Matthew J Germino
I am a Supervisory Research Ecologist at the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center in Boise, Idaho
I am interested in plant-soil-environment relationships, with a focus on forest and rangelands; post-fire rehabilitation and restoration, invasive species, integrating science and adaptive land management.
Professional Experience
2011 - Present: USGS, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Supervisory Research Ecologist, Boise, Idaho
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Botany, University of Wyoming. Laramie, WY (2000)
M.S., Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (1996)
B.S., Environmental Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (1994)
Science and Products
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.
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.
How do accuracy and model agreement vary with versioning, scale, and landscape heterogeneity for satellite-derived vegetation maps in sagebrush steppe?
Plant community context controls short- vs. medium-term effects of pre-emergent herbicides on target and non-target species after fire
Greater sage-grouse respond positively to intensive post-fire restoration treatments
Monitoring for adaptive management of burned sagebrush-steppe rangelands: addressing variability and uncertainty on the 2015 Soda Megafire
Patterns of post-fire invasion of semiarid shrub-steppe reveals a diversity of invasion niches within an exotic annual grass community
Are drought indices and climate data good indicators of ecologically relevant soil moisture dynamics in drylands?
Bayesian modeling can facilitate adaptive management in restoration
Intraspecific variation mediates density dependence in a genetically diverse plant species
Weather affects post‐fire recovery of sagebrush‐steppe communities and model transferability among sites
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
Weather and distance to fire refugia limit landscape‐level occurrence of fungal disease in an exotic annual grass
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.
To request an interview, contact fresc_outreach@usgs.gov or call (541) 750-1030.
Science and Products
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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...Filter Total Items: 19 - 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.
Filter Total Items: 15No Result Found - 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: 112How do accuracy and model agreement vary with versioning, scale, and landscape heterogeneity for satellite-derived vegetation maps in sagebrush steppe?
Maps of the distribution and abundance of dominant plants derived from satellite data are essential for ecological research and management, particularly in the vast semiarid shrub-steppe. Appropriate application of these maps requires an understanding of model accuracy and precision, and how it might vary across space, time, and different vegetation types. For a 113 k Ha burn area, we compared modAuthorsCara Applestein, Matthew J. GerminoPlant 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 GerminoGreater sage-grouse respond positively to intensive post-fire restoration treatments
Habitat loss is the most prevalent threat to biodiversity in North America. One of the most threatened landscapes in the United States is the sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystem, much of which has been fragmented or converted to non-native grasslands via the cheatgrass-fire cycle. Like many sagebrush obligates, greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) depend upon sagebrush for food and covAuthorsSharon Poessel, David M Barnard, Cara Applestein, Matthew Germino, Ethan A. Ellsworth, Donald J. Major, Ann Moser, Todd E. KatznerMonitoring for adaptive management of burned sagebrush-steppe rangelands: addressing variability and uncertainty on the 2015 Soda Megafire
• Use of adaptive management supported by robust monitoring is vital to solving severe rangeland problems, such as the exotic annual grass invasion and fire cycle in sagebrush-steppe rangelands.• Uncertainty in post-fire plant-community composition and plant response to treatments poses a challenge to land management and research but can be addressed with a high density of observations over shortAuthorsMatthew Germino, Peter Torma, Matthew Fisk, Cara ApplesteinPatterns of post-fire invasion of semiarid shrub-steppe reveals a diversity of invasion niches within an exotic annual grass community
Disturbances such as fire provide an opportunity for invasive plant species to exploit newly created niche space. Whether initial invaders facilitate, compete with, or do not affect later invaders is important to determine in communities affected by multiple invaders. This analysis focuses on the newer invaders Taeniatherum caput-medusae (medusahead) and Ventenata dubia (ventenata) in sagebrush-stAuthorsCara Applestein, Matthew GerminoAre drought indices and climate data good indicators of ecologically relevant soil moisture dynamics in drylands?
Droughts are disproportionately impacting global dryland regions where ecosystem health and function are tightly coupled to moisture availability. Drought severity is commonly estimated using algorithms such as the standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI), which can estimate climatic water balance impacts at various hydrologic scales by varying computational length. However, theAuthorsDavid Barnard, Matthew Germino, John B. Bradford, Rory O'Connor, Caitlin M. Andrews, Robert K ShriverBayesian modeling can facilitate adaptive management in restoration
There is an urgent need for near-term predictions of ecological restoration outcomes despite imperfect knowledge of ecosystems. Restoration outcomes are always uncertain but integrating Bayesian modeling into the process of adaptive management allows researchers and practitioners to explicitly incorporate prior knowledge of ecosystems into future predictions. Although barriers exist, employing quaAuthorsCara Applestein, T. Trevor Caughlin, Matthew GerminoIntraspecific variation mediates density dependence in a genetically diverse plant species
Interactions between neighboring plants are critical for biodiversity maintenance in plant populations and communities. Intraspecific trait variation and genome duplication are common in plant species and can drive eco-evolutionary dynamics through genotype-mediated plant–plant interactions. However, few studies have examined how species-wide intraspecific variation may alter interactions betweenAuthorsAndrii Zaiats, Matthew Germino, Marcelo D. Serpe, Bryce Richardson, Trevor CaughlinWeather affects post‐fire recovery of sagebrush‐steppe communities and model transferability among sites
Altered climate, including weather extremes, can cause major shifts in vegetative recovery after disturbances. Predictive models that can identify the separate and combined temporal effects of disturbance and weather on plant communities and that are transferable among sites are needed to guide vulnerability assessments and management interventions. We asked how functional group abundance respondeAuthorsCara Applestein, Trevor Caughlin, 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. GerminoWeather and distance to fire refugia limit landscape‐level occurrence of fungal disease in an exotic annual grass
The enemy release hypothesis proposes that invasion by exotic plant species is driven by their release from natural enemies (i.e. herbivores and pathogens) in their introduced ranges. However, in many cases, natural enemies, which may be introduced or managed to regulate invasive species, may fail to impact target host populations. Landscape heterogeneity, which can affect both the population dynaAuthorsCara Applestein, Allison Barbara Simler-Williamson, Matthew J. GerminoNon-USGS Publications**
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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.**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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