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Research Interests
Research in my lab examines carbon, nitrogen, and water dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems, with an emphasis on responses to global change. Recent projects include: 1) the response of carbon and nitrogen cycles to elevated carbon dioxide in a Mojave Desert ecosystem, 2) the impact of invasive species on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics, 3) mechanisms controlling plant nitrogen isotope composition, and 4) carbon isotope ratios of microbial communities to elucidate patterns of substrate use. Current research is focused on carbon and nitrogen dynamics in arid ecosystems and recovery of ecosystem processes following the eruption of Mt. St. Helens. Our research makes extensive use of both field and laboratory experiments, with emphasis on measurements of natural stable isotope ratios.
Representative Publications
Williams, D.G., R.D. Evans and J.R. Ehleringer. 2007. Applications of stable isotope measurements for early-warning detection of ecological change. In T.E. Dawson and R. Siegwolf (eds), Isotopes as tracers of ecological change. Elsevier Academic Press.
Evans, R.D. 2007. Soil nitrogen isotope composition. In Michener, R.M. and K. Lajtha, (eds). Stable Isotopes in Ecology and Environmental Science 2nd Edition. Blackwell Scientific, Oxford.
*Jin, V. and R.D. Evans. 2007. Elevated CO2 affects microbial carbon substrate use and N cycling in Mojave Desert soils. Global Change Biology. 13:1-12.
*Schaeffer, S.M., S.A. *Billings and R.D. Evans. 2007. Laboratory incubations reveal potential responses of soil nitrogen cycling to changes in soil C and N availability in Mojave Desert soils exposed to elevated atmospheric CO2. Global Change Biology. 13:854-865.
Gill, R.A., J.A. Boie, J.G. Bishop, L. Larsen, J.L. Apple and R.D. Evans. 2006. Linking community and ecosystem development on Mount Saint Helens. Oecologia 148:312-324.
*Sperry, L., J. Belnap and R.D. Evans. 2006. Bromus tectorum invasion alters nitrogen dynamics in an undisturbed grassland ecosystem. Ecology. 87:603-615.
*Billings, S. A., S. M. *Schaeffer, and R. D. Evans. 2004. Soil microbial activity and N availability with elevated CO2 in Mojave desert soils. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 18: GB1011.
*Kolb, K.J. and R.D. Evans. 2003. Influence of nitrogen source and concentration on nitrogen isotopic discrimination in two barley genotypes (Hordeum vulgara L.). Plant, Cell and Environment. 26:1431-1440.
Walvoord, M.A., F.M. Phillips, D.A. Stonestrom, R.D. Evans, P.C. Hartsough, B.D. Newman and R.G. Striegl. 2003. A reservoir of nitrate beneath desert soils. Science. 302:1021-1024.
Evans, R.D., R. *Rimer, L. *Sperry and J. Belnap. 2001. Exotic plant invasion alters nitrogen dynamics in an arid grassland. Ecological Applications. 11:1301-1310.
Evans, R.D. 2001. Mechanisms controlling plant nitrogen isotope composition. Trends in Plant Sciences 6:121-126.
Evans, R.D and J.R. Johansen. 1999. Microbiotic crusts and ecosystem processes. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences. 18:183-225.
Evans, R.D. and J. Belnap. 1999. Longterm consequences of disturbance on nitrogen dynamics in an arid grassland ecosystem. Ecology 80:150-160.
*Graduate students and post-doctoral research associates in my lab