Matthew A. Kaproth

Matthew Kaproth

@mkaproth.bsky.social

2K followers 1.5K following 63 posts

Plant ecologist - studying populations out of control (too many or too few), the traits that drive species success, and environmental stress #Quercus #Prairies #Drought #Fire #Invasives #FunctionalTraits @MinnesotaStateUni = .. more

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Environmental science 67%

Geography 17%

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Matthew Kaproth @mkaproth.bsky.social · Nov 14

Welcome to Bluesky! I'm a plant ecology professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato. I'm interested in getting people excited about the natural world and #drought #ecophysiology #fire #oaks #prairie #soil #savanna #conservation #systemmatics

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

daniconder.bsky.social @daniconder.bsky.social · Sep 26

How do trees survive severe drought? 🌳 In this work performed at @cbgpmadrid.bsky.social , we used single-nucleus RNA-seq on mature Populus stems to reveal the genetic switches that reshape wood anatomy, helping trees stay resilient under severe drought stress.
doi.org/10.1186/s130...

Single-nucleus transcriptomics revealed auxin-driven mechanisms of wood plasticity to enhance severe drought tolerance in poplar - Genome Biology

Background Drought significantly affects forests and woody crops by limiting their growth, increasing their susceptibility to diseases, and reducing productivity. Wood anatomical plasticity is a crucial adaptive mechanism that enables trees to cope with fluctuations in water availability. During severe drought, trees develop more and narrower vessels, enhancing hydraulic safety and reducing the risk of embolism. However, the molecular regulation of vessel formation is still not well understood. Results Using single-nucleus transcriptomics, we have generated a cell type-specific gene expression map of the mature poplar stem under well-watered and drought conditions. Our findings reveal extensive gene expression reprogramming in xylem-forming cells, with changes in auxin homeostasis identified as a key mechanism for anatomical adaptation. Specifically, we show that poplar WAT1-like genes control vessel spatial patterning. Additionally, the downregulation of WAT1-like gene expression in the dividing cells of the vascular cambium and the upregulation of MP-like gene expression in cells undergoing early vessel differentiation facilitate the formation of secondary xylem with narrower and more numerous vessels under drought. Furthermore, the wat2 mutant exhibits greater drought tolerance than wild-type trees, underscoring its potential for developing drought-resilient tree varieties. Conclusions This study provides the first single-nucleus transcriptomic map of hybrid poplar stems under severe drought, uncovering auxin-driven hormonal networks that regulate xylem plasticity and enhance drought tolerance. These insights provide valuable targets for improving resilience in poplar and other woody species.

doi.org

Matthew Kaproth @mkaproth.bsky.social · Sep 23

Love autumn. All the big insects are showing themselves!

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

Dr. Ellie M. Goud @emgbotany.bsky.social · Sep 22

Beautiful updated #bryophyte #phylogeny!

Facundo Romani @fromani.bsky.social · Sep 22

Very important paper and resource. Bryophyte genomes expanded by one order of magnitude. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Bryophytes hold a larger gene family space than vascular plants - Nature Genetics

A super-pangenome analysis incorporating 123 newly sequenced bryophyte genomes reveals that bryophytes exhibit a larger number of unique and lineage-specific gene families than vascular plants.

www.nature.com

Matthew Kaproth @mkaproth.bsky.social · Aug 24

Migration is on! Twenty monarchs today. The previous high in the front yard was 11... Filling up on Liatris before flying further south!

Reposted by Michael A. Wulder, Matthias Cuntz, Pieter A. Zuidema , and 5 more Michael A. Wulder, Matthias Cuntz, Pieter A. Zuidema, Tommaso Jucker, Pierre Mariotte, Simon Haberstroh, Shan Kothari, Matthew A. Kaproth

Charlotte Grossiord @charlottegrossiord.bsky.social · Aug 14

🌳🔥Out now: Our review on compound droughts and forest responses - from leaf to ecosystem. Featuring a stunning 20-yr map of canopy temperatures variation across European forests. @chriswernerlab.bsky.social @simonhaber.bsky.social @vallicrosah.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Impact of emerging compound droughts on forests: A water supply and demand perspective

This review examines the physiological and ecological responses of trees to emerging compound droughts from a water demand and supply perspective, as well as the role of acclimation and consequences ...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Reposted by Andreas Schweiger, Matthew A. Kaproth

Arthur Gessler @arthurobuntspecht.bsky.social · Jul 29

Net Ecosystem CO2 Exchange of a Subalpine Spruce Forest in Switzerland Over 26 Years: Effects of Phenology and Contributions of Abiotic Drivers at Daily Time Scales

This study investigated how climate change has affected carbon uptake in a subalpine spruce forest in Switzerland over 26 years. Air temperatures rose and soil moisture declined, while the amount of ...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

Dr. Jeff Masters @drjeffmasters.bsky.social · Jul 28

The chances of seeing extreme fire weather are roughly double in today’s climate compared with the preindustrial period. “It really puts to bed any debate about the role of climate change in driving these extreme fires,” Dr. Cunningham said.

