Brian R.
Maricle Research (Curriculum Vitae)
Interests
Responses of plants to flooding
o
Environmental factors influencing species zonation in estuaries and wetlands
o
Physiological, biochemical, and anatomical factors influencing flooding
tolerance in plants
o
Effects of low oxygen levels on respiration and nitrogen assimilation
in plants
o
Roles of flooding tolerance in the success of wetland invasive species
o
Novel capabilities of plants beneficial to agriculture and
phytoremediation
Effects of environment on photosynthesis in plants
o
Effects of drought and salinity on stomatal conductance,
photosynthesis, and transpiration
o
Physiological, biochemical, and anatomical factors influencing drought
and salinity tolerance in plants
o
Roles of latent,
sensible, and radiative heat exchange under changing environmental conditions
o
Physiological and
biochemical responses to oxidative stress in plants
o
Carbon and
hydrogen isotope physiology in photosynthesis and transpiration
o Effects of chilling on
photosynthetic light harvesting, gas exchange, and carbon metabolism
My research involves investigating physiological,
biochemical, anatomical, and biophysical adaptations that enable plants to live
under conditions of environmental stress. Much of my work has focused on
responses of wetland and estuarine plants to conditions of flooding and
salinity. During my graduate research, I studied how estuarine Spartina grasses (Poaceae) tolerate
coastal mudflat conditions. I identified several physiological and biochemical
features that contribute to flooding tolerance and estuarine zonation,
including internal oxygen transport, anaerobic respiration capacity, aerobic
demand, and oxygen affinity. Since then, my students and I have expanded my
work to investigate processes in other systems. My students are now working on
projects to characterize species zonation in freshwater wetlands, mechanisms of
flooding tolerance in freshwater plants, effects of drought on prairie grasses,
effects of creek drying on riparian plants, effects of oil well brine on plant
productivity, and nitrate assimilation in wetland plants. Our work is helping
to characterize general mechanisms of drought or waterlogging tolerance across
plants, including other economically important crop species or ecologically
relevant systems like wetlands.
Current Projects in the Lab
1.
Structure-function relationships in Spartina
leaves in relation to ecological species distributions
2.
Nitrate reductase activities in wetland plants
3.
Mechanisms of flooding tolerance in freshwater marsh species
4.
Explaining the success of aquatic invasive species by physiological
mechanisms
5.
Halophyte water relations, photosynthesis, and energy balances
6.
Effects of oil well brine on plant productivity
7.
Effects of creek drying on photosynthesis and transpiration in riparian
trees
8.
Survey of ascorbic acid concentration and osmolality in orange juice
and apple juice from a local grocer
9.
Effects of diet and activity on δ13C of hair and breath
in humans
10. Mechanisms of
chilling-tolerant C4 photosynthesis in Spartina
11. Effects of drought on native
prairie grasses
12. Oxidative stress during
de-etiolation in seedlings
13. Factors influencing
aerenchyma development in Spartina
roots
14. Nitrogen fixation in barrel
medic (Medicago truncatula)
Current and Recent Lab Members
Kristen A. Polacik, M.S. student
B.S., Marshall University
Hometown: New Martinsville, WV
Lab member since: August 2008
Thesis project: Effects of flooding on competitive
success of invasive Tamarix (salt
cedar)
Elizabeth (Lizz) F. Waring, M.S. student
B.S., University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Lab
member since: August 2008
Thesis
project: Effects of flooding on native and non-native grasses
Fleharty
Fellowship project: Mechanisms of chilling-tolerant C4
photosynthesis in Spartina
Aaron M. Pfeifer, B.S. student
Major: Pre-Med
Hometown: Hays, KS
Lab member: 2007 - 2009
Project: Effects of diet and activity on food usage
and storage in FHSU students by stable isotope analyses
Project: Survey of ascorbic acid concentration and
osmolality in orange juice and apple juice from a local grocer
Cali R. Parker, B.S.
student
Major: Accounting
Hometown:
Lab member since: October 2008
Project: Mechanisms of chilling-tolerant C4
photosynthesis in Spartina
Jordan J. Brungardt,
B.S. student
Major: Biology
Hometown: Hays, KS
Lab member since: June 2007
Project: Effects of oil well brine on soil salinity
and plant performance
Project: Nitrogen fixation in barrel medic (Medicago truncatula)
Shi He
B.S.,
Hometown:
Lab member: 2007-2008
Project: Nitrate reductase activity and expression
in Spartina (Poaceae)
S. Rich Zwenger, Lab technician
M.S. and B.S.,
Hometown: Hays, KS
Lab member: Summer 2007
Project: Effect of creek drying on photosynthesis
and transpiration of riparian trees
Student Involvement
My work is well-suited for
student involvement, and I have always involved students in my work. Students
can gain valuable lab/field experience and ″hands-on″ learning, and
I am happy for the help in the lab or field. If you are a current FHSU student
and are interested in work similar to what is described here, feel free to contact me to discuss the possibility of
work in my lab. Feel free to get in touch to discuss possibilities.
Interested in
becoming a graduate student in my lab? Read this.
Text and photos by Brian R. Maricle, 2008, Fort Hays State University Department of Biological Sciences
Department of Biological Sciences
last updated 28 August 2009