Matthew Brooks
Dr. Matthew Brooks is an Ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Western Ecological Research Center.
His primary research emphasis is on the ecology and management of alien plants and fire in the deserts and mountains of western North America. Other research topics include drought, wildlife ecology, ecological restoration, and the ecological effects of various land-use regimes. Dr. Brooks serves on the editorial boards of the journals Fire Ecology and Rangeland Ecology and Management, and was a charter editorial board member of Invasive Plant Science and Management. Dr. Brooks has taught at the high school, community college, and university levels and has advised numerous Master's and Doctoral students.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Biology, concentration in Ecology and Population Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 1998
M.A., Biology, California State University, Fresno, CA 1992
Teaching Credential, Biology/Physical Sciences, California State University, Fresno, CA 1990
B.S., Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 1987
Science and Products
Ecosystem stressors in southern Nevada
Tree mortality patterns following prescribed fire for Pinus and Abies across the southwestern United States
The effect of leaf beetle herbivory on the fire behaviour of tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima Lebed.)
Phenology, growth, and fecundity as determinants of distribution in closely related nonnative taxa
California spotted owls
Resistance to invasion and resilience to fire in desert shrublands of North America
Short- and long-term effects of fire on carbon in US dry temperate forest systems
Soil erosion risks following the 2005 Southern Nevada Fire Complex: Chapter 8
Establishment of aerial seeding treatments in blackbrush and pinyon-juniper sites following the 2005 Southern Nevada Complex: Chapter 5
Vegetation trends following the 2005 Southern Nevada Complex Fire: Chapter 6
Great Basin Integrated Landscape Monitoring Pilot Summary Report
A river system to watch: documenting the effects of saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) biocontrol in the Virgin River valley
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 90
Ecosystem stressors in southern Nevada
Southern Nevada ecosystems and their associated resources are subject to a number of global and regional/local stressors that are affecting the sustainability of the region. Global stressors include elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and associated changes in temperature and precipitation patterns and amount, solar radiation, and nutrient cycles (Smith and others 2009b). Global stressorsAuthorsBurton K. Pendleton, Jeanne C. Chambers, Matthew L. Brooks, Steven M. OstojaTree mortality patterns following prescribed fire for Pinus and Abies across the southwestern United States
The reintroduction of fire to historically fire-prone forests has been repeatedly shown to reduce understory fuels and promote resistance to high severity fire. However, there is concern that prescribed fire may also have unintended consequences, such as high rates of mortality for large trees and fire-tolerant Pinus species. To test this possibility we evaluated mortality patterns for two commonAuthorsPhilip J. van Mantgem, Jonathan C. B. Nesmith, MaryBeth Keifer, Matthew BrooksThe effect of leaf beetle herbivory on the fire behaviour of tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima Lebed.)
The non-native tree, Tamarix spp. has invaded desert riparian ecosystems in the south-western United States. Fire hazard has increased, as typically fire-resistant native vegetation is replaced by Tamarix. The tamarisk leaf beetle, Diorhabda carinulata Desbrochers, introduced for biological control, may affect fire behaviour by converting hydrated live Tamarix leaves and twigs into desiccated andAuthorsGail M. Drus, Tom L. Dudley, Matthew L. Brooks, John R. MatchettPhenology, growth, and fecundity as determinants of distribution in closely related nonnative taxa
Invasive species researchers often ask: Why do some species invade certain habitats while others do not? Ecological theories predict that taxonomically related species may invade similar habitats, but some related species exhibit contrasting invasion patterns. Brassica nigra, Brassica tournefortii, and Hirschfeldia incana are dominant, closely related nonnative species that have overlapping, but dAuthorsRobin G. Marushia, Matthew L. Brooks, Jodie S. HoltCalifornia spotted owls
California spotted owls (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) are habitat specialists that are strongly associated with late-successional forests. For nesting and roosting, they require large trees and snags embedded in a stand with a complex forest structure (Blakesley et al. 2005, Gutiérrez et al. 1992, Verner et al. 1992b). In mixed-conifer forests of the Sierra Nevada, California spotted owls typiAuthorsSuzanne C. Roberts, M. NorthResistance to invasion and resilience to fire in desert shrublands of North America
Settlement by Anglo-Americans in the desert shrublands of North America resulted in the introduction and subsequent invasion of multiple nonnative grass species. These invasions have altered presettlement fire regimes, resulted in conversion of native perennial shrublands to nonnative annual grasslands, and placed many native desert species at risk. Effective management of these ecosystems requireAuthorsMatthew L. Brooks, Jeanne C. ChambersShort- and long-term effects of fire on carbon in US dry temperate forest systems
Forests sequester carbon from the atmosphere, and in so doing can mitigate the effects of climate change. Fire is a natural disturbance process in many forest systems that releases carbon back to the atmosphere. In dry temperate forests, fires historically burned with greater frequency and lower severity than they do today. Frequent fires consumed fuels on the forest floor and maintained open stanAuthorsMatthew D. Hurteau, Matthew L. BrooksSoil erosion risks following the 2005 Southern Nevada Fire Complex: Chapter 8
No abstract available.AuthorsJohn R. Matchett, Matthew L. BrooksEstablishment of aerial seeding treatments in blackbrush and pinyon-juniper sites following the 2005 Southern Nevada Complex: Chapter 5
No abstract available.AuthorsRobert C. Klinger, Matthew L. Brooks, Neil Frakes, John R. Matchett, Randy McKinley, Karen PrenticeVegetation trends following the 2005 Southern Nevada Complex Fire: Chapter 6
No abstract available.AuthorsRobert C. Klinger, Matthew L. Brooks, Neil Frakes, John R. Matchett, Randy McKinleyGreat Basin Integrated Landscape Monitoring Pilot Summary Report
The Great Basin Integrated Landscape Monitoring Pilot project (GBILM) was one of four regional pilots to implement the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Science Thrust on Integrated Landscape Monitoring (ILM) whose goal was to observe, understand, and predict landscape change and its implications on natural resources at multiple spatial and temporal scales and address priority natural resource managemAuthorsSean P. Finn, Kate Kitchell, Lori Anne Baer, David R. Bedford, Matthew L. Brooks, Alan L. Flint, Lorraine E. Flint, J.R. Matchett, Amy Mathie, David M. Miller, David S. Pilliod, Alicia Torregrosa, Andrea WoodwardA river system to watch: documenting the effects of saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) biocontrol in the Virgin River valley
Throughout riparian areas of the southwestern United States, non-native saltcedar (also known as tamarisk; Tamarix spp.) can form dense, monotypic stands and is often reported to have detrimental effects on native plants and habitat quality (Everitt 1980; Shafroth et al. 2005). Natural resource managers of these riparian areas spend considerable time and resources controlling saltcedar using a varAuthorsHeather L. Bateman, Tom L. Dudley, Dan W. Bean, Steven M. Ostoja, Kevin R. Hultine, Michael J. Kuehn - News