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Associate Professor
Department of Plant Biology Plant Biology Department
Selected Recent Publications; Publication List; Malmstrom Lab People |
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Research
My lab studies ecosystem and landscape dynamics. We are particularly interested in understanding how ecosystems respond to perturbations, such as changes in disturbance regimes or the introduction of exotic species. We use the best technology from a range of disciplines to solve problems and advance our work. Current projects incorporate molecular approaches with field work and spatial tools such as GPS, GIS, and remote sensing. We work closely with land managers and conservation agencies when designing our projects to ensure that our work not only makes important contributions to basic science questions but also advances understanding in areas of significant interest to society as a whole.
A strong theme in the lab is understanding the influence of plant viruses on natural communities. Plant viruses are potent ecological agents that have been long overlooked. We have been working on a long-term project in the California grasslands to examine the role of barley and cereal yellow dwarf viruses (BYDVs and CYDVs; Luteoviridae) in influencing grassland dynamics, particularly interactions between invasive exotics and native species ( see some pictures). We use molecular tools to characterize the viruses and experimental field work to examine their influence. We have demonstrated that virus infection significantly reduces the growth, fecundity, and survivorship of native grasses, contradicting a view (surprisingly prevalent!) that viruses have little influence on native plants. In addition, we found that the presence of invasive exotic grasses can more than double incidence of virus infection nearby natives, indicating that virus-mediated apparent competition has the capacity to influence interactions between exotics and natives. Currently, we are investigating the nature of historical interactions between BYDVs and grasses to help assess the role of BYDVs in facilitating the exotics' invasion.
A second theme in the lab is understanding the influence of managed disturbances (prescribed fire, rotational grazing) and native grass restoration on grassland productivity and the control of noxious rangeland weeds. We have worked with the Audubon Society and working ranchers to map and analyze biomass patterns and weed spread using a variety of remote sensing tools. These analyses were used to quantify relationships between disturbances and grassland response, not only by us, but also by the ranch managers themselves who found these tools to be valuable in planning and testing new management strategies to promote conservation and ranchland sustainability.
Audubon-California Landowner Stewardship Program (overview of collaborative, multi-investigator project)
CALFED Science in Action: Bringing Back Native Grasses (learn more about the rangeland restoration project)
California Grass Seedling_Key.doc(word document)
I co-teach PLB/ZOL 355 Ecology in the fall with Dr. Mary Bremigan. (In 2005, Dr. Scott Winterstein is kindly replacing Dr. Bremigan, who is on sabbatical.) This course introduces basic principles and ideas of ecological science and discusses their application with a series of case studies. In class, our aim is to generate a fun, lively learning environment in which students can sharpen problem-solving skills and learn about the challenges and excitement of ecological research.
In 2006, I will also be co-teaching a new course in the spring with Dr. John Ohlrogge: PLB 316 Experiments in Plant Biology. This course is offered as a broadly-based laboratory course in which students will gain experience in a wide range of modern experimental methods, from the molecular to the ecosystem level. Topics include: plant hormones, photosynthesis, transpiration, transgenic Plants, DNA cloning and analysis, nutrient cycling, field techniques, ecosystem modeling, GIS and remote sensing, and research ethics. Each experiment and technique covered in the course will be explained by lectures and background readings. Students will leave the course with an expansive view of different types of plant biology research, the ability to devise their own testable hypotheses, and an introduction to evaluating others' scientific work. The course is designed for Plant Biology majors but is open to students with a range of backgrounds. Course brochure.
In addition, I welcome undergraduate research in my lab and enjoy mentoring graduate students.
Please call or email me for more information.
Malmstrom, C. M., H. S. Butterfield, C. Barber, B. Dieter, R. Harrison, J. Qi, D. Riaño, A. Schrotenboer, S. Stone, C. J. Stoner, J. Wirka. Using remote sensing to evaluate the influence of grassland restoration activities on ecosystem forage provisioning services. Restoration Ecology, in press.
Malmstrom, C.M., R. Shu, E. W. Linton, L. A. Newton, and M. A. Cook (2007). Barley yellow dwarf viruses (BYDVs) preserved in herbarium specimens illuminate historical disease ecology of invasive and native grasses. Journal of Ecology, in press (Editor’s Choice). http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2007.01307.x
Butterfield, H. S., and C. M. Malmstrom (2006) Experimental use of remote-sensing by private range managers and its influence on management decisions. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 59:541-548 http://dx.doi.org/10.2111/05-184R1.1
Malmstrom, C. M., C. J. Stoner, S. Brandenburg, and L. A. Newton (2006). Virus infection and grazing exert counteracting influences on survivorship of native bunchgrass seedlings competing with invasive exotics. Journal of Ecology 94:264—275. dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2006.01101.x
Malmstrom, C.M., Hughes, C.C., Newton, L.A., & Stoner, C.J. (2005) Virus infection in remnant native bunchgrasses from invaded California grasslands. New Phytologist. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01479.x
Malmstrom, C.M., McCullough, A.J., Newton, L.A., Johnson, H.A., & Borer, E.T. (2005) Invasive annual grasses indirectly increase virus incidence in California native perennial bunchgrasses. Oecologia, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00442-005-0099-z.
Malmstrom, C.M. & Shu, R. (2004) Multiplexed RT-PCR for streamlined detection and separation of barley and cereal yellow dwarf viruses. Journal of Virological Methods, 120, 69-78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jviromet.2004.04.005
Malmstrom, C. M. & K.F. Raffa (2000). Biotic disturbance agents in the boreal forest: considerations for vegetation change models. Global Change Biology 6(s1): 35-48.
D’Arrigo, R. D., C. M. Malmstrom, G. Jacoby, S. O. Los, & D. C. Bunker (2000). Correlation between maximum latewood density of annual tree rings and NDVI-based estimates of forest productivity. International Journal of Remote Sensing 21(11): 2329-2336. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01431160050029611
Los, S. O., J. G. Collatz, P. J. Sellers, C. M. Malmstrom, N. H. Pollack, R. S. DeFries, L. Bounoua , F. Parris, C. G. Tucker, and D. Dazlich (2000). A global 9-year biophysical landsurface dataset from NOAA AVHRR data. Journal of Hydrometeorology 11(2):183-199.http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/1525-7541
