Spring 2008

Michael T. Stevens

California State University, Stanislaus

"Root Awakenings" by Barbara Westfall features aspen roots from my common garden experiment that explored resistance and tolerance to herbivory in aspen (Populus tremuloides)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

I conduct research in two major areas: plant ecology and biology education. As a plant ecologist, I study plant-herbivore interactions, especially plant responses to herbivory and how genes and the environment interact to affect the expression of plant traits. Using aspen (Populus tremuloides) and its insect herbivores, I study the evolution of plant defense strategies such as herbivory resistance (traits that reduce the preference or performance of herbivores) and herbivory tolerance (traits that facilitate regrowth after damage). I’m also interested in physiological mechanisms behind plant adaptation to insect damage including growth-defense tradeoffs, induction of resistance chemicals, photosynthetic responses, and whole-plant biomass redistributions after herbivory. Using Alaska paper birch (Betula neoalaskana), I study biogeographic patterns in resistance to mammalian herbivores. As a biology educator, I research ways to improve science content understanding and science teaching methods at the university-level, especially in classes populated by future elementary and secondary teachers. I also study the roles that science faculty with education specialties (SFES) play in the California State University (CSU) system.

PUBLICATIONS

8. Stevens MT, Kruger EL, Lindroth RL (2008) Variation in tolerance to herbivory is mediated by differences in biomass allocation in aspen. Functional Ecology 22:40-47.

7. Wooley SC, Donaldson JR, Gusse AC, Lindroth RL, Stevens MT (2007) Extrafloral nectaries in aspen (Populus tremuloides): heritable genetic variation and herbivore-induced production. Annals of Botany 100:1337-1346.

6. Stevens MT, Waller DM, Lindroth RL (2007) Resistance and tolerance in Populus tremuloides: genetic variation, costs, and environmental dependency. Evolutionary Ecology 21:829-847.

5. Lindroth RL, Donaldson JR, Stevens MT, Gusse AC (2007) Browse quality in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides): effects of genotype, nutrients, defoliation, and coppicing. Journal of Chemical Ecology 33:1049-1064.

4. Bush SD, Pelaez NJ, Rudd JA, Stevens MT, Willams KS, Allen DE, Tanner KD--all authors contributed equally to the development of this article (2006) On hiring science faculty with education specialties (SFES) for your science (not education) department. CBE—Life Sciences Education 5:297-305.

3. Donaldson JR, Stevens MT, Barnhill HR, Lindroth RL (2006) Age-related shifts in leaf chemistry of clonal aspen (Populus tremuloides). Journal of Chemical Ecology 32:1415-1429.

2. Stevens MT, Lindroth RL (2005) Induced resistance in the indeterminate growth of aspen (Populus tremuloides). Oecologia 145:298-306.

1. Stevens MT, Turner MG, Tuskan GA, Romme WH, Gunter LE, Waller DM (1999) Genetic variation in postfire aspen seedlings in Yellowstone National Park. Molecular Ecology 8:1769-1780.