tradeoffs in salt tolerance mechanisms among desert Distichlis spicata genotypes. Functional Plant Biology 38:187-198Schaberg, P.G., B.E. Lazarus, G.J. Hawley, J.M. Halman, C.H. Borer, and C.F. Hansen 2011. Assessment of weather-associated causes of red spruce winter injury and consequences to aboveground carbon sequestration. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 41:359-369Lazarus, B.E., P.G. Schaberg, G.J. Hawley, D.H. DeHayes 2006. Landscape scale spatial patterns of winter injury to red spruce foliage in a year of heavy region-wide injury. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 36: 142-152Lazarus, B.E., P.G. Schaberg, D.H. DeHayes, G.J. Hawley 2004. Severe red spruce winter injury in 2003 creates unusual ecological event in the northeastern United States. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 34: 1784-1788**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.
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