Email: twertin@illinois.edu, wertint@yahoo.com
Education:
Ph.D, Forestry and Natural Resources 2010
University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Dissertation title: The Effect of Elevated [CO2] and Elevated Temperature on Tree Growth and Physiology
Master of Science, Forest Ecology 2005
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Thesis title: Reassessing the Limitations Imposed by Stomatal Conductance on Photosynthesis in Low Light
Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry 2001
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Research:
My recent research is focused on the sustainability of woody feedstocks for biofuel production. I work closely with the EBI modelling program to improve model estimates of carbon and water fluxes and pools in three potential woody feedstocks: willow, poplar and southern pine. I conduct intensive physiological measurements on leaf to stand level plant physiological processes. This data is then also used by the modelling group to improve regional scale model estimates of yield and potential impacts of biofuels on ecosystem function. In addition to regional estimates of yield and water usage, I am also interested in the effects of coppice stand age on tree water usage and the effect of disturbance on fine root turnover.
My previous -and potential future- work was focused on the effects of elevated temperature on plant function and growth. I am interested in how heatwaves and extreme heat events, isolated or in conjunction with drought stress and/or increased atmospheric CO2 concentration, affect photosynthetic processes and tree growth.
Publications:
Wertin, TM, SC Reed, J Belnap. 2014. Varied consequences of elevated temperature and altered precipitation among C3 grasses, C4 grasses and shrubs in a dryland community on the Colorado Plateau, USA. Submitted to Global Change Biology.
Wang, D, D Jaiswal, D LeBauer, TM Wertin ADB Leakey, S Long. 2014. A physiological and biophysical model of coppice willow (Salix spp.) production and predicted yields for the contiguous USA in current and future climate scenarios. Accepted at Plant, Cell and Environment
Teskey, RO, TM Wertin, I Bauweraerts, M Ameye, MA McGuire, K Steppe, 2014. Responses of tree species to heat waves and extreme heat events review. In review at PCE
Bauweraerts I, T Maennerts, TM Wertin, MA McGuire, K Steppe, RO Teskey. 2014. Effects of local versus latitudinal increases in growth temperature and elevated [CO2] on photosynthetic thermotolerance of Pinus taeda. In review at Trees-Structure and Function
Wertin, TM, SC Reed, J Belnap. 2014. An increase in temperature reduces carbon assimilation and growth of Achantherum hymenoides bunchgrass. In preparation for Plant, Cell and Environment
Wolz, KJ, ADB Leakey, TM Wertin, M Abordo, D Wang. 2014. Species-specific parameterization of a widely used stomatal conductance model improves accuracy of predicted carbon and water fluxes in temperature trees. In preparation for New Phytology
Cerasoli, S, TM Wertin, MA McGuire, A Rodrigues, DP Aubrey, JS Pereia, RO Teskey. 2014. Poplar saplings exposed to recurring temperature shifts of different amplitude exhibit differences in leaf gas exchange and growth despite equal mean temperature. In press: AOB Plants (doi: 10.1093/aobpla/plu018)
Bauweraerts I, M Ameye, TM Wertin, MA McGuire, RO Teskey, K Steppe. 2014. Water availability is the decisive factor for the growth of two tree species in the occurrence of consecutive heat waves. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 189-190, p. 19-29
Zelikova TJ, RA Hufbauer, SC Reed, TM Wertin, C Fettig, J Belnap. 2013 Eco-evolutionary responses of Bromus tectorum to climate change: implications for biological invasions. Ecology and Evolution, 3: 1374-1387
Bauweraertz, I, TM Wertin, M Ameye, MA McGuire, RO Teskey, K Steppe. 2013. The effects of heat waves, elevated [CO2] and low soil water availability on northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedlings. Global Change Biology, 19, 517-528
Wertin, TM, SL Phillips, SC Reed, J Belnap. 2012. Elevated [CO2] did not mitigate the effect of a short-term drought on biological soil crusts. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 48: 797-805
Ameye, M, TM Wertin, I Bauweraerts, MA McGuire, RO Teskey, K Steppe. 2012. The effect of an induced heat wave on Pinus taeda and Quercus rubra in ambient and elevated CO2 atmosphere. New Phytologist, 196, 448-461
Wertin, TM, MA McGuire, RO Teskey. 2012. Effects of predicted and current atmospheric temperature and [CO2] and high and low soil moisture on gas exchange and growth of Pinus taeda seedlings at cool and warm sites in the species range. Tree Physiology, 32: 847-858
