Sankey, J.B., Germino, M.J., Glenn, N.F., 2012, Dust supply varies with sagebrush microsites and time since burning in experimental erosion events: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 117, no. G01013, p. 1-13, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JG001724.
Matthew J Germino
Biography
Education
Ph.D. Botany, 2000, University of Wyoming
M.S. Botany, 1996, University of Wyoming
B.S. Environmental Science, 1994, University of Massachusetts
Specialty
Plant-soil-environment relationships
Research Interests
Plant-soil-environment relationships, with a focus on forest and rangelands; post-fire rehabilitation and restoration; invasive species; integrating science and adaptive land management.
Science and Products
Date published: March 10, 2020
Status: Active Weed-Suppressive Bacteria – Testing a Control Measure for Invasive Grasses in the West
Recent popular news has implied that Weed-Suppressive Bacteria (WSB) holds promise for cheatgrass control, yet a lack of peer-reviewed research exists to support this claim. USGS researchers stepped up to the challenge of objectively and rigorously evaluating the effectiveness of WSB for controlling exotic annual grasses, such as...
Contacts: Matthew J Germino
Date published: May 23, 2019
Status: Active Cheatgrass and Medusahead
Invasive annual grasses, such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), are one of the most significant stressors to rangeland ecosystems in the western U.S. Their expansion and dominance across this area are the most damaging ecosystem agents on this iconic landscape.
Date published: November 16, 2017
Status: Active 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...
Contacts: Matthew J Germino
Date published: November 14, 2017
Status: Active Wildfire Impacts, and Post-Fire Rehabilitation and Restoration
Land use and unintentional (e.g., wildfire) disturbances are increasingly dominant factors affecting land-use planning and management of semiarid landscapes, particularly in sagebrush steppe rangelands. In the last 10-20 years, wildfires are occurring more frequently and increasingly in very large burn patches.
Contacts: Matthew J Germino
Date published: November 13, 2017
Status: Active Plant Responses to Temperature and Water Limitation
Weather and climate impacts on dominant native perennials must be understood in order to efficiently manage our western landscapes. We use an ecophysiological approach, linking to population, community, and landscape ecology, to understand the impacts and responses of plants on or to their environment.
Contacts: Matthew J Germino
Date published: November 13, 2017
Status: Active Integrating Science and Adaptive Land Management
Widespread habitat deterioration due to fire and invasive species in the Great Basin have created a need for coordination across land agencies and between science and management activities in the Great Basin.
Contacts: Matthew J Germino
Date published: July 17, 2017
Status: Active Webinar: Sagebrush Ecosystems in a Changing Climate: Key Opportunities for Adaptive Management
View this webinar to learn how scientists are exploring adaptation management strategies for sagebrush ecosystems.
Contacts: Matthew J Germino
Date published: January 1, 2012
Status: Completed Sagebrush Ecosystems in a Changing Climate
Climate responses of sagebrush are needed to inform land managers of the stability and restoration of sagebrush ecosystems, which are an important but threatened habitat type. We evaluated climate responses of sagebrush using two approaches: (1) experimental manipulations of temperature and precipitation for natural plants in the field, and (2) assessment of how climate adaptation and weather...
Contacts: Matthew J Germino
Year Published: 2019
Freezing resistance, safety margins, and survival vary among big sagebrush populations across the western United States
PremisePhysiological responses to temperature extremes are considered strong drivers of species’ demographic responses to climate variability. Plants are typically classified as either avoiders or tolerators in their freezing‐resistance mechanism, but a gradient of physiological‐threshold freezing responses may exist among individuals of a...
Lazarus, Brynne; Germino, Matthew J.; Richardson, Bryce A.View Citation
Lazarus, B.E., Germino, M.J., Richardson, B., 2019, Freezing resistance, safety margins, and survival vary among big sagebrush populations across the western United States: American Journal of Botany, p. online, https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.1320
Year Published: 2019
Transient population dynamics impede restoration and may promote ecosystem transformation after disturbance
The apparent failure of ecosystems to recover from increasingly widespread disturbance is a global concern. Despite growing focus on factors inhibiting resilience and restoration, we still know very little about how demographic and population processes influence recovery. Using inverse and forward demographic modelling of 531 post‐fire sagebrush...
Shriver, Robert K.; Andrews, Caitlin M.; Arkle, Robert; Barnard, David; Duniway, Michael C.; Germino, Matthew J.; Pilliod, David S.; Pyke, David A.; Welty, Justin; Bradford, John B.
