Brian R. Maricle Research

 (Download Brian R. Maricle's Curriculum Vitae)

 Interests

 Responses of plants to flooding

• Environmental factors influencing species zonation in estuaries and wetlands
• Physiological, biochemical, and anatomical factors influencing flooding tolerance in plants
• Effects of low oxygen levels on respiration and nitrogen assimilation in plants
• Roles of flooding tolerance in the success of wetland invasive specie
• Novel capabilities of plants beneficial to agriculture and phytoremediation

 Effects of environment on photosynthesis in plants

• Effects of drought and salinity on stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, and transpiration
• Physiological, biochemical, and anatomical factors influencing drought and salinity tolerance in plant
• Roles of latent, sensible, and radiative heat exchange under changing environmental conditions
• Physiological and biochemical responses to oxidative stress in plants
• Carbon and hydrogen isotope discrimination in photosynthesis and transpiration
• 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 earlier work 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.

The "Killer B's" lab group on 5/1/2012. Back row: Bliss Betzen, Brian Maricle, Keri Caudle, and Shaley White.
Front row: Alondra Meraz, Nyasha Maforo, and Cera Smart.
Not pictured: Jake Olsen, Karina Barrett, and Taylor Biggs.

Publications 

Current Projects in the Lab

1. Environment and genotype interactions in big bluestem
2. Effects of anthropogenic pollutants on aquatic/riparian plant communities
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 on plant photosynthesis and respiration
7. Nitrate assimilation in native versus introduced grasses
8. Mechanisms of chilling-tolerant C₄ photosynthesis in Spartina
9. Effects of drought on native prairie grasses
10. Factors influencing aerenchyma development in Spartina roots
11. The role of ethanol toxicity on flooding tolerance in plants
12. Effects of nitrate/ammonium nitrogen source on photosynthesis and nitrate reductase activity in Phalaris arundinacea

Current Lab Members

	Jacob T. Olsen, M.S. student B.S., University of Utah Hometown: Morgan, UT Lab member since: July 2010 Thesis project: Gas exchange and anatomical variation of big bluestem over a precipitation gradient
	Karina M. Barrett, M.S. student B.S., Fort Hays State University Hometown: Holcomb, KS Lab member since: August 2011 Thesis project: Effects of nitrate and phosphate concentrations on growth and performance of native and introduced aquatic and riparian plants
	Keri L. Caudle, B.S. student Major: Biology Hometown: Burkburnett, TX Lab member since: June 2010 Project: Effects of oil spills on native and introduced coastal species Project: Effects of NO3- concentration on N uptake rates, assimilation,and photosynthesis in native and introduced grasses
	Alondra Meraz Major: KAMS Hometown: Hugoton, KS Lab member since: September 2011 Project: The role of ethanol toxicity on flooding susceptibility in plants
	Shaley J. White Major: KAMS Hometown: Leoti, KS Lab member since: September 2011 Project: The role of ethanol toxicity on flooding susceptibility in plants
	Taylor N. Biggs, B.S. student Major: Chemistry Hometown: Lincoln, KS Lab member since: January 2012 Project: Effects of wind on NO3-/NH4+ nutrition in reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea)
	Cera M. Smart Major: KAMS Hometown: Lab member since: January 2012 Project: Physiological effects of salinity on inland salt marsh species
	Bliss M. Betzen Major: KAMS Hometown: Lab member since: February 2012 Project: Physiological effects of salinity on inland salt marsh species
	Nyasha G. Maforo Major: KAMS Hometown: Winfield, KS Lab member since: February 2012 Project: The role of ethanol toxicity on flooding susceptibility in plants

Past Lab Members

	Elizabeth (Lizz) F. Waring, M.S. student B.S., University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Hometown: Milwaukee, WI Lab member: 2008-2010 Thesis:  Flooding tolerance ofnative and nonnative grasses: variation in photosynthesis, transpiration, respiration,and carbon isotope discrimination Fellowship project: Mechanisms of chilling-tolerant C4 photosynthesis in Spartina
	Kristen A. Polacik, M.S. student B.S., Marshall University Hometown: New Martinsville, WV Lab member: 2008-2010 Thesis: Effects of floodingon photosynthesis and root respiration in saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima), an invasive riparian shrub
	Jordan J. Brungardt, B.S. student Major: Biology Hometown: Hays, KS Lab member: 2007-2010 Project: Effects of oil well brine on soil salinity and plant performance Project: Root hair curling during nodulation in legumes Project: Factors influencing aerenchyma development in Spartina (Poaceae)
	Rika Isomura, B.S. student Major: Biology Hometown: Ena, Japan Lab member: 2010 Project: Effects of soil flooding in Celosia
	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 localgrocer
	Cali R. Parker, B.S. student Major: Accounting Hometown: Lab member: 2008-2009 Project: Mechanisms of chilling-tolerant C4 photosynthesis in Spartina
	Shi He B.S., Wuhan University Hometown: Wuhan, China Lab member: 2007-2008 Project: Nitrate reductase activity and expression in Spartina (Poaceae)
	Sam R. Zwenger, Lab technician M.S. and B.S., Fort Hays State University 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 (photos of Bliss Betzen, Taylor Biggs, and Cera Smart by Keri Caudle)

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 last updated 13 May 2012