Steven Lee Matzner
Steven Lee Matzner
Plant Physiology, Plant Ecology
| Chair, Department of Biology | e-mail: | |
| Augustana College | steven.matzner@augie.edu | |
| 2001 S. Summit Ave. | Phone: (605) 274-4821 | |
| Sioux Falls, SD 57197 | Fax: (605) 274-4718 |
Education:
|
Ph.D. Ecology |
Univesity of California, Davis, CA |
1999 |
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M.S. Ecology |
University of California, Davia, CA |
1994 |
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B.A. Biology |
Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD |
1990 |
Undergraduate research: Dietary reconstruction based on stable isotopes (13C, 15N, 34S) of Chilean cultural groups and of the Guanche, a pre-hispanic Canary Islands people.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities with Dr. Matzner:
Experimentation is fundamental to science. The "facts" that students learn in their science classes are constantly changing as our understanding of processes becomes more detailed. Understanding the dynamic nature of science and how research works are important aspects of understanding science. Students can gain research experience through funded projects and faculty-mentored independent study and class projects. These projects encourage initiative, imagination, and independence. Students are encouraged to present their findings at the Augustana Student Research Symposium to re-enforce communications skills.
Long-term hydraulic acclimation: Importance and Patterns. (USDA NRI SDR-2006-02095):
Water stress is perhaps the single most important factor affecting global agricultural production. With projections of higher drought frequency related to global warming coupled with greater urban, recreational, and environmental demands on water resources; there is increasing need to understand how plants respond to their hydraulic environment. This project is focused on the ability of plants to adjust their water-conducting systems in response to the environment (hydraulic acclimation). The first goal of this project is to document the importance of hydraulic acclimation to whole plant water-use and growth by comparing environmental responses in two contrasting genotypes. The second goal is to test the hypothesis that with increasing resource availability there is a decrease in hydraulic efficiency. In other words, do plants under high resources have less extra capacity to absorb and carry water to the canopy? The proposed experiments will contribute to our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms which determine efficiency of water transport and resistance to drought and how they may be altered by the environment. Understanding these relationships may enable us to predict and perhaps even manipulate the drought tolerance of plant species.
David Rettedal, (Sr.), Scotland, SD and Derek Harmon, (So.), Lake Mills, IA
working on USDA grant, Summer 2007
Teaching
I teach plant biology, ecology, evolution, and environmental science. A primary goal is to instill in students a greater appreciation for the natural world that surrounds them. My courses emphasize applying classroom learning to practical "real" life situations. A goal for all my classes is to stress "active" learning and student discussion of topics rather than lectures. Most of my classes incorporate some level of independent research to encourage initiative, imagination, and independence. I also require that students present their findings to re-enforce communications skills. One unique feature about teaching at Augustana College is the ability to discuss issues such as evolution, cloning, and environmental problems both from a scientific viewpoint as well as from a religious/ethical view.
I participate in the following courses:
Selected Publications: (Italics denotes Augustana undergraduate)
Holste, EK*, Jerke, MJ*, Matzner SL. 2006. Long-term acclimatization of hydraulic properties, xylem conduit size, conduit wall strength and cavitation resistance in Phaseolus vulgaris in response to different environmental effects. Plant, Cell & Environment. 29, 836-843.
Derr KD*, Vierling LA, Matzner SL. 2005. Effects of Different Fire Intensities on Understory Vegetation Diversity in the Jasper Burn Area of the Black Hills. Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science 83, 189-195.
Matzner SL, Gooch LC*. 2005. Environmental Effects on xylem cavitation in seedless cottonwood. Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science. Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science 83, 183-189.
Rice KJ, Matzner SL, Byer W, Brown JR. 2004. Patterns of tree dieback in Queensland, Australia: the importance of drought stress and the role of resistance to cavitation. Oecologia 139, 190-198.
Matzner SL, Rice KJ, Richards JH. 2003. Patterns of stomatal conductance among blue oak (Quercus douglasii Hook. and Arn.). Tree Physiology 23, 777-788.
Matzner SL, Comstock JP. 2001. The temperature dependence of shoot hydraulic resistance: Implications for stomatal behavior and hydraulic limitation. Plant, Cell & Environment 24, 1299-1307.
Matzner SL, Rice KJ, Richards JH. 2001. Factors affecting the relationship between carbon isotope discrimination and transpiration efficiency in blue oak (Quercus douglasii). Australian Journal of Plant Physiology, 28, 49-56.
Matzner SL, Rice KJ, Richards JH. 2001. Intra-specific variation in xylem cavitation in interior live oak Quercus wislizenii. Journal of Experimental Biology 52, 783-789.
Presentations: (Italics denotes Augustana undergraduate)
Matzner SL. “Global Warming”. Presented at Augustana for the Global Warming And South Dakota: An Earth Day Reflection. April 25, 2006. Sponsored by The National Environmental Trust and The Augustana Green Club.
