Faculty — Michael B. Walters

Michael B. Walters PhotoAssociate Professor, Forestry

PhD, Forestry, University of Minnesota, 1994; MS, Biology,University of Utah, 1986; BS, Biology, Washington State University, 1983

Contact Information

210A Natural Resources
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: (517) 355-1762
Fax: (517) 432-1143
Email: mwalters@msu.edu

Professional Experience

Research Interests and Philosophy

Michael Walters is a forest ecologist with basic and applied interests in the mechanisms underlying forest pattern and process at scales ranging from communities to landscapes. Recognition of Walters expertise in this area includes over 1,950 citations of his peer reviewed articles, invited presentations at national (Ecological Society of America, Annual Meeting) and international symposia (The Fourth New Phytologist Symposium, Montpellier, France), and seats on advisory boards and committees including, British Columbia Forest Productivity Council, Forest Renewal British Columbia Competitive Grant Review Committee and the Michigan DNR Forest Cultivation Team. Working in a wide range of biomes Walters has gained extensive experience examining the mechanism governing forest succession, forest productivity and spatio-temporal patterns of forest dynamics. Some of Walters' current projects include "Climate and site effects on the productivity of European larch and red pine", "Substrate, seed dispersal and resource limitations to hardwood regeneration dynamics in red pine plantations", Spatio-temporal patterns of forest dynamics in managed and unmanaged sub-boreal spruce-forests with and without Innotus tomentosus root disease" and "The factors that reinforce deer caused shifts in vegetation composition and structure". Through his appointment as a PERM (Partnerships in Ecosystem Research and Management) Assistant Professor of Forest Ecology with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University, Walters has focused his research efforts on forest ecology problems of management concern. Evidence of management's interest in his research includes financial and in kind support from a diverse set of stakeholders including Mead Corporation, International Paper, Sand County Foundation, Michigan DNR, and the US Forest Service.

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

Oftentimes, there are graduate research assistantships available. Interested students are encouraged to apply. If you do so, please send the following information for consideration: (1) cover letter indicating research interests and career goals; (2) resume; (3) transcripts; (4) GRE scores; and (5) name of 3 references. Unofficial transcripts and GRE scores are OK for initial review.

Papers and Posters or Academic Conferenences since 1997

Randall, J. A., and Walters, M. B. (2003) Deer and sedge effects on vegetation dynamics in a deer altered landscape: Potential restoration techniques aimed at reversing their impacts. Poster presentation, 2003 Society of American Foresters National Convention. Buffalo Convention Center, Buffalo, NY. October 25-29, 2003

Kearney, A.M., D.G. McCullough and M. Walters (2003) Potential effects of beech bark disease on wildlife resources in Michigan hardwood forests. Poster presentation. Entomological Society of America, National Meeting. October, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Marx, L, and Walters M. B. (2003) Decaying wood species composition and distribution limit eastern hemlock and yellow birch seedling establishment. Oral presentation. Ecological Society of America 88th Annual Meeting. Savanna, Georgia

LeBouton, J. P. Laurent, E. J., Walters M. B.. Liu, J. (2003) Regional and local effects of white-tailed deer herbivory on vegetation structure and composition in northern hardwood forests. Poster presentation. Ecological Society of America 88th Annual Meeting. Savanna, Georgia

Iyer, M., Kobe, R. K., and Walters M. B. (2003) Carbon allocation in roots: to forage or for storage? Ecological Society of America 88th Annual Meeting. Savanna, Georgia.

Laurent, E.J., J.P. LeBouton, D. Gatzioli, M.B. Walters and J. Liu. (2003) Evaluating the effects of land cover classification indices used to investigate wildlife-habitat relationships. Oral Presentation. Ecological Society of America 88th Annual Meeting, Savannah, Georgia. August 3-8, 2003

LeBouton, J.P., E.L. Laurent, M.B. Walters and J. Liu. (2003) Regional and local effects of white-tailed deer herbivory on vegetation structure and composition in northern hardwood forests. Poster Presentation. Ecological Society of America 88th Annual Meeting, Savannah, Georgia. August 3-8, 2003

Laurent, E.J., J.P. LeBouton, D. Gatzioli, M.B. Walters and J. Liu. (2003) Using the precision of Landat imagery for analyses of habitat: implications for landscape structure descriptions. Oral Presentation, 6th International Association for Landscape Ecology World Congress, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. July 13-17, 2003.