Wertin, TM, MA McGuire, M van Iersel, J Ruter, RO Teskey. 2012. Effects of elevated temperature and [CO2] on photosynthesis, leaf respiration and biomass accumulation of Pinus taeda seedlings at cool and warm sites within the species’current range. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 42: 943-957
Wertin, TM, MA McGuire, RO Teskey. 2011. Higher growth temperatures decreased net carbon assimilation and biomass accumulation of northern red oak seedlings near the southern limit of the species range. Tree Physiology 31: 1277-1288
Wertin, TM, MA McGuire, RO Teskey. 2010. The influence of elevated temperature, elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration, and water stress on net photosynthesis in Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) throughout its native range. Global Change Biology 16: 2089-2103
Wertin, TM, RO Teskey. 2008. Close coupling of whole-plant respiration to net photosynthesis and carbohydrates. Tree Physiology 28: 1831-1840
Hoyos, ME, L Palmieri, TM Wertin, R Arrigoni, JC Polacco, F Palmieri. 2003. Identification of a mitochondrial transporter for basic amino acids in Arabidopsis thaliana by functional reconstitution into liposomes and complementation in yeast. Plant Journal 33 (6): 1027-1035, 2003
Presentations:
Wertin TM, K Wolz, M Abordo, ADB Leakey. Replacing generic parameterizations of stomatal function in temperature trees with species-specific functions allows modeling to resolve interspecific variation in carbon and water flux. The 16th Annual International Congress on Photosynthesis. American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. December 9-13. –poster presentation
Wertin TM, K Wolz, M Abordo, ADB Leakey. Replacing generic parameterizations of stomatal function in temperature trees with species-specific functions allows modeling to resolve interspecific variation in carbon and water flux. The 16th Annual International Congress on Photosynthesis. St. Louis, MO. August 11-16, 2013
Reed SC, RA Fisher, KK Coe, TM Wertin, JP Sparks, J Belnap. Climate change effects on biological soil crusts: What should we expect for future biocrust structure and function? The Ecological Society of America 98th Annual Meeting. Minneapolis, MN. August 3-9, 2012
Teskey RO, I Bauweraerts, M Ameye, TM Wertin, MA McGuire, K Steppe. Effects of repeated heat waves, elevated [CO2] and low water availability on growth of Quercus rubra and Pinus taeda seedlings. The Ecological Society of America 98th Annual Meeting. Minneapolis, MN. August 3-9, 2012
Wertin TM, SC Reed, J Belnap. Increased temperature negatively affects carbon assimilation and growth of Achantherum hymenoides bunchgrass. The Ecological Society of America 97th Annual Meeting. Portland, OR. August 4-10, 2012
Teskey RO, I Bauweraerts, TM Wertin, M Ameye, MA McGuire, K Steppe. Impact of heatwaves, drought stress and elevated CO2 on northern red oak seedlings. The Ecological Society of America 97th Annual Meeting. Portland, OR. August 4-10, 2012
Wertin TM, SC Reed, J Belnap. The effects of increased temperature and altered precipitation on plants in an arid ecosystem. The American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA. December 5-9, 2011
Wertin TM, J Belnap, S Phillips, SC Reed. The potential effects of global change on biological soil crusts. The Ecological Society of America 96th Annual Meeting. Austin, TX. August 7-12, 2011
Wertin, TM, MA McGuire, RO Teskey. The effect of an increase in air temperature and [CO2] on tree seedling biomass accumulation. . The Ecological Society of America 95th Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA. August 2-7, 2010
McGuire, MA, TM Wertin, RO Teskey. Response of biomass accumulation of two hardwood tree species to elevated atmospheric [CO2] and air temperature at two sites in Georgia, USA. The Ecological Society of America 95th Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA. August 2-7, 2010
Cerasoli, S, TM Wertin, MA McGuire, DP Aubrey, RO Teskey. The effects of short term temperature fluctuations on carbon balance and growth in poplar saplings. The Ecological Society of America 94th Annual Meeting. Albuquerque, NM. August 2-7, 2009
Wertin, TM, MA McGuire, RO Teskey. The influence of elevated temperature, elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration, and water stress on net photosynthesis in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) throughout its native range. The Ecological Society of America 94th Annual Meeting. Albuquerque, NM. August 2-7, 2009
Wertin, TM, RO Teskey. Close coupling of photosynthesis, carbohydrate content, and whole plant respiration. The Ecological Society of America 93rg Annual Meeting. Milwaukee, WI. August 3-8, 2008
Hoyos, ME, TM Wertin, L Palmieri, J Polacco. Identification and Characterization of Plant Mitochondrial Arginine Transporters. 12th International Plant Membrane Biology Workshop. Madison, WI. August 11-16, 2001