Faculty

Craig Martin - Ecological Plant Physiology
Professor and Chair
Ph.D., Duke University
Phone: (785) 864-3645
 

Area of Interest and Research

Research in my lab revolves around understanding how plants adapt to stressful environments. Adaptations of interest include biochemical, physiological, anatomical, and morphological responses to such stresses. Much of our effort is focussed on the ecophysiology of plants having different photosynthetic pathways, e.g., Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), C₄, and C₃. In addition, we are interested in the potential ecophysiological significance of variations or intermediacy in these pathways, including CAM-cycling, C₃-CAM intermediacy, and C₄-CAM intermediacy. Recent projects receiving attention in the lab include the following: ecophysiological consequences of soil burial in species of Lithops, or "living stones," potential water conservation associated with CAM-cycling in succulents growing on rock outcrops in the Midwest, the multiple mechanisms underlying high water-use efficiency in CAM plants, the potential effect of nocturnal malic acid accumulation on the water relations of CAM plants, the importance of C₄ taxa during old-field succession in the Midwest, ecophysiology of several C₄ prairie grasses relative to their microclimate, and the evolution of CAM in a diverse array of vascular plants.

Another emphasis of our research efforts centers on an elucidation of the physiological and morphological adaptations of plants to the epiphytic habitat in the tropics and subtropics. Most of this research features epiphytic bromeliads, especially members of the genus Tillandsia, many of which are CAM plants. We are interested in learning how such plants survive the aerial or arboreal environment while lacking functional roots, often lacking an ability to store substantial amounts of water, and facing scarce elemental nutrient availability. Specific research projects have included studies of shade adaptations in epiphytic bromeliads, adaptations and responses to drought stress in these plants, the impact of CAM on the water relations of such epiphytes, and the effects of dense epidermal trichome cover on gas exchange in atmospheric species of Tillandsia.

Not all the research in my lab is limited to CAM plants and epiphytic bromeliads. We pursue any questions about the ecological aspects of physiological and morphological adaptations of plants to stress. Such studies include comparisons of the water relations of different types of prairie plants, investigations of the degree of competitive interactions among weeds and prairie plants, sun/shade adaptations in mosses and grasses, effects of leaf age on photosynthesis and transpiration in tropical trees, the potential importance of water movement between leaves during drought stress, effects of space exposure on seed and seedling vigor, and effects of atmospheric pollutants on the ecophysiology of trees and crop plants.

By the way, the bizarre plant next to me in the above photograph is Welwitschia mirabilis, endemic to the Namib Desert in Namibia.  This unusual plant, despite its appearance, has only two leaves, and is related to gymnosperms. It
was originally reported to be a CAM plant, then the initial evidence was refuted, but a recent report indicates that these odd plants can indeed engage, to some degree, in CAM photosynthesis. Regardless, its physiology, as well as its appearance and evolutionary history, remain intriguing.

Representative Publications

Ward, J.K., C.E. Martin, and C. Springer. 2006.  Merging plant physiological ecology and gene expression studies in CO₂ research: controlled environmental studies take the stage.  In: Reynolds, J.F. and T.H. Jones (eds.). Seeking Ecological Mechanisms: the Role of Controlled Environments in Global Change Research.  (in press)

Hsu, C.-C., T.-C. Lin, W.-L. Chiou, S.-H. Lin, K.-C. Lin, and C.E. Martin. 2006.  Canopy CO₂ concentrations and Crassulacean acid metabolism in Hoya carnosa in a subtropical rain forest in Taiwan: consideration of CO₂ availability and the evolution of CAM in epiphytes.  Photosynthetica 44:130-135.

Benz, B.W. and C.E. Martin. 2006.  Foliar trichomes, boundary layers, and gas exchange in 12 species of epiphytic Tillandsia (Bromeliaceae).  J. Plant Physiol. 163:648-656.

Chiou, W.-L., C.E. Martin, T.-C. Lin, C.-C. Hsu, S.-H. Lin, and K.-C. Lin. 2005.  Ecophysiological differences between sterile and fertile fronds of the subtropical epiphytic fern Pyrrosia lingua (Polypodiaceae) in Taiwan.   Amer. Fern J. 95:150-159.

S. L. Martin, R. Davis, P. Protti,T.-C. Lin, S.-H. Lin, and C. E. Martin. 2005.  The occurrence of Crassulacean acid metabolism in epiphytic ferns, with an emphasis on the Vittariaceae.  Int. J. Plant Sci. 166:623-630.

Martin, C.E., T.-C. Lin, K.-C. Lin, C.-C. Hsu, and W.-L. Chiou. 2004.  Causes and consequences of high osmotic potentials in epiphytic higher plants.  J. Plant Physiol. 161:1119-1124.

Martin, C.E., T.-C. Lin, C.-C. Hsu, S.-H. Lin, K.-C. Lin, Y.-J. Hsia, and W.-L. Chiou. 2004.  Ecophysiology and plant size in a tropical epiphytic fern, Asplenium nidus, in Taiwan.  Int. J. Plant Sci. 165:65-72.

Rabas, A. and C. E. Martin. 2003.  Possible movement of water from old to young leaves in three species of succulents.  Ann. Bot. 92:1-8.

Egbert, K. J. and C. E. Martin. 2002.  The influence of leaf windows on the utilization and absorption of radiant energy in seven desert succulents.  Photosynthetica 40:35-39.

Martin, C. E. and V. J. Adamson. 2001.  Photosynthetic capacity of mosses relative to vascular plants.  J. Bryol. 23:319-323.