Year Published: 2019
Soil characteristics are associated with gradients of big sagebrush canopy structure after disturbance
Reestablishing shrub canopy cover after disturbance in semi-arid ecosystems, such as sagebrush steppe, is essential to provide wildlife habitat and restore ecosystem functioning. While several studies have explored the effects of landscape and climate factors on the success or failure of sagebrush seeding, the influence of soil properties on...
Barnard, David; Germino, Matthew J.; Arkle, Robert; Bradford, John; Duniway, Michael; Pilliod, David; Pyke, David; Shriver, Robert; Welty, Justin
Year Published: 2019
Corrigendum to “A comprehensive analysis of interseasonal and interannual energy and water balance dynamics in semiarid shrubland and forest ecosystems” [Sci. Total Environ. 651 (2019) 381–398]
The authors regret the omission of an author, funding sources, and key support staff. The omitted author and their affiliation is: Matthew J Germino US Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Boise ID 83706. The correct citation should be: Valayamkunnath, P., Sridhar, V., Zhao, W. Allen, R.G., and Germino, M.J., 2019...
Valayamkunnath, Prasanth; Sridhar, Venkataramana; Zhao, Wenguang; Allen, Richard G; Germino, Matthew J.
Year Published: 2019
Operationalizing resilience and resistance concepts to address invasive grass-fire cycles
Plant invasions can affect fuel characteristics, fire behavior, and fire regimes resulting in invasive plant-fire cycles and alternative, self-perpetuating states that can be difficult, if not impossible, to reverse. Concepts related to general resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasive plants provide the basis for managing landscapes to...
Chambers, Jeanne C.; Brooks, Matthew L.; Germino, Matthew J.; Maestas, Jeremy D; Board, David I; Jones, Matthew O.; Allred, Brady W
Year Published: 2019
Bunchgrass root abundances and their relationship to resistance and resilience of a burned shrub-steppe landscape
Invasion of exotic annual grasses (EAG) and increased wildfire have motivated an emphasis on managing rangeland plant communities for resistance to invasion and resilience to disturbances. These traits are provided primarily by perennial bunchgrasses in rangelands such as shrub steppe, and specifically but also hypothetically, the abundances and...
Germino, Matthew J.; Fisk, Matthew; Applestein, Cara
Year Published: 2019
The ecological uncertainty of wildfire fuel breaks: examples from the sagebrush steppe
Fuel breaks are increasingly being implemented at broad scales (100s to 10,000s of square kilometers) in fire‐prone landscapes globally, yet there is little scientific information available regarding their ecological effects (eg habitat fragmentation). Fuel breaks are designed to reduce flammable vegetation (ie fuels), increase the safety and...
Shinneman, Douglas; Germino, Matthew J.; Pilliod, David S.; Aldridge, Cameron L.; Vaillant, Nicole; Coates, Peter S.
Year Published: 2019
An 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...
Lazarus, Brynne E.; Germino, Matthew J.View Citation
Lazarus, B.E., and Germino, M.J., 2019, An experimental test of weed-suppressive bacteria effectiveness in rangelands in southwestern Idaho, 2016–18: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2019-1050, 19 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191050.
Year Published: 2019
Vegetation and precipitation shifts interact to alter organic and inorganic carbon storage in cold desert soils
Dryland ecosystems are experiencing shifts in rainfall and plant community composition, which are expected to alter cycling and storage of soil carbon (C). Few experiments have been conducted to examine long‐term effects on (1) soil organic C (SOC) pools throughout the soil profile, and (2) soil inorganic C (SIC) pools as they relate to dynamic...
Huber, David P.; Lohse, Kathleen A.; Commendador, Amy; Joy, Stephen; Aho, Ken A.; Finney, Bruce P.; Germino, Matthew J.
Year Published: 2019
Adaptive variation, including local adaptation, requires decades to become evident in common gardens
Population‐level adaptation to spatial variation in factors such as climate and soils is critical for climate‐vulnerability assessments, restoration seeding, and other ecological applications in species management, and the underlying information is typically based on common‐garden studies that are short duration. Here, we show >20 yr were...
Germino, Matthew J.; Moer, Ann M.; Sands, Alan R.
Year Published: 2019
Landscape and organismal factors affecting sagebrush-seedling transplant survival after megafire restoration
Larger and more frequent disturbances are motivating efforts to accelerate recovery of foundational perennial species by focusing efforts into establishing island patches to sustain keystone species and facilitate recovery of the surrounding plant community. Evaluating the variability in abiotic and biotic factors that contribute to differences in...