Laurent, E.J., J.P. LeBouton, D. Gatzioli, M.B. Walters and J. Liu. (2003) Using a common grain of data for analyses and predictions of habitat distribution patterns. Oral Presentation, 18th Annual International Association for Landscape Ecology (US) Symposium, Banff Centre, Alberta, Canada. April 2-6, 2003

Randall, J. A., Walters M. B. (2003) Deer and sedge effects on vegetation dynamics in a deer altered landscape. Ecological Society of America 88th Annual Meeting. Savanna, Georgia

Gerlach, J. P., and Walters, M. B. (2003) Productivity and leaf/canopy traits for deciduous and evergreen conifers over a soil resource gradient. Ecological Society of America 88th Annual Meeting. Savanna, Georgia

Kunkle, J. M., Walters, M. B., and Kobe, R. K. (2003) Association of root morphology and gas exchange with northern temperate tree species landform affinity. Ecological Society of America 88th Annual Meeting. Savanna, Georgia.

LeBouton, J. P., Laurent, E. J., Walters, M. B., and Liu, J. (2003) White-tailed deer herbivory reduces vertical canopy structure in northern hardwood forests. Poster presentation. Great Lakes Silviculture Summit. April 22-23, 2003 School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University

Walters M. B. (2003) The scope and capacity of research at Michigan State University, Forestry for addressing the needs of silviculture research user groups. Oral presentation. Great Lakes Silviculture Summit. April 22-23, 2003 School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University

Randall, J. A., and Walters M. B. (2003) Do deer and sedge limit regeneration in partial cut northern hardwood stands? Potential restorative measures aimed at reversing their impacts. Poster presentation. Great Lakes Silviculture Summit. April 22-23, 2003 School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science Michigan Technological University

Marx, L., Walters, M. B. (2003) Substrate limitations to eastern hemlock and yellow birch seedling establishment. Poster presentation. Great Lakes Silviculture Summit. April 22-23, 2003 School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science Michigan Technological University

Lajerowicz C, Vyse, A., Newsome, T., and Walters M. B. (2003). Regeneration performance in three high elevation silvicultural systems studies across British Columbia. Effects of canopy retention on seedling growth and microenvironmental conditions. Poster presentation at Mountain Forests: Conservation and Management. International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Conference. July 28-Aug. 1, 2002, Silver Star Mountain Resort, Vernon, BC, and SISCO Winter Workshop, Penticton, B. C., March 10-12, 2003

Kearney, A., D.G. McCullough and M. Walters (2002) Impacts of beech bark disease on wildlife and forest resources. Poster display. Entomological Society of America, National Meeting. November, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Laurent, E.J., J.P. LeBouton, M.B. Walters and J. Liu. (2002) Integrating human, satellite and avian perspectives of the landscape for analysis of forest bird distribution patterns. Poster presentation, 11th Annual International Association for Landscape Ecology (UK) Conference, University of East Anglia. September 9-11, 2002.

Laurent, E.J., J.P. LeBouton, M.B. Walters and J. Liu. (2002) Integrating human, satellite and species perspectives of the landscape for analysis of wildlife distribution patterns. Poster presentation, 17th Annual International Association for Landscape Ecology (US) Symposium, University of Nebraska. April 23-26, 2002

Lajzerowicz, C., Walters, M.B., Vyse, A. and Newsome, T. (2002) Regeneration performance in three high elevation silvicultural systems studies across British Columbia. Effects of canopy retention on seedling growth and microenvironmental conditions. 2002 International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) conference; Mountain Forests: Conservation and Management. Vernon, British Columbia, July 28- August 1, 2002.

