College of Arts & Sciences Biology

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Mark Dixon

Mark Dixon
Associate Professor
Biology, College of Arts & Sciences
UCL Churchill-Haines Labs 170D
Phone: 605-677-6567
Teaching Interests:
Ecology, Biostatistics, Introduction to River Studies
Research Interests:
Landscape Ecology, Plant and Avian Ecology, Riparian Ecosystems, Large River Ecology
Education:
  • Ph D, Zoology, University of Wisconsin, 2001
  • MS, Wildlife Biology, South Dakota State University, 1994
  • BS, Animal Ecology, Iowa State University, 1987
Grants:
  • Ecological Responses to the 2011 Flood along the Missouri River: Impacts on Cottonwood Forests, Songbirds, and Landscape Change, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, (2012 - 2015)
  • Classification and Mapping of Riparian Forest along the White River in South Dakota, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, (2011 - 2014)
  • Projecting Long-term Landscape Change along the Missouri River: Implications for Cottonwood Forests and Songbird Populations, Plains and Prairie Potholes Landscape Conservation Cooperative (US Fish and Wildlife Service), (2011 - 2013)
  • Mapping and Characterization of Calcareous Fens in Eastern South Dakota, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, South Dakota Wildlife Action Plan Competitive Grants, (2010 - 2013)
  • Classification and Mapping of Riparian Vegetation along the Big Sioux River , South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, South Dakota Wildlife Action Plan Competitive Grants, (2009 - 2012)
  • Monitoring Ecological Responses to Prairie and Oak Savannah Restoration in the Missouri River Uplands, National Park Service, NRPP Regional Block Grants, (2011 - 2012)
  • Hydrologic Thresholds for Biodiversity in Semiarid Riparian Ecosystems, US Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy (Subaward to USD from Arizona State University), (2006 - 2011)
  • Effects of Landscape and Stand-level Factors on Forest Songbird Populations and Diversity across a Cottonwood Successional Gradient along the Missouri River, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, Small Grants Program, (2009 - 2010)
  • Assessment of Forest Songbird, Marsh Bird and Frog Community Composition along the Missouri National Recreational River using Auditory and Visual Census Techniques, National Park Service, (2010 - 2010)
  • Influence of Flow Regulation on Missouri River Floodplain Forest, University of South Dakota, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (Research Catalyst Award), (2006 - 2007)
Publications:
  • Brand, L. A., Dixon, M., Fetz, T., Stromberg, J. C., Stewart, S., Garber, G., Goodrich, D. C., Brookshire, D. S., Broadbent, C. D., (2013), Projecting avian guild responses to management scenarios on the middle Rio Grande, New Mexico, Southwestern Naturalist.
  • Stromberg, J. C., McCluney, K. E., Dixon, M., Meixner, T., (2012), Dryland riparian ecosystems in the American Southwest: Sensitivity and resilience to climatic extremes, Ecosystems, p. 5.
  • Scott, M. L., Auble, G. T., Dixon, M., Johnson, W. C., Rabbe, L. A., (2012), Long-term cottonwood forest dynamics along the upper Missouri River, USA, River Research and Applications, p. 14.
  • Dixon, M., Johnson, W. C., Scott, M. L., Bowen, D. E., Rabbe, L. A., (2012), Dynamics of plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides) forests and historical landscape change along unchannelized segments of the Missouri River, USA, Environmental Management, vol. 49, pp. 990-1008.
  • Johnson, W. C., Dixon, M., Scott, M. L., Rabbe, L., Larson, G., Volke, M., Werner, B., (2012), Forty years of vegetation change on the Missouri River floodplain, BioScience, vol. 62, iss. 2, pp. 123-135.
  • Yager, L. A., Dixon, M., Cowman, T., Soluk, D., (2011), Historic changes (1941-2008) in side channel and backwater habitats within an unchannelized reach of the Missouri River., River Research and Applications.
  • Brand, L. A., Stromberg, J. C., Goodrich, D. C., Dixon, M., Lansey, K., Kang, D., Brookshire, D. S., Cerasale, D. J., (2011), Projecting avian response to linked change in groundwater and riparian floodplain vegetation along a dryland river: a scenario analysis. , Ecohydrology, vol. 4, iss. 1, pp. 130-142.
  • Galbraith, H., Dixon, M., Stromberg, J. C., Price, J. T., (2010), Predicting climate change risks to riparian ecosystems in arid watersheds, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., pp. 187-202.
  • Stromberg, J. C., Lite, S. J., Dixon, M., (2010), Effects of stream flow patterns on riparian vegetation of a semiarid river: implications for a changing climate, River Research and Applications , vol. 26, iss. 6, pp. 712-729.
  • Brookshire, D. S., Goodrich, D., Dixon, M., Brand, L. A., Benedict, K., Lansey, K., Thacher, J., Broadbent, C. D., Stewart, S., Mcintosh, M., Kang, D., (2010), Ecosystem services and reallocation choices: A framework for preserving semi-arid regions in the Southwest, Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education, vol. 144, pp. 60-74.
  • Dixon, M., Johnson, W. C., Scott, M. L., Bowen, D., Status and Trend of Cottonwood Forests along the Missouri River. Final Report to US Army Corps of Engineers., p. 111 pages.