Davidson, Bill; Germino, Matthew J.; Richardson, Bryce; Barnard, David
Year Published: 2019
Can’t see the random forest for the decision trees: Selecting predictive models for restoration ecology
Improving predictions of restoration outcomes is increasingly important to resource managers for accountability and adaptive management, yet there is limited guidance for selecting a predictive model from the multitude available. The goal of this paper was to identify an optimal predictive framework for restoration ecology using eleven modeling...
Barnard, David; Germino, Matthew; Pilliod, David; Arkle, Robert; Applestein, Cara; Davidson, Bill; Fisk, MatthewPre-USGS Publications
Sankey, J.B., Germino, M.J., Sankey, T.T., Hoover, A.N., 2012, Fire effects on the spatial patterning of soil properties in sagebrush steppe, USA - a meta-analysis: International Journal of Wildland Fire, v. 21, no. 5, p. 545-556, https://doi.org/10.1071/WF11092.
Wilcox, B.P., Turnbull, L., Young, M.H., Williams, C.J., Ravi, S., Seyfried, M.S., Bowling, D.R., Scott, R.L., Germino, M.J., Caldwell, T.G., Wainwright, J., 2012, Invasion of shrublands by exotic grasses- ecohydrological consequences in cold versus warm deserts: Ecohydrology, v. 5, p. 160-173, https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.247.
Hasselquist, N.J., Germino, M.J., Sankey, J.B., Ingram, L.J., Glenn, N.F., 2011, Aeolian nutrient fluxes following wildfire in sagebrush steppe- implications for soil carbon storage: Biogeosciences, v. 8, p. 3649-3659, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-8-3649-2011.
Hill, J.P., Germino, M.J., Alongi, D.A., 2011, Carbon-use efficiency in green sinks is increased when a blend of apoplastic fructose and glucose is available for uptake: Journal of Experimental Biology, v. 62, no. 6, p. 2013-2022, https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erq407.
Reinhardt, K., Castanha, C., Germino, M.J., Kueppers, L.M., 2011, Ecophysiological variation in two provenances of Pinus flexilis seedlings across an elevation gradient from forest to alpine: Tree Physiology, v. 31, p. 615-625, https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpr055.
Sankey, J.B., Eitel, J.U., Glenn, N.F., Germino, M.J., Vierling, L.A., 2011, Quantifying relationships of burning, roughness, and potential dust emission with laser altimetry of soil surfaces at submeter scales: Geomorphology, v. 135, p. 181-190, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2011.08.016.
Exotic plants increase and native plants decrease with loss of foundation species in sagebrush steppe
Prevey, J.S., Germino, M.J., Huntly, N.J., Inouye, R.S., 2010, Exotic plants increase and native plants decrease with loss of foundation species in sagebrush steppe: Plant Ecology, v. 207, no. 1, p. 39-51.
Linking carbon balance to establishment patterns - comparison of whitebark pine and Engelmann spruce seedlings along an herb cover exposure gradient at treeline
Bansal, S., Reinhardt, K., Germino, M.J., 2010, Linking carbon balance to establishment patterns - comparison of whitebark pine and Engelmann spruce seedlings along an herb cover exposure gradient at treeline: Plant Ecology, v. 212, no. 2, p. 219-228.
Loss of foundation species increases population growth of exotic forbs in sagebrush steppe
Prevey, J.S., Germino, M.J., Huntly, N.J., 2010, Loss of foundation species increases population growth of exotic forbs in sagebrush steppe: Ecological Applications, v. 20, no. 7, p. 1890-1902.
Montaine meadow change during drought varies with background hydrologic regime and plant functional group
Debinski, D.M., Wickham, H., Kindscher, K., Caruthers, J.C., Germino, M.J., 2010, Montaine meadow change during drought varies with background hydrologic regime and plant functional group: Ecology, v. 91, no. 6, p. 1672-1681.
Relationships of aeolian erosion and deposition with LiDAR-derived landscape surface roughness following wildfire
Sankey, J.B., Glenn, N.F., Germino, M.J., Gironella, A.N., Thackray, G.D., 2010, Relationships of aeolian erosion and deposition with LiDAR-derived landscape surface roughness following wildfire: Geomorphology, v. 119, no. 1-2, p. 135-154.
Bansal, S., Germino, M.J., 2010, Unique responses of respiration, growth, and non-structural carbohydrate storage in sink tissue of conifer seedlings to an elevation gradient at timberline: Environmental and Experimental Biology, v. 69, no. 3, p. 313-319, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2010.05.002.
