Melany C. Fisk

Department of Biology

Appalachian State University

Boone , NC

(828) 262-6910

fiskmc@appstate.edu

Academic Interests: terrestrial ecosystems, decomposition and nutrient cycling processes, soil microorganisms

Education

Ph.D. Environmental, Population, and Organismal Biology, University of Colorado, 1995

B.S. Natural Resources (with honors), Cornell University, 1988     

Professional Experience

Appalachian State University Department of Biology, Assistant Professor 2001-present   

Cornell University Department of Natural Resources, Research Associate 1998- 2001   

Cornell University Department of Natural Resources, Visiting Fellow 1997 – 1998

University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment, Postdoctoral Research Associate 1995 - 1997

Teaching Experience

Communities and Ecosystems (Bio 5222) lecture and laboratory

Environmental Microbiology (Bio 3530/5530)

Microbiology (Bio 3308) lecture and laboratory

Introductory Biology Laboratory (Bio 1110)

Introduction to the Life Sciences (Bio 1101)

Grants Funded

National Science Foundation (PI), Collaborative Research: Invasion of north temperate forest soils by exotic earthworms. $140,000, 2005-2009.

USDA-NRI (Co-PI), Microbial carbon and nitrogen cycle response to calcium additions in a northern hardwood forest. $96,111, 2005-2008.

National Science Foundation (Co-PI). Long term ecological research at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest . $237,622, 2004-2010.

USDA-NRI (PI), Fungal biology of fine root decomposition. $251,000, 2001–2004.

National Science Foundation (Co-PI), Colder soils in a warmer world: a snow manipulation experiment. 2000-2004.

USDA-NRI (PI), Microbial functional group response to resource manipulation in northern hardwood forests. $82,000, 1996-1998.

Awards

William C. Strickland Outstanding Young Faculty Award, Appalachian State University, 2005

Wachovia Award for Environmental Research, Appalachian State University Graduate School , 2005

Marion and Gordon Memorial Research Award, University of Colorado, 1993

Paul Schreur's Memorial Award for Undergraduate Research, Cornell University, 1988

Publications

Fisk, M.C., W.R. Kessler, A. Goodale, T.J. Fahey, P.M. Groffman, and C.T. Driscoll. 2006. Landscape variation in microarthropod response to calcium addition in a northern hardwood forest ecosystem. Pedobiologia 50: 69-78.

Dumas, S., H.S. Neufeld, and M.C Fisk. 2006. Fire in a thermic oak-pine forest: importance of the shrub layer to short-term response and recovery. Castanea, in press.

Euliss, A.E., M.C. Fisk, S.C. McCleneghan, and H.S. Neufeld. 2006. Growth of the rare southern Appalachian endemic plant, Houstonia montana , in contrasting habitat types. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society, in press.

Groffman, P.M., M.C. Fisk, C.T. Driscoll, G.E. Likens, T.J. Fahey, C.E. Eager, and L.H. Pardo. 2006. Calcium additions reduce nitrogen cycling in a northern hardwood forest. Ecological Applications, in press.

Fahey, T.J., T.G. Siccama, C.T. Driscoll, G.E. Likens, J. Campbell, C.E. Johnson, J.J. Battles, J.D. Aber, J.J. Cole, M.C. Fisk, P.M. Groffman, S.P. Hamburg, R.T. Holmes, P.A. Schwarz, and R.D. Yanai. 2005. The biogeochemistry of carbon at Hubbard Brook. Biogeochemistry 75: 109-176.

Fisk, M.C., T. J. Fahey, P.M. Groffman, and P.J. Bohlen. 2004. Earthworm invasion, fine root distributions and soil respiration in north temperate forests. Ecosystems 7:55-62.

Bohlen, P.J., P.M. Groffman, T.J. Fahey, M.C. Fisk, E.R. Suárez, D.M. Pelletier, and R.T. Fahey. 2004. Ecosystem consequences of exotic earthworm invasion of north temperate forests. Ecosystems 7: 1-12.

Bohlen, P.J., D. M. Pelletier, P.M. Groffman, T.J. Fahey, and M.C. Fisk. 2004. Influence of earthworm invasion on redistribution and retention of soil carbon and nitrogen in north temperate forests. Ecosystems 7: 13-27.

