KEVIN J. RICE
Professor, Department of Agronomy & Range Science
Chair, Ecology Graduate Group
UC-Davis

University of California, Davis (1978-1984): Ph.D. in Ecology

Research Interests

My research program integrates both concepts and techniques from ecophysiology, plant demography, and population biology to address both fundamental and applied questions on mechanisms of plant adaptation to stress, the physiology of competition, and factors promoting the invasion of exotic species. My current research focuses on:

• genetic and environmental determinants of plant water-use efficiency and how variation in water use efficiency affects plant fitness;
• genetic and ecological factors that reduce risk of xylem embolism and cavitation in plants exposed to chronic water stress;
• genetic variation in competitive ability in both exotic and native grass species;
• effects of spatial patterns on competitive interactions among plants.

Current/Recent Extramural Research Support

U.S.D.A. National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program, 1997-2000. "Role of spatial pattern on plant community productivity, stability, and invasibility" (with E. Laca).

National Science Foundation, 1996-1999. "Genetics of Ecological Restoration with Native Grasses" (with E. Knapp ).

California Department of Forestry, 1995-2000. "Habitat Fragmentation and Adaptation in Oaks".

National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, "Change in California Grasslands: A Workshop Proposal" (with S. Harrison, M. Stromberg, C. D'Antonio, and C. Malmstrom). June 2000-June 2002.

Recent Publications Relevant to this Proposal

Rice, K. J. and E. S. Nagy. In press. Oak canopy effects on the distribution patterns of two annual grasses: the role of competition and soil nutrients. American Journal of Botany.

Harrison, S., K. J. Rice, and J. Maron. In press. Habitat patchiness promotes invasions by alien grasses on serpentine soil. Biological Conservation.

Dyer, A. R. and K.J. Rice. 1999. Effects of competition on resource availability and growth of a native bunchgrass in two California grasslands. Ecology 80 (8): 2697-2710.

Knapp, E. E. and K. J. Rice. 1998. Comparison of isozymes and quantitative traits for evaluating patterns of genetic variation in purple needlegrass (Nassella pulchra). Conservation Biology 12: 1031-1041.

Gordon D.R. and K. J. Rice. 1998. Patterns of differentiation in wiregrass (Aristida beyrichiana): Implications for restoration efforts. Restoration Ecology 6: 166-174.

Montalvo, A. M., Williams, S. L., Rice, K. J. , Buchmann, S. L., Cory, C., Handel, S. N., Nabhan, G. P., Primack, R., and R. H. Robichaux. 1997. Restoration biology: A population biology perspective. Restoration Ecology 5: 277-290.

Dyer, A.R. and K. J. Rice. 1997. Intra-specific and diffuse competition: The response of Nassella pulchra in a California grassland. Ecological Applications 7:484-492.

Dyer, A.R. and K. J. Rice. 1997. Evidence of spatial genetic structure in a California bunchgrass population. Oecologia 112:333-339.

Nagy, E.S. and K.J. Rice. 1997. Local adaptation in two subspecies of an annual plant: Implications for migration and gene flow. Evolution 51: 1079-1089.

Knapp, E.E. and K.J. Rice. 1996. Genetic architecture and gene flow in Elymus glaucus (blue wildrye): Implications for native grassland restoration. Restoration Ecology 4: 1-10.

Holmes, T.H. and K.J. Rice. 1996. Life history impacts on the soil moisture dynamics of a Mediterranean herbaceous community. Annals of Botany. 78:233-234.

Gordon, D.R. and K.J. Rice. 1993. Competitive effects of grassland annuals on soil water and blue oak (Quercus douglasii) seedlings. Ecology 74:68-82.

Gordon, D.R. and K.J. Rice. 1992. Partitioning of space and water between two California annual grassland species. American Journal of Botany 79:967-976.

Rice, K.J. , Black, R.A., Radamaker, G., and R.D. Evans. 1992. Photosynthesis, growth, and biomass allocation in habitat ecotypes of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.). Functional Ecology 6:32-40.

Rice, K.J. and R.N. Mack. 1991. Ecological genetics of Bromus tectorum: I. A hierarchical analysis of phenotypic variation. Oecologia 88: 77-83.

Rice, K.J. and R.N. Mack. 1991. Ecological genetics of Bromus tectorum: II. Intraspecific variation in phenotypic plasticity. Oecologia 88: 84-90.

Rice, K.J. and R.N. Mack. 1991. Ecological genetics of Bromus tectorum: III. The demography of reciprocally sown populations. Oecologia 88: 91-101.

Back to the McLaughlin Reserve Research Proposal Home Page.