  • Dixon, M., (2010), Book review of: Waiting for Coyote’s Call: An Eco-memoir from the Missouri River Bluff, by Jerry Wilson, Great Plains Quarterly, vol. 30, iss. 1, pp. 71-72.
  • Dixon, M., Stromberg, J. C., Price, J. T., Galbraith, H., Fremier, A. K., Larsen, E. W., (2009), Potential effects of climate change on the upper San Pedro riparian ecosystem, University of Arizona Press.
  • Stromberg, J. C., Rychener, T. J., Dixon, M., (2009), Return of fire to a free-flowing desert river: effects on vegetation, Restoration Ecology, vol. 17, iss. 3, pp. 327-338.
Awards and Honors:
  • President's Award for Research Excellence: Early-Mid Career Faculty, University of South Dakota, 2012
Presentations:
  • Merkord, C., Swanson, D., Dixon, M., Johnson, C. (2012, August). Projecting long-term landscape change along the Missouri River: implications for cottonwood forest and bird populations. Presented at the Fifth North American Ornithological Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
  • Merkord, C., Dixon, M., Swanson, D., Johnson, W. C., Benson, A. (2012, April). Projecting long-term landscape change along the Missouri River: implications of cottonwood forests and bird populations. Presented at the South Dakota Academy of Science 97th Annual Meeting, Vermillion, SD.
  • Dixon, M. (2012, April). Status, ecology and potential effects of the 2011 flood on cottonwood forests along the Missouri River. Presented at the The Missouri River Educational Lecture Series, Ponca State Park, Ponca, Nebraska.
  • Dixon, M., Scott, M. L., Johnson, W. C., Bowen, D. E., Rabbe, L. A. (2012, April). Cottonwood forests along the Missouri River: Historical changes and current status. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the South Dakota Academy of Sciences, Vermillion, SD.
  • Ley, M. J., Dixon, M. (2012, April). The interactive effects of climatic variation and land use change on increased streamflow and channel adjustment within an agricultural watershed. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the South Dakota Academy of Sciences, Vermillion, SD.
  • Dixon, M., Scott, M. L., Johnson, W. C., Bowen, D. E., Rabbe, L. A., Merkord, C., Swanson, D. (2012, April). Missouri River cottonwood forests: Past, present, and future. Presented at the Missouri River Institute Symposium, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD.
  • Dixon, M., Scott, M. L., Johnson, W. C., Bowen, D. E., Rabbe, L. A. (2012, March). Historic changes and current status of cottonwood forests along the Missouri River from Kansas City to Montana. Presented at the Missouri River Natural Resources Conference and BiOP Forum, “The Big Muddy: What Have We Learned?” , Pierre, SD.
  • Dixon, M. (2012, March). Pattern and process in Missouri River cottonwood forests: Implications for restoration. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Nebraska Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Ponca State Park, Ponca, Nebraska.
  • Dixon, M., Johnson, W. C., Scott, M. L., Rabbe, L. A. (2011, March). Differences in riparian vegetation responses to flow regulation on the Garrison and Gavins Point reaches of the Missouri River (poster). Presented at the Missouri River Natural Resources Conference, Nebraska City, NE.
  • Quist, D. J., Cowman, T., Dixon, M., Soluk, D. (2011, March). Temporal and spatial trends of various water quality parameters and chlorophyll concentrations within the 59-mile reach of the Missouri National Recreational River (poster). Presented at the Missouri River Natural Resources Conference, Nebraska City, NE.
  • Dixon, M., Benson, A., Swanson, D. (2010, October). Historical changes and future projections for cottonwood forests of the Missouri River floodplain and their impacts on bird populations. Presented at the South Dakota Ornithologists Union Fall Meeting , Vermillion, SD.
  • Dixon, M., Stromberg, J. C., Meixner, T., Hogan, J. F., Goodrich, D. C. (2010, September). Sensitivity of a semi-arid riparian ecosystem to climatic variability in the southwestern United States. Presented at the 8th International Symposium on Ecohydraulics, Seoul, Korea.
  • Yager, L., Dixon, M., Cowman, T. (2010, March). Historic changes and water quality characteristics of backwater habitats on the 59-mile segment of the Missouri National Recreational River. Presented at the 2010 Missouri River Natural Resources Conference and BiOP Forum “A Climate for Change.” , Nebraska City, NE.
  • Scott, M. L., Dixon, M. (2010, March). Historical riparian cover types in the Missouri Breaks National Monument. Presented at the 2010 Missouri River Natural Resources Conference and BiOP Forum “A Climate for Change.”, Nebraska City, NE.
  • Cowman, T., Dixon, M., Soluk, D. (2010, March). Missouri River education initiatives at the University of South Dakota's Missouri River Institute. Presented at the 2010 Missouri River Natural Resources Conference and BiOP Forum “A Climate for Change.”, Nebraska City, NE.
  • Dixon, M., Johnson, W. C., Scott, M. L., Bowen, D., Rabbe, L. A. (2010, March). Status and trend of cottonwood forests along the Missouri River from Kansas City to Montana. Presented at the 2010 Missouri River Natural Resources Conference and BiOP Forum “A Climate for Change.”, Nebraska City, NE.
  • Benson, A., Dixon, M. (2010, March). Effects of forest type and age class on songbird populations across a cottonwood successional gradient within the Missouri National Recreational River. Presented at the Missouri River Natural Resources Conference and BiOP Forum “A Climate for Change.”, Nebraska City, NE.