Variation in ecophysiological properties among conifers at an ecotonal boundary- Comparison of establishing seedlings and established adults at timberline
Bansal, S., Germino, M.J., 2010, Variation in ecophysiological properties among conifers at an ecotonal boundary- Comparison of establishing seedlings and established adults at timberline: Journal of Vegetation Science, v. 21, p. 133-142.
Aeolian sediment transport following wildfire in sagebrush steppe
Sankey, J.B., Germino, M.J., Glenn, N.F., 2009, Aeolian sediment transport following wildfire in sagebrush steppe: Journal of Arid Environments, v. 73, p. 912-919.
Opportunistic heterotrophy in gametophytes of the homosporous fern Ceratopteris richardii
Alongi, D.A., Hill, J.P., Germino, M.J., 2009, Opportunistic heterotrophy in gametophytes of the homosporous fern Ceratopteris richardii: Botany, v. 87, p. 799-806.
Relationships of post-fire aeolian transport to soil and atmospheric conditions
Sankey, J.B., Germino, M.J., Glenn, N.F., 2009, Relationships of post-fire aeolian transport to soil and atmospheric conditions: Aeolian Research, v. 1, no. 1-2, p. 75-85.
Relative suitability of indices derived from Landsat ETM+ and SPOT 5 for detecting fire severity in sagebrush steppe
Norton, J., Glenn, N.F., Germino, M.J., Weber, K., Seefeldt, S., 2009, Relative suitability of indices derived from Landsat ETM+ and SPOT 5 for detecting fire severity in sagebrush steppe: International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, v. 11, p. 360-367.
Temporal variation of nonstructural carbohydrates in montane conifers- Similarities and differences among developmental stages, species and environmental conditions
Bansal, S., Germino, M.J., 2009, Temporal variation of nonstructural carbohydrates in montane conifers- Similarities and differences among developmental stages, species and environmental conditions: Tree Physiology, v. 29, p. 559-568.
The altitude of alpine treeline - A bellwether of climate change effects
Smith, W.K., Germino, M.J., Johnson, D.K., Reinhardt, K., 2009, The altitude of alpine treeline - A bellwether of climate change effects: Botanical Review, v. 75, p. 163-190.
Assessment of juniper encroachment with the use of satellite imagery and geospatial data
Sankey, T.T., Germino, M.J., 2008, Assessment of juniper encroachment with the use of satellite imagery and geospatial data: Rangeland Ecology and Management, v. 61, no. 4, p. 412-418.
Carbon balance of conifer seedlings at timberline - Relative changes in uptake, storage, and utilization
Bansal, S., Germino, M.J., 2008, Carbon balance of conifer seedlings at timberline - Relative changes in uptake, storage, and utilization: Oecologia, v. 158, p. 217-227.
PCBE Revisited- Long-Term Performance of Alternative Evapotranspiration Caps for Protecting Shallowly Buried Wastes Under Variable Precipitation
Janzen, B.C., Germino, M.J., Anderson, J.E., 2007, PCBE Revisited- Long-Term Performance of Alternative Evapotranspiration Caps for Protecting Shallowly Buried Wastes Under Variable Precipitation: U.S. Department of Energy - Idaho Operations Office STOLLER-ESER-101, p. 1-37.
Prescribed fires in Artemisia tridentata ssp. Vaseyanasteppe have minor and transient effects on vegetation cover and composition
Seefeldt, S.S., Germino, M.J., DiCristina, K., 2007, Prescribed fires in Artemisia tridentata ssp. Vaseyanasteppe have minor and transient effects on vegetation cover and composition: Applied Vegetation Science, v. 10, no. 2, p. 249-256.
Advantages in water relations contribute to greater photosynthesis in Centaurea maculosa compared with established grasses
Hill, J.P., Germino, M.J., Wraith, J.M., Olson, B.E., Swan, M.B., 2006, Advantages in water relations contribute to greater photosynthesis in Centaurea maculosa compared with established grasses: International Journal of Plant Sciences, v. 167, no. 2, p. 269-277.
Correlation of neighborhood relationships, carbon assimilation, and water status of sagebrush seedlings establishing after fire
DiCristina, K., Germino, M.J., 2006, Correlation of neighborhood relationships, carbon assimilation, and water status of sagebrush seedlings establishing after fire: Western North American Naturalist, v. 66, no. 4, p. 441-449.