Schreeg, L. A., Kobe, R. K., and Walters, M. B. (2002) Morphological traits of tree seedlings predict variation in species performance consistent with landscape variation in northern lower Michigan. The Ecological Society of America 87th Annual Meeting, Tuscon, AZ.

Reich P. B., Tobin, M. Machado, J. L., Walters, M. B., Ollinger, S., Wythers, K., and Wedin, D. (2000) Causes and consequences of variation in forest productivity and N cycling: From patch to region and seedling to ecosystem. Oral presentation, The Ecological Society of America 85th Annual Meeting, August 6-10, 2000 Snowbird, Utah

Walters MB, Lajzerowicz CC, Fredeen AL, Coates KD (1999) Light and belowground resources co-limit seedling growth along harvested gap edges in interior cedar-hemlock forests. Ecological Society of America 84th Annual Meeting, Spokane, WA.

Lajzerowicz CC, Walters MB (1999) Does temperature or nitrogen availability limit Picea engelmannii and Abies lasiocarpa seedling growth in subalpine ecosystems? Ecological Society of America 84th Annual Meeting, Spokane, WA.

Machado JL, Walters MB, Reich PB (1999) In deeply lit understories, belowground resource limitations decrease seedling growth but do not alter biomass allocation patterns and survival (poster). Ecological Society of America 84th Annual Meeting, Spokane, WA

Newbery JE, Walters MB, Lewis K (1999) Relationships between decay and years since death for Picea engelmannii x glauca and Abies lasiocarpa in central British Columbia. Ecological Society of America 84th Annual Meeting, Spokane, WA

Walters MB, Reich PB (1998) Linking leaf function to whole plant performance in shade: Is it time for a shift in the current paradigm of shade tolerance? Invited talk. The Fourth New Phytologist Symposium. Montpellier, France.

Walters MB, Reich PB, Puettman K, Baker T (1997) Shade tolerance in young seedlings of ten sub-boreal species: effects or low light and nitrogen on seedling growth, survival and allocation and their interrelationships. International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Uneven-aged silviculture symposium. Corvallis, OR.

Refereed Publications

Lajzerowicz C., Walters, M. B., Krasowski M. ,and Massicote H. (In press) Light and temperature differentially co-limit subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce seedling growth in partial cut subalpine forests. Canadian Journal of Forest Research.

Newberry, J. E., Lewis K. L., Walters, M. B. (In press) Estimating time since death of Picea glauca ´ engelmannii and Abies lasiocarpa in a wet-cool sub-boreal spruce forest. Canadian Journal of Forest Research.

Reich, P.B., C. Uhl, M. Walters, L. Prugh, D.S. Ellsworth. (In press) Births, deaths, longevity and phenology of Amazonian rain forest leaves: results of a 9-year, 40,000 leaf demography census. Ecological Monographs.

Reich P, I Wright, J. Cavender-Bares, J. Craine, J. Oleksyn, M. Westoby, M Walters (2003) The evolution of plant functional variation: traits, spectra and strategies. International Journal of Plant Sciences 164 (3): S143-S164 Suppl.

Machado JL, Walters MB, Reich PB (2003) Below-ground resources limit seedling growth in forest understories but do not alter biomass distribution. Annals of Forest Science. 60: 319-330.

Walters MB, Reich PB. (2000) Seed size, nitrogen supply and growth rate affect tree seedling survival in deep shade. Ecology 81 : 1887-1901

Walters MB, Reich PB (2000) Tradeoffs in low-light CO2 exchange: a component of variation in shade tolerance among cold-temperate tree seedlings. Functional Ecology 14:155-165

Walters MB, Reich PB (1999) Research Review: Low-light carbon balance and shade tolerance in the seedlings of woody plants-do winter deciduous and broad-leaved evergreen species differ? New Phytologist 143: 143-154.

Reich PB, Ellsworth DS, Walters MB, et al. (1999) Generality of leaf trait relationships: a test across six biomes. Ecology 80: 1955-1969.