LeRoux-Swarthout, D. J., V. J. Terwilliger, and C. E. Martin. 2001.  Deviations between δ¹³C and leaf intercellular CO₂ in Salix interior cuttings developing under low light.  Int. J. Plant Sci. 162: 1017-1024.

LeRoux-Swarthout, D., V. Terwilliger, M. Christianson, C. Martin, and S. Madhaven. 2001.  Carbon isotopic ratios of atmospheric CO₂ affect the δ¹³C values of heterotrophic growth in Nicotiana tabacum.  Plant Sci. 160: 563-570.

Martin, C. E. and D. J. von Willert. 2000.  Leaf epidermal hydathodes and the ecophysiological consequences of foliar water uptake in species of Crassula from the Namib Desert in southern Africa.  Plant Biol. 2:229-242.

Martin, C. E. and R. S. Wallace. 2000.  Photosynthetic pathway variation in leafy members of two subfamilies of the Cactaceae.  Int. J. Plant Sci. 161:639-650.

Egbert, K. J. and C. E. Martin. 2000.  Light penetration via leaf windows does not increase photosynthesis in three species of desert succulents.  J. Plant Physiol. 157: 521-525.

LeRoux-Swarthout, D., V. Terwilliger, M. Christianson, C. E. Martin, and S. Madhavan. 2000.  Carbon isotope discrimination correlates with a range of ratios of phosphenolpyruvate to total carboxylase activities found in two C₃ species.  J. Plant Physiol. 157: 489-493.

Tremmel, B. and C. E. Martin. 2000.  Survival of deep trunk burial in baldcypress (Taxodium distichum).  Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci. 103:42-44.

Woerner, A. C. and C. E. Martin. 1999.  Mechanistic basis of differences in water-use efficiency between a CAM and a C₃ species of Peperomia.  New Phytol. 144:307-312.

Norman, F. and C. E. Martin. 1999.  Ecophysiological responses to neighbor removal in an old-field and a prairie in northeastern Kansas, U.S.A.  Photosynthetica 35:471-476.

Thurman, C. M. and C. E. Martin. 1999.  Growth, leaf temperatures, and leaf conductances of C₃ forbs and C₄ grasses in a tallgrass prairie in northeastern Kansas, USA.  Flora 194:1-10.

Egbert, K. J. and C. E. Martin. 1999.  The influence of leaf "windows" on Crassulacean acid metabolism in the South African succulent Senecio rowleyanus (Asteraceae).  Photosynthetica 36:139-147.

Martin, C. E., A. Tüffers, W. B. Herppich, and D. J. von Willert. 1999.  Utilization and dissipation of absorbed light energy in the epiphytic CAM bromeliad Tillandsia ionantha.  Int. J. Plant Sci. 160:307-313.

Marmor, M. S. and C. E. Martin. 1998.  Effects of exposure in space on tomato seeds: Photosynthesis, biomass, and water relations of well-watered and drought-stressed plants.  Photosynthetica 35:589-596.

Nowak, E. J. and C. E. Martin. 1997.  Physiological and anatomical responses to water deficits in the CAM epiphyte Tillandsia ionantha (Bromeliaceae).  Int. J. Plant Sci. 158: 818-826.

Helliker, B. R. and C. E. Martin. 1996. Comparative water-use efficiencies of three species of Peperomia (Piperaceae) having different photosynthetic pathways.  J. Plant Physiol. 150:259-263.

Stiles, K. C. and C. E. Martin. 1996.  Effects of drought stress on CO₂ exchange and water relations in the CAM epiphyte Tillandsia utriculata (Bromeliaceae).  J. Plant Physiol. 149:721-728.

Teaching Honors

Center for Teaching Excellence Award for Teaching Excellence, 2004
         (one award per department per year at KU; selected by undergraduates)

H.O.P.E. Award Recipient, 2001
         (one such award among the KU faculty yearly selected by Senior class of 2001;
         acronym stands for "Honor to Oustanding, Progressive Educator")

Chancellor's Club Teaching Professor, 2001
         (only 14 such awards to KU faculty since 1981)

Outstanding Advisor, Math & Science, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, 1999
         (one such award per division of the College among the KU faculty yearly)

H. Bernerd Fink Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1997
         (one such award among the KU faculty yearly)

Kemper Teaching Fellow, 1996
         (one of 16 professors at the University of Kansas cited for outstanding teaching each year)

Mortar Board Outstanding Educator, 1984, 1992
         (Mortar Board, a Senior honor society, selects 4 or 5 Outstanding Educators from
         the KU faculty each year)

H.O.P.E. Award Finalist, 1991, 1997, 2001
         (see above information; 5-6 Finalist are selected each year)

H.O.P.E. Award Semi-Finalist, 1990, 1991, 1997, 2001
         (10 Semi-Finalists are selected each year)

H.O.P.E. Award Quarter-Finalist, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1997, 2001
         (approximately 50 Quarter-Finalists are selected each year)

"Favorite Professor" Award, 1993, 1997
         (selected by Senior Biology majors each year)

"Professor or Advisor Who Contributed Most to my Education at KU", 1996, 1997

"Finest Teacher From Whom I Took Courses", 1984, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 2001
         (selected by graduting Seniors and listed in the Oread, a staff newspaper;
         discontinued from 1993 to 2001)

Invited to teach (with 7 others) statewide Regents Honors Academy
         ("Science and Technology in the 21st Century") at KU, Summer, 1990