Climate Change Is Making Fire Weather Worse for World’s Forests

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

Rachel Jabaily @racheljabaily.bsky.social · Jul 28

Excited to showcase my new Open Educational Resource for intro college level Botany. It's a hybrid textbook, lab manual, and workbook. Published and ready for anyone to implement! I'll be showcasing it in the Educational section of #Botany2025 today and handing out copies & stickers!

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · Jul 27

Getting ready for #Botany2025? Check out this Plant Science Bulletin article on tips on maneuvering through conferences by some attendees of the last year's IBC. A lot of good info that applies to all conferences!
issuu.com/botanicalsoc... #botany #plantscience

Opening page of the article of insights and tips from participants from IBC.

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

Jeannine Cavender-Bares @cavenderg9.bsky.social · Jul 22

What is spectral biology? We explain in this synthesis article on “Spectral biology across scales in changing environments”
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/R6QXPK
www.spectralbiology.org

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

Ryan @lost-in-botany.bsky.social · Jul 17

#Fossombronia! #Fossombroniaceae Two species recorded in the area as I can see, F. wondraczekii and F. pusilla 🤔 these odd little liverwort look like tiny creeping Lettuces but unfortunately I would need spores to adequately ID these ruffly lil plants as they all are not that distinct from eachother

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

Evan Frost @wildwoods.bsky.social · Jul 6

In analysis of fossil pollen records over 600k yrs, study found "vegetation was able to respond at timescales from 100s to 10s of 1000s of yrs, but not at timescales less than ~150 yrs." IOW at current rates of change, there's no way ecosystems will be able to adapt.🌏 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Coupled, decoupled, and abrupt responses of vegetation to climate across timescales

Climate and ecosystem dynamics vary across timescales, but research into climate-driven vegetation dynamics usually focuses on singular timescales. We developed a spectral analysis–based approach that...

www.science.org

Reposted by Ben Bond‐Lamberty, John T. Abatzoglou, Kevin J. Anchukaitis , and 1 more Ben Bond‐Lamberty, John T. Abatzoglou, Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Matthew A. Kaproth

Emily Williams @emilywilliams.bsky.social · Jul 2

New study w/ @climate-guy.bsky.social ! Increased evaporative demand due to climate change has increased crop irrigation demand; in the Central Valley, this additional irrigation demand is equivalent to ~11% of the region's observed groundwater loss.

agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...

Climate Change Increases Evaporative and Crop Irrigation Demand in North America

The strongest climate change-driven trends in ETo are found in the water-limited southwestern and central regions of North America Forced increases in ETo have primarily been driven by increased ...

agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

WA Orchids @wa-orchids.bsky.social · Jun 29

One feature of eucalyptus species is the cap (or operculum) that covers developing flower buds (L). As the flower develops the cap is popped off revealing numerous fluffy stamens (R)
#ozflora #wildoz #eucalyptus #nativeplants

Close up picture of a pink developing eucalyptus flower showing the cap about to pop off

Close up picture of a newly opened pink eucalyptus flower showing many pink stamens with yellow tips

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

Isako Di Tomassi @isakoditomassi.bsky.social · Jun 21

This place is still in trouble, please donate! It can make a difference, just like how PRI makes a difference in the lives of children who see come here and are excited by #science.

www.priweb.org/donate

#SavePRI

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

Anurag Agrawal @anurag-asclepias.bsky.social · Jun 20

Common #milkweed, #Asclepias syriaca, named by #Linnaeus as he thought this was the same as Calotropis from the Middle East. Now in #flower in #Ithaca. Dark spots on the flowers are part of wishbone-shaped pollinia, packages of pollen; orchids & milkweeds make them instead of free pollen grains

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

Matthias C. Rillig @mrillig.bsky.social · Jun 17

This is very cool. Maybe we need that also internationally, not just in the US....

Katie Langin @klangin.bsky.social · Jun 17

"There’s a rhetoric that what we do is wasteful."

My latest story—about scientists writing op eds in their hometown newspapers, a grassroots effort organized by
@sciencehomecoming.bsky.social and others.

www.science.org/content/arti...

U.S. researchers are speaking up for science in local newspapers

Through two grassroots efforts, more than 80 op eds have been published in news outlets across the country

www.science.org

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

Leon Simons @leonsimons.bsky.social · Jun 17

Seems important:

All ('IPCC') CMIP6 models are completely unable to reproduce what NASA satellites observed!

The rate of global warming (starting with Earth's Energy Imbalance and now surface air temperature) has more than doubled!