Landscape- and age-based factors affecting fungal colonization of conifer seedling roots at the alpine tree line
Germino, M.J., Hasselquist, N.J., McGonigle, T., Smith, W.K., Sheridan, P.P., 2006, Landscape- and age-based factors affecting fungal colonization of conifer seedling roots at the alpine tree line: Canadian Journal of Forest Research, v. 36, p. 901-909.
Microsite differentiation among conifer species during seedling establishment at alpine treeline
Maher, E.L., Germino, M.J., 2006, Microsite differentiation among conifer species during seedling establishment at alpine treeline: Ecoscience, v. 13, no. 3, p. 334-341.
Photosynthesis during an episodic drought in Abies lasiocarpa andPicea engelmanniiacross an alpine treeline
Brodersen, C.R., Germino, M.J., Smith, W.K., 2006, Photosynthesis during an episodic drought in Abies lasiocarpa andPicea engelmanniiacross an alpine treeline: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, v. 38, no. 1, p. 34-41.
Photosynthesis during an episodic drought in Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii across an alpine treeline
Brodersen, C.R., Germino, M.J., Smith, W.K., 2006, Photosynthesis during an episodic drought in Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii across an alpine treeline: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, v. 38, no. 1, p. 34-41.
Coordinated variation in ecophysiological properties among life stages and tissue types in an invasive perennial forb of semiarid shrub steppe
Hill, J.P., Germino, M.J., 2005, Coordinated variation in ecophysiological properties among life stages and tissue types in an invasive perennial forb of semiarid shrub steppe: Canadian Journal of Botany, v. 83, p. 1488-1495.
Interactive effects of tree and herb cover on survivorship, physiology, and microclimate of conifer seedlings at the alpine tree-line ecotone
Maher, E.L., Germino, M.J., Hasselquist, N.J., 2005, Interactive effects of tree and herb cover on survivorship, physiology, and microclimate of conifer seedlings at the alpine tree-line ecotone: Canadian Journal of Forest Research, v. 35, p. 567-574.
Hasselquist, N.J., Germino, M.J., McGonigle, T., Smith, W.K., 2005, Variability of Cenococcum colonization and its ecophysiological significance for young conifers at alpine-treeline: New Phytologist, v. 165, no. 3, p. 867-873, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01275.x.
Abiotic factors limiting photosynthesis in Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii seedlings below and above the alpine timberline
Johnson, D.M., Germino, M.J., Smith, W.K., 2004, Abiotic factors limiting photosynthesis in Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii seedlings below and above the alpine timberline: Tree Physiology, v. 24, p. 377-386.
Leaf to Landscape
Smith, S.D., Naumburg, E., Niinemets, U., Germino, M.J., 2004, Leaf to Landscape In Smith, W.K., Vogelmann, T.C., Critchley, C., eds., Photosynthetic Adaptation: Chloroplast to Landscape: New York City, NY, Springer, p. 262-294.
Another perspective on altitudinal limits of alpine timberlines
Smith, W.K., Germino, M.J., Hancock, T.E., Johnson, D.M., 2003, Another perspective on altitudinal limits of alpine timberlines: Tree Physiology, v. 23, p. 1101-1113.
Germino, M.J., Wraith, J.M., 2003, Plant water relations influence carbon gain in a grass occurring along sharp gradients of soil temperature: New Phytologist, v. 157, no. 2, p. 241-250, https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00663.x.
Conifer seedling distribution and survival in an alpine-treeline ecotone
Germino, M.J., Smith, W.K., Resor, A.C., 2002, Conifer seedling distribution and survival in an alpine-treeline ecotone: Plant Ecology, v. 162, no. 2, p. 157-168.
Bastian, C.T., McLeod, D.M., Germino, M.J., Reiners, W.A., Blasko, B.J., 2002, Environmental amenities and agricultural land values- a hedonic model using geographic information systems data: Ecological Economics, v. 40, no. 3, p. 337-349, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-8009(01)00278-6.
Exploring the potential for using GIS to measure environmental and visual amenities when valuing agricultural lands
Bastian, C.T., McLeod, D.M., Germino, M.J., Reiners, W.A., Blasko, B.J., 2002, Exploring the potential for using GIS to measure environmental and visual amenities when valuing agricultural lands: Journal of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, v. 65, no. 1, p. 43-52.
Estimating visual properties of Rocky Mountain landscapes using GIS
Germino, M.J., Reiners, W.A., Blasko, B.J., McLeod, D.M., Bastian, C.T., 2001, Estimating visual properties of Rocky Mountain landscapes using GIS: Landscape and Urban Planning, v. 53, no. 1-4, p. 71-83.