Groffman, P.M., P.J. Bohlen, M.C. Fisk, and T.J. Fahey. 2004. Exotic earthworm invasion and microbial biomass in temperate forest soils. Ecosystems 7: 45-54.

Suárez, E.R., D.M. Pelletier, T.J. Fahey, P.M. Groffman, P.J. Bohlen, and M.C. Fisk. 2004. Effects of exotic earthworms on soil phosphorus in two north temperate forests. Ecosystems 7: 28-44.

Schmidt, S.K., D.A. Lipson, R.E. Ley, M.C. Fisk, and A.E. West. 2004. Impacts of chronic nitrogen additions vary seasonally and by microbial functional group in tundra soil. Biogeochemistry 69: 1-17.

Fisk, M.C., K.F. Ruether, and J.B. Yavitt. 2003. Microbial activity and functional composition among northern peatland ecosystems. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 35: 591-692

Li, X., M.C. Fisk, T.J. Fahey, and P.J. Bohlen. 2002. Influence of earthworm invasion on soil microbial biomass and activity in a northern hardwood forest. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 34:1929-1937.

Fisk, M.C., D.R. Zak, and T.R. Crow. 2002. Nitrogen cycling and retention in old- and second-growth northern hardwood forests. Ecology 83: 73-87.

Fisk, M.C., and T.J. Fahey. 2001. Microbial biomass and nitrogen cycling response to fertilization and litter removal in young northern hardwood forests. Biogeochemistry 53: 201 – 223.

Fisk, M.C., P.D. Brooks and S.K. Schmidt. 2001. Nitrogen cycling. In Alpine Dynamics: The Structure and Function of an Alpine Ecosystem, Niwot Ridge , Colorado . (W.D. Bowman and T.R. Seastedt, eds.). pp 237-253, Oxford University Press.

Bowman, W.D., and M.C. Fisk. 2001. Net primary productivity. In Alpine Dynamics: The Structure and Function of an Alpine Ecosystem, Niwot Ridge , Colorado . (W.D. Bowman and T.R. Seastedt, eds.). pp 177-197, Oxford University Press.

Schmidt, S.K., A.E. West, P.D. Brooks , L.K. Smith, C.H.III Jaeger, M.C. Fisk and E.A. Holland. 2001. Soil-atmosphere gas exchange. In Alpine Dynamics: The Structure and Function of an Alpine Ecosystem, Niwot Ridge , Colorado . (W.D. Bowman and T.R. Seastedt, eds.). pp 254-265, Oxford University Press.

Jaeger, C.H. III, R.K. Monson, M.C. Fisk, and S.K. Schmidt. 1999. Seasonal partitioning of nitrogen between plants and soil microorganisms in an alpine ecosystem. Ecology 80: 1883-1891.

West, A.E., P.D. Brooks, M.C. Fisk, L.K. Smith, E.A. Holland, C.H. III Jaeger, S. Babcock, R. Lai, and S.K. Schmidt. 1999. Landscape patterns of CH 4 fluxes in an alpine tundra ecosystem. Biogeochemistry 45: 243-264.

Fisk, M.C, S.K. Schmidt, and T.R. Seastedt. 1998. Topographic patterns of above- and belowground production and nitrogen cycling in alpine tundra. Ecology 79: 2253-2267.

Colores, G.M., S.K. Schmidt, and M.C. Fisk. 1996. Estimating the biomass of microbial functional groups using rates of growth-related soil respiration. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 28:1569-1577.

Fisk, M.C., and S.K. Schmidt. 1996. Microbial responses to excess nitrogen in alpine tundra soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 28: 751-755.

Fisk, M.C., and S.K. Schmidt. 1995. Nitrogen mineralization and microbial nitrogen dynamics in three alpine tundra communities. Soil Science Society of America Journal 59: 1036-1043.

Bowman, W.D., T.A. Theodose and M.C. Fisk. 1995. Physiological and production responses of plant growth forms to increases in limiting resources in alpine tundra: implications for differential community response to environmental change. Oecologia 101: 217-227.