Reich PB, Tjoelker MG, Walters MB, et al. (1998) Close association of RGR, leaf and root morphology, seed mass and shade tolerance in seedlings of nine boreal tree species grown in high and low light Functional Ecology 12: (3) 327-338

Reich PB, Ellsworth DS, Walters MB (1998) Leaf structure (specific leaf area) modulates photosynthesis-nitrogen relations: evidence from within and across species and functional groups. Functional Ecology 12: (6) 948-958.

Reich PB, Walters MB, Tjoelker MG, et al. (1998) Photosynthesis and respiration rates depend on leaf and root morphology and nitrogen concentration in nine boreal tree species differing in relative growth rate. Functional Ecology 12: (3) 395-40.

Reich PB, Walters MB, Ellsworth DS, et al. (1998) Relationships of leaf dark respiration to leaf nitrogen, specific leaf area and leaf life-span: a test across biomes and functional groups. Oecologia 114: (4) 471-482.

Reich PB, Walters MB, Ellsworth DS (1997) From tropics to tundra: Global convergence in plant functioning. Proceedings National Academy of Sciences, USA 94: (25) 13730-13734.

Walters MB, Reich PB (1997) Growth of Acer saccharum seedlings in deeply shaded understories of northern Wisconsin: Effects of nitrogen and water availability. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 27: (2) 237-247.

Walters MB, Reich PB. (1996) Are shade tolerance, survival, and growth linked? Low light and, nitrogen effects on hardwood seedlings. Ecology 77: (3) 841-853.

Reich PB, Kloeppel BD, Ellsworth DS, et al. (1995) Different photosynthesis-nitrogen relations in deciduous hardwood and evergreen coniferous tree species. Oecologia 104: (1) 24-30.

Reich PB, Walters MB, Ellsworth DS, et al. (1994) Photosynthesis-nitrogen relations in Amazonian tree species .1. patterns among species and communities. Oecologia 97: (1) 62-72.

Reich PB, Walters MB (1994) Photosynthesis-nitrogen relations in Amazonian tree species .2. variation in nitrogen vis-a-vis specific leaf-area influences mass-based and area-based expressions. Oecologia 97: (1) 73-81.

Walters MB, Kruger EL, Reich PB. (1993) Relative growth-rate in relation to physiological and morphological traits for northern hardwood tree seedlings - species, light environment and ontogenetic considerations. Oecologia 96: (2) 219-231.

Walters MB, Kruger EL, Reich PB (1993) Growth, biomass distribution and CO2 exchange of northern hardwood seedlings in high and low light - relationships with successional status and shade tolerance. Oecologia 94: (1) 7-14.

Reich PB, Walters MB, Krause SC, et al. (1993) Growth, nutrition and gas-exchange of Pinus resinosa following artificial defoliation. Trees-Structure and Function 7: (2) 67-77.

Reich PB, Walters MB, Ellsworth DS (1992) Leaf life-span in relation to leaf, plant, and stand characteristics among diverse ecosystems. Ecological Monographs 62: (3) 365-392.

Reich PB, Walters MB, Ellsworth DS. (1991) Leaf age and season influence the relationships between leaf nitrogen, leaf mass per area and photosynthesis in maple and oak trees Plant Cell and Environment 14: (3) 251-259.

Reich PB, Uhl C, Walters MB, et al. (1991) Leaf life-span as a determinant of leaf structure and function among 23 Amazonian tree species. Oecologia 86: (1) 16-24 1991

Walters MB, Reich PB (1989) Response of Ulmus americana seedlings to varying nitrogen and water status. 1. photosynthesis and growth. Tree Physiology 5: (2) 159-172.

Reich PB, Walters MB, Tabone TJ (1989) Response of Ulmus americana seedlings to varying nitrogen and water status .2. water and nitrogen use efficiency in photosynthesis. Tree Physiology 5: (2) 173-184.

Reich PB, Walters MB, Tabone TJ (1988) Variation in response of five identical steady-state porometers. Plant Cell and Environment 11: (8) 785-786.

Walters MB, Field CB (1987) Photosynthetic light acclimation in two rain-forest piper species with different ecological amplitudes. Oecologia 72: (3) 449-456.