Relative importance of microhabitat, plant form and photosynthetic physiology to carbon gain in two alpine herbs
Germino, M.J., Smith, W.K., 2001, Relative importance of microhabitat, plant form and photosynthetic physiology to carbon gain in two alpine herbs: Functional Ecology, v. 15, p. 243-251.
Differences in microsite, plant form, and low-temperature photo inhibition in alpine plants
Germino, M.J., Smith, W.K., 2000, Differences in microsite, plant form, and low-temperature photo inhibition in alpine plants: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, v. 32, no. 4, p. 388-396.
Germino, M.J., Smith, W.K., 2000, High resistance to low-temperature photoinhibition in two alpine, snowbank species: Physiologia Plantarum, v. 110, no. 1, p. 89-95, https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1399-3054.2000.110112.x.
Sky exposure, crown architecture, and low-temperature photo inhibition in conifer seedlings at alpine treeline
Germino, M.J., Smith, W.K., 1999, Sky exposure, crown architecture, and low-temperature photo inhibition in conifer seedlings at alpine treeline: Plant, Cell and Environment, v. 22, no. 4, p. 407-415.
Date published: April 24, 2020
Partitioning Surface Energy Balance Components in a Semi-Arid Environment
Understanding ecosystem energy and hydrological response is important for predicting and managing future water resources under climate and land-cover changes.
Date published: April 24, 2020
Surface Energy Fluxes, Soil Moisture, and Evapotranspiration Across Three Ecosystems in a Semiarid Climate
Understanding the land-atmosphere interaction at the ecosystem scale is important for water resource management and regional or global climate studies. Researchers examined surface fluxes of energy and moisture for three different ecosystems - sagebrush, cheatgrass, and lodgepole pine - in the Snake River Plain of Idaho.
Date published: March 10, 2020
Small-Scale Water Deficits After Wildfires Create Long-Lasting Ecological Impacts
Moisture deficit affects ecological processes and land management interventions, such as restoration of native vegetation.
Date published: March 10, 2020
Intraspecific Variation in Surface Water Uptake in a Perennial Desert Shrub
Variability in root architecture is one source of plant trait diversification that affects how water is distributed among plants.
Date published: December 12, 2019
Weed-Suppressive Bacteria have no Effect on Exotic or Native Plants in Sagebrush Steppe
Approaches and techniques for controlling exotic annual grasses are a high priority in rangelands including sagebrush steppe.
Date published: November 27, 2019
Weed-Suppressive Bacteria Fail to Control Bromus Tectorum
The exotic winter annual grass Bromus tectorum (downy brome or cheatgrass) infests large expanses of western rangelands.
Date published: July 19, 2019
Cold Hardiness of Big Sagebrush May be Maladaptive in a Warmer Climate
Physiological responses to temperature extremes are considered strong drivers of plant species’ resilience to climate variability.
Date published: June 27, 2019
Why Sagebrush Re-establishment After Fire is so Difficult
Big sagebrush ecosystems are particularly sensitive to wildfires and life history information on big sagebrush is scarce and vital for restoration success.
Date published: February 1, 2019
Long-term Studies Reveal Climate Adaptation Patterns of Big Sagebrush
To understand plant genetic diversity and adaptations, scientist often conduct “common garden” experiments growing plants with diverse origins under the same soil and climatic conditions. However, most common garden studies may be too short to detect adaptive differences. Understanding climate adaptation of Wyoming Big Sagebrush could improve restoration strategies and success.
Date published: November 29, 2018
Post-fire Sagebrush Recovery Looks to Landsat Time Series Data for Solutions
When a wildfire rampages through a sagebrush domain, restoring the landscape’s natural vegetation afterward is often a dicey proposition. But now complicate that situation with soil-moisture-robbing drought either before or after the fire. What becomes the best restoration solution then?
Date published: November 2, 2018
Vegetative Community Response to Landscape Scale Post-fire Herbicide (Imazapic) Application
The timing of herbicide application following wildfire can strongly influence its effectiveness. USGS researchers evaluated the effect of the commonly used herbicide imazapic on targeted exotic annual grasses and non-target plants, applied the first winter or second fall after the 2015 Soda wildfire.
Date published: August 10, 2018
Alpine Plant Community Composition, Phenology, and Physiology in Relation to Snow Melt Timing
Earlier snowmelt affects many ecosystems worldwide, especially in montane settings. USGS and other federal and university scientists determined how alpine plant species respond to snow melt gradients in a high-alpine area of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.