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Degrees:ÌýB.S. in Biology, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI Ph.D. in Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA Post-doctoral research in Soil Microbial Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA

Expertise:ÌýPlant physiology and ecology, with an emphasis on plant-soil interactions

Research Interests

My research program focuses on plant-soil interactions, specifically how differences in soil resource availability influence ecological processes. My approach is highly collaborative and involves mentoring of undergraduate and graduate researchers and maintaining active connections with colleagues at º£½ÇÉçÇø and other institutions. There are five main areas addressed by my research program:

1.Ìý Plant adaptation to unique soil types.ÌýÌýUnique soils, such as serpentine or gypsum, are hotspots of biological diversity. As such, they are excellent locations for asking questions related to adaptation and acclimation, as well as being areas of conservation concern. My research interests in this area are broad and seek to understand the physiological mechanisms promoting adaptation to these unique soils and how they relate to species evolution in these habitats.Ìý

2.Ìý Ecology of aridland communities.ÌýÌýA common theme among my research program is studying aridland communities.Ìý Some of this work has focused on targeting species for restoration following invasive species management, particularly perennial bunchgrass systems.Ìý Other foci include the ecology of soil microbial crust communities and ecophysiological comparisons of common shrub and forb species.

3.Ìý Morphological and physiological traits associated with plant invasiveness.ÌýExotic plant invasions pose a serious global ecological and conservation threat to native plant communities and can induce serious economic costs. Determining which traits contribute most strongly to non-native organisms’ competitive ability is an essential first step in improving prediction and management of invasive species spread. Our research focuses on key morphological and physiological functional traits involved in resource acquisition and use, particularly in resource poor environments.

4.Ìý Environmental and evolutionary constraints on plant nutrient resorption.Ìý I seek to understand the physiological, environmental, and evolutionary controls on internal plant nutrient recycling. Despite the major role that nutrient resorption and storage may play in population, community, and ecosystem processes, there are significant gaps in our knowledge. Using multi-year field sampling, manipulative experiments, and meta-analysis of published works, my ultimate goal is to gain a better understanding of how environmental variation, storage, and recycling drives community and ecosystem processes.

5.ÌýÌýFactors promoting student success in STEM.ÌýDespite efforts to increase retention of students in STEM disciplines, we still observe significant headwinds, particularly for students from marginalized identities. I am interested in how scaffolded supports can improve retention and persistence of STEM students and how this can positively impact the STEM workforce.

Recent Courses

• BL 1600 – Principles of Biology II lecture
• BL 1700/1705 – Principles of Biology III lecture and laboratory
• BL 4200/5200 – Plant Physiology
• BL 4350/5350 – Plant Ecology lecture and laboratory
• BL 4540/5540 – Desert Biology
• BL 5600 Experimental Design & Analysis

Selected Publications

Gobbie, K.G. †, N. Pietrasiak, B.M. Jusko†, R.E. Drenovsky. 2025. Climate and gypsum parent material shape biocrust communities and moss ecology in the Chihuahuan and Mojave Deserts. Geoderma 453:117131.

R.E. Drenovsky, R. Reicholf‡, C.J. Futrell, B. Tevár, B.J. Grewell. 2025.ÌýFunctional trait responses of invasiveÌýLudwigiaÌýspecies to contrasting hydrological conditions. American Journal of Botany 112:e70038.

Muller, C.T. †, A. Cera†, S. Palacio, M.J. Moore, P. Tejero, J.F. Mota, R.E. Drenovsky. 2024. Nutritional convergence in plants growing on gypsum soils in two distinct climatic regions. Annals of Botany 134:1003-1012.

R.E. Drenovsky, N. Pietrasiak, T.H. Short. 2019. Global temporal patterns in nutrient resorption plasticity. Global Ecology and Biogeography 28:728-743.

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