Aaron Burkhardt and Steven Matzner. "The Effects Of Grazing Intensity On Carbon Isotope Discrimination And Soil Organic Carbon At The Cottonwood Range And Livestock Research Station.” Augustana Student Research Symposium (Augustana College) April 22, 2006.
Cody Henriksen and Steven Matzner. "Effect Of Acorus calamus Extracts On Glucose And Insulin Levels In Lethal Yellow (Ay/a) And Black (a/a) Mice.” Augustana Student Research Symposium (Augustana College) April 22, 2006.
Elizabeth Kaspar and Steven Matzner. “Influence of bearberry on bird diversity.” Augustana Student Research Symposium (Augustana College) April 22, 2006.
Megan Jerke and Steven Matzner. "Effects of Soil Medium on Hydraulic Properties of Common Bean.” South Dakota Academy of Science, April 8, 2005. University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, SD.
Jennifer Onberg and Steven Matzner. "Effects of Fire Suppression on Forest Encroachment and Soil Organic Carbon in Newton Hills State Park". South Dakota Academy of Science, April 8, 2005. University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, SD.
Matzner SL. "Comparison of Relative Drought Tolerance Between Native Prairie Species and Invasive Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula L.)". 4th Annual Natvie Seed Quality Workshop. Sioux Falls, SD. February 24, 2004.
Meghan Calhoon, Jennifer Onberg and Steven Matzner. "The Effects of Fire Suppression on Soil Organic Carbon in the Black Hills and Newton Hills State Park". Augustana Student Research Symposium (Augustana College) April 17, 2004.
Laura Gooch and Steven Matzner. "Environmental Effects on Xylem Cavitation in Populus". Augustana Student Research Symposium (Augustana College) April 17, 2004.
Katharyn Derr and Steve Matzner. "Effects of Different Fire Intensities on Understory Vegeatation Diversity in the Jasper burn Area of the Black Hills". Abstract. Ecological Society of America Meeting (Savannah Georgia), August 6, 2003.
Katharyn Derr and Steve Matzner. "Effects of Different Fire Intensities on Understory Vegeatation Diversity in the Jasper burn Area of the Black Hills". Abstract. South Dakota Academy of Science (Rapid City, South Dakota) April 4, 2003.
Katharyn Derr and Steve Matzner. "Effects of Different Fire Intensities on Understory Vegeatation Diversity in the Jasper burn Area of the Black Hills". Abstract. Augustana Student Research Symposium (Augustana College) April 12, 2003.
Ellen Holste and Steve Matzner. "Environmental effects on xylem cavitation in Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean). Abstract. Ecological Society of America Meeting (Madison WI), August 6, 2001.
Ellen Holste and Steve Matzner. "Environmental effects on xylem cavitation in Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean). Abstract. Posters on the Hill" session for Congress on Capital Hill, Washington D.C. on April 18, 2002.
Kara Wiebe and Steve Matzner. "Plant life support: What do you put in the IV bags?". Abstact. Augustana Undergraduate Research Symposium, Augustana College, April 13, 2002.
Recent Grants (Total = $352,987.) :
Matzner, Steven L. Title:Long-term hydraulic acclimation: Importance and Patterns. 2006-2009 USDA NRI Competitive Grants Program (SDR-2006-02095). $177,000.00 .
Matzner, Steven L. Title: Effects of soil moisture and texture differences on transpiration rates in silver maple and in two contrasting bean cultivars.” 2006. Augustana Research and Scholarly Fund. $4500.00.
Vieling, Lee, Capehart, William, Matzner, Steven L., Swets, Dan, Zimmermann, Patrick. Title: Leaf Area Index for Fire Chronosequences of the Black Hills and Southern Siberia : A Comparative Study. 2001-2006. NASA EPSCoR. $8020.00 per year.
Matzner, Steven L. Title: Effects of Grazing Intensity on Soil Organic Carbon and Soil Carbon Isotope Discrimination at the SDSU Range and Livestock Research Station at Cottonwood, SD. 2004. SD Center for Biocomplexity Studies Small Grants for Exploratory Research. $14,922.00.
Matzner, Steven L. Title: Measurement of Root and Stem Hydraulic Conductivity in Maize and Common Bean. 2004. SD EPSCoR Research Experiences for South Dakota College Faculty. Title: Measurement of Root and Stem Hydraulic Conductivity in Maize and Common Bean. $17,800.00.
Matzner, Steven L. Title: Effects of Fire Suppression and Fire on Soil Organic Carbon in Newton Hills State Park and in the Black Hills . 2003. NASA EPSCoR Program Initiation Grant. $10,793.00.
Matzner, Steven L. Title: Environmental Effects on Xylem Structural Characteristics in Populus . 2003. Augustana Research-Artist Fund Grant. $4852.00.
Matzner, Steven L. Title: Environmental Effects on Xylem Structural Characteristics 2000-2002. USDA Seed Grant (CSREES #00-35106-9403). $75,000.00.
Comments? Questions? Please contact steven.matzner@augie.edu
Last modified Thursday, October 25, 2007.