| Dr. Matt Bowker, Ph.D.
Biological Sciences
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Dirt can't hurt - My primary interest is the ecology of biological soil crusts and their potential role in land management. Biological soil crusts (BSCs: a.k.a. cryptogamic, biotic, biogenic, cryptobiotic, and microbiotic crusts) are a soil surface community found in many systems worldwide, especially arid lands. They form a cohesive protective layer on the soil, consisting of cryptic desiccation tolerant organisms such as cyanobacteria, mosses, lichens, chlorophytes, diatoms, fungi and bacteria. BSCs can be considered ecosystem engineers in aridlands (organisms that control resource availability via alteration of physical state factors) because they: 1) aggregate surface soil and reduce erosion, and 2) regulate the water runoff-infiltration balance and increase soil moisture retention. Nutrient cycles and vascular plant performance are strongly influenced by BSCs. BSCs enhance the nutrient status of soils via nitrogen fixation, carbon fixation, entrapment of eolian silts and clays, and chelation of metals.
CURRENT PROJECTS
In my current research I am following up on the key findings of my Master's work and trying to apply them: - I have been constructing spatial models of potential crust abundance and function in a GIS for the enormous (800,000 ha) Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. These will be useful in range management because they allow the comparison of the actual condition of a site's soil crusts with their potential. A large deviation from potential may indicate desertification in progress, and may signal that a change in land use is needed.
- My master's research showed repeatedly that crusts are positively correlated with the micronutrients Mn and Zn. I have established a field experiment, and will establish some greenhouse experiments to test the hypothesis that crusts are limited by these immobile nutrients. I will also apply structural equation models (a fascinating statistical causal inference tool) to existing datasets, to extend this hypothesis to new regions of North America.
My hope is that Mn and Zn fertilization could become a tool to reverse desertification via the restoration of degraded crust communities.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Email: mab86@dana.ucc.nau.edu
Phone: 928.523.7839
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