Neff, J.C., W.D. Bowman, E.A. Holland, M.C. Fisk and S.K. Schmidt. 1994. Nitrous oxide and methane fluxes from nitrogen-amended soils in the Colorado alpine. Biogeochemistry 27: 23-33.

Fisk, M.C., and T.J. Fahey. 1990. Nitrification potentials in organic horizons following clearfelling of northern hardwood forests. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 22: 277-279.

Manuscripts in Review

Euliss, A.E., M.C. Fisk , S.C. McCleneghan, and H.S. Neufeld. 2006. Allocation and morphology response to resource manipulations do not mitigate shade intolerance in Houstonia montana , a rare southern Appalachian herb. Canadian Journal of Botany, in review.

Steinweg, M., M.C. Fisk, B. McAlexander, P.M. Groffman, and J. Hardy. 2006. Effects of soil freezing on soil particle size distributions and organic matter mineralization in a northern hardwood forest. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, in review.

Conference Presentations

Fisk, M.C., K. Ritchie, B.K. Naples, and M. U. Connell. 2006. Fungal community response to mineral nutrients in a hardwood forest. Ecological Society of America , Memphis , TN.

Naples , B.K., and M.C. Fisk. 2006. Fine root foraging in northern hardwoods: evidence for P limitation in young forests? Ecological Society of America, Memphis TN (poster).

Fisk, M.C. 2006. Decoupling of plant-microbe processes by precipitation change. EPRECOT workshop on effects of precipitation change on terrestrial ecosystems, Elsignore , Denmark .

Fisk, M.C., P.M. Groffman, N. Cleavitt, C. Driscoll, T. Fahey, J. Hardy, and L. Christenson. 2006. Snow depth, soil frost, and nutrient loss in a northern hardwood forest. EPRECOT workshop on effects of precipitation change on terrestrial ecosystems, Elsignore , Denmark (poster).

Fisk, M.C., J.H. Sobieraj, A.M. Littell, A.M. Costello, and T.J. Fahey. 2005. Fungal communities on decomposing fine roots. Ecological Society of America , Montreal , Canada .

Fisk, M.C., T.J. Fahey, and P.M. Groffman. 2003. Carbon resources, soil organisms, and nitrogen availability: landscape patterns in a northern hardwood forest. Long-term Ecological Research Program All Scientist's Meeting, Seattle , WA (poster).

Costello, A.M., M.C. Fisk, I. Otz, and T.J. Fahey. 2003. Fungal decomposers of fine roots. Ecological Society of America, Savannah, GA (poster).

Juice, S.M.*, and M.C. Fisk. 2003. Decomposer fungal community response to calcium additions in a northern hardwood forest. Ecological Society of America, Savannah, GA (poster).

Fisk, M.C., and T.J. Fahey. 2000. Fungal community structure and function in decomposition. Long-term Ecological Research Program All Scientist's Meeting, Snowbird, UT.

Fisk, M.C., K. Strassner, P.M. Groffman, T. J. Fahey, and P. Bohlen. 2000. Earthworms, fine roots, and soil microorganisms in a northern hardwood forest. Ecological Society of America, Snowbird, UT (poster).

Fisk, M.C., T.J. Fahey, and J.B. Yavitt. 1998. Mineralization of simple carbon compounds by microbial populations in early and late-successional northern hardwood forest floor. Ecological Society of America, Baltimore, MD (poster).

Fisk, M.C., D.R. Zak, and T.R. Crow. 1996. A comparison of nitrogen turnover and retention in old- and second-growth northern hardwood forests. Ecological Society of America, Providence, RI (poster).

Invited Seminars

2006 Biology Department, Western Carolina University

2004 School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University

2004 Biology Department, University of Denver

2002 Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University

2001 Biology Department, University of North Carolina Greensboro

1998 Biogeochemistry Program, Cornell University

1998 Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY

1995 Mountain Research Station, University of Colorado

Graduate (M.S.) Advisees

Courtney Campany

Amy Euliss

Celeste Fiumara (Co-chair)

Aaron Littell

Brendan Naples

Karen Ritchie

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Advisees

Brandon Carpenter

Megan Steinweg

Will Kessler

Beth Lawrence

Kristin Ruether

Jena Ferrerase