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

Seth Munson @smmunson.bsky.social · Jun 17

Our new study demonstrates low-cost single-scan terrestrial LiDAR is a powerful tool for fuel characterization and evaluation of wildfire risk across ecosystems
www.publish.csiro.au/WF/WF24221#f...

Matthew Kaproth @mkaproth.bsky.social · Jun 17

Fully promoted! Thank you all for helping me get there! (Lots to be thankful for 💜)

Reposted by Juli G. Pausas, Anurag A. Agrawal, John W. Morgan , and 1 more Juli G. Pausas, Anurag A. Agrawal, John W. Morgan, Matthew A. Kaproth

Andrew Hipp @andrewlhipp.bsky.social · Jun 16

Long-term flowering-time data on Japanese mountain cherry (recorded since the 9th century!) shows a shift in full-flowering date beginning in the late 19th century.

Fascinating new @newphyt.bsky.social paper by @jgpausas.bsky.social

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...

Reposted by Matthias C. Rillig, Joel A. Thornton, Ian J. Wright , and 4 more Matthias C. Rillig, Joel A. Thornton, Ian J. Wright, Matthias Cuntz, Matthew A. Kaproth, Alyssa T. Kullberg, Kali Middleby

Science Magazine @science.org · Jun 12

As the world warms, plants in natural ecosystems and agricultural settings find ways to respond to the heat.

In a new special issue of Science, researchers examine how heat affects plants at multiple scales, from the molecular level to the biosphere. scim.ag/44cSw3Z

Infrared imaging shows heat levels in sun-exposed leaves of Alstonia scholaris from the Australian Wet Tropics. As climate change increases temperatures and the severity of heat waves, both natural ecosystems and agricultural plants are increasingly affected by heat. Examining heat responses at cellular, genetic, physiological, and ecosystem scales, this special issue explores how plants sense and respond to high temperatures.

Reposted by Paul Caplat, Alba Anadon‐Rosell, Melissa Whitman , and 1 more Paul Caplat, Alba Anadon‐Rosell, Melissa Whitman, Matthew A. Kaproth

Kate Johnson @kateplantphys.bsky.social · Jun 6

Showing off our figure of global conifer leaf-widths & leaf silhouettes highlighting that conifers can be broad-leaved & angiosperms can be narrow/ needle-leaved! 🍃

Our paper: tinyurl.com/mss2me7v
@newphyt.bsky.social

@vallicrosah.bsky.social @botanykat.bsky.social & Matilda Brown

Matthew Kaproth @mkaproth.bsky.social · Jun 6

Wrapping up a great week in UP Michigan! We collected sugar maple spectra (start of the field season) to see if we can predict spring sap quality.

Matthew Kaproth @mkaproth.bsky.social · Jun 1

IRGA was just a little bit dirty... Eeek! Deep clean season before the field season.

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

Joseph Fasano @josephfasano.bsky.social · May 29

I'll never get over this poem a child wrote with one of my poetry prompts.

Mammoths and Ants

Look at the fragile mushrooms.
Look at the Black Widow.
Pause with me a moment,
and hear the cicadas humming.
Here is where I'm home,
among the Mammoth Redwoods.
When I was lost, the ants absorbed me,
calling me to the smallness of Earth.
There I heard the Song of Silence.
Come with me through the minuscule.
Listen. The Cicadas are humming.

Reposted by Jens‐Christian Svenning, Yadvinder Malhi, Belinda E. Medlyn , and 8 more Jens‐Christian Svenning, Yadvinder Malhi, Belinda E. Medlyn, Mathias Disney, Alain Paquette, Emilio Vilanova, Aldo Compagnoni, Darío Martin‐Benito, Julen Astigarraga, Matthew A. Kaproth, Gianluca Cerullo

Tommaso Jucker @tommaso-jucker.bsky.social · May 27

So excited to finally share our new paper charting the global spectrum of tree crown architecture, out today at @natcomms.nature.com ‬🧪🌐

Paper link 🔗: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A brief thread of what we found 🧵

Schematic diagram showing the major axes of tree crown architecture

Reposted by Matthew A. Kaproth

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · May 26

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

California gardeners plant native species in parks to prevent wildfire spread – in pictures

Volunteers, organized by landscape architecture firm Terremoto, clear invasive plants and restore native fauna: ‘It’s a years-long relationship with the land’

www.theguardian.com

Matthew Kaproth @mkaproth.bsky.social · May 26

Oh! Any chance this is one of the species you provided? (Floodplain in Mankato, MN)

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips, Tobias Kuemmerle, Éva E. Plagányi , and 2 more Oliver L. Phillips, Tobias Kuemmerle, Éva E. Plagányi, Drew B. Winters, Matthew A. Kaproth

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · May 23

"Thinking time —the time needed to concentrate without interruptions has always been central to scholarly work. It is essential to designing experiments, compiling data, assessing results, reviewing literature and, of course, writing. Yet, [it] is often undervalued."
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

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