Welcome

The Martyn Ecology Lab at Oregon State University weaves together a number of branches of ecology including plant community ecology, restoration ecology, functional trait ecology, and rangeland ecology to explore rangeland and restoration resilience to climate variability and climate change.

Members of the lab aim to address research questions such as:

- How does plant-plant competition and environment conditions impact plant communities assembly and composition?

- What factors contribute to restoration success?

- How can we improve restoration practices to improve restoration success?

- What are some climate adaptive restoration practices that can support resilient and sustainable rangelands?

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”

- Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul 

Updates

Interested in potentially joining the lab? I have a new opening for a Master’s student. See the “Join the Lab” page for more information!

Nov 2023 - I have started a position at Oregon State University in the Animal and Rangeland Sciences Department. I have a research appointment at the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center in Union, Oregon (EOARC - Union) as well as teach in the Eastern Oregon Agriculture and Natural Resources Program (EOANRP) at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, OR. I am excited to start research program on restoring and creating resilient rangelands.

August 04 2023 - Come find me at ESA: COS 250-3 - The impacts of annual and seasonal weather on big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) growth - a growth ring analysis. Room B111. Thursday Aug 10, 10:30 - 10:45

Seeds counted by research techs and myself over time.Current update: (838,184 seeds from 12,139 samples).

Seeds counted by research techs and myself over time.

Current update: (838,184 seeds from 12,139 samples).

INSTAGRAM - martynecology

Had a great evening hike up at Mt Emily Rec Area! Also met this tiny little vole on the trail.
Spring is definitely in full bloom in La Grande!
I have a Master's student opportunity in my lab! If you are interested seed-based rangeland restoration, native-invasive plant interactions, and/or understanding climate impacts on rangelands, please reach out! The full announcement is at the QR code and on the lab's website (link in bio).
What does one find in a botanic garden in Australia... the exotic plants of home! I could maybe see having Ocotillo but... Mahonia repens? Artemisia ludoviciana? 😂 I tried looking for a big sagebrush but was unsuccessful!
Well after 4.5yrs of occasional wear... I think they are finally broken in (i.e. no blister from a day's wear lol). I bought these Docs 4.5yrs ago with a gift certificate from all the folks in my PhD lab (Mayfield Community Ecology Lab) as a gift for submitting my PhD... as I would soon be "Dr. Martyn". And I guess being Dr. Martyn wearing Doc Martens would be a bit punny 😆 And the pattern is called Wild Botanicals which is also fitting given my PhD was on plants (though not the toxic ones displayed on the boots). I think of the Mayfield Lab every time I wear them and will hopefully be catching up with some of them soon!!