Assistant Professor of Zoology

Ph. D. University of Minnesota, 1997

W. K. Kellogg Biological Station 
Michigan State University
Hickory Corners, MI 49060
Phone: (269) 671-671-2338
Fax: (269) 671-2351
Email: litchman@kbs.msu.edu

[Lab Web Site]

Research Interests

Aquatic ecology; community ecology; limnology; phytoplankton ecology, physiology and evolution; biogeochemical impacts of phytoplankton; global change

Current Research

I am interested in how the interplay of biotic and abiotic factors structures phytoplankton communities in both freshwater and marine environments. Currently our lab focuses on the following questions:

Effects of Temporal and Spatial Heterogeneity on Phytoplankton Communities

We have been looking at how fluctuating resources such as light and nutrients affect competition and coexistence in phytoplankton.  We are also interested in identifying and testing the mechanisms leading to heterogeneous vertical distributions of phytoplankton, such as subsurface chlorophyll maxima.

Ecological Traits, Trade-offs and Community Structure

We seek to understand how ecological traits and trade-offs determine plankton community structure under different environmental conditions.  Using laboratory experiments and data analysis, we characterize growth and resource utilization traits, trade-offs and ecological strategies of major phytoplankton functional groups from both freshwater and marine environments.  We then use mechanistic models to explain and predict the occurrence and dominance of these phytoplankton groups.  We test model predictions in laboratory experiments with phytoplankton communities.

Global Change and Harmful Algal Blooms

I have a keen interest in how different aspects of the human-induced global change will impact aquatic ecosystems, phytoplankton communities in particular. Among the factors we have been looking at are the increased ultraviolet (UV) radiation and the increased concentration of greenhouse gases changing temperature, precipitation and water circulation.  Using experiments and models we investigate how these factors may alter phytoplankton community structure and dynamics.  One of our current projects is to determine how various aspects of global change such as climate alterations and changes in nutrient loading may increase the frequency and severity of Harmful Algal Blooms. 

Litchman, E., C.A. Klausmeier and K. Yoshiyama. 2009. Contrasting size evolution in marine and freshwater diatoms. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U.S.A. In press.

Litchman, E. and C.A. Klausmeier. 2008. Trait-based community ecology of phytoplankton. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 39: 615-639.

Litchman, E., C.A. Klausmeier, O.M. Schofield and P.G. Falkowski. 2007. The role of functional traits and trade-offs in structuring phytoplankton communities: scaling from cellular to ecosystem level. Ecology Letters, 10: 1170-1181.

Litchman, E. Resource competition and the ecological success of phytoplankton. 2007. In: P.G. Falkowski and A.H. Knoll (Eds) Evolution of Primary Producers in the Sea . Elsevier. pp. 351-375.

Litchman, E., C.A. Klausmeier, J.R. Miller, O.M. Schofield and P.G. Falkowski. 2006. Multi-nutrient, multi-group model of present and future oceanic phytoplankton communities. Biogeosciences, 3: 585-606.

Kay, A.D., I.W. Ashton, E. Gorokhova, A.J. Kerkhoff, A. Liess and E. Litchman. 2005. Toward a stoichiometric framework for evolutionary biology. Oikos, 109: 6-17.

Klausmeier, C.A., E. Litchman, T. Daufresne and S.A. Levin. 2004. Optimal N:P stoichiometry of phytoplankton. Nature, 429: 171-174.

Litchman, E., C.A. Klausmeier and P. Bossard. 2004. Phytoplankton nutrient competition under dynamic light regimes. Limnology and Oceanography, 49: 1457-1462.

Klausmeier, C.A., E. Litchman and S.A. Levin. 2004. Phytoplankton growth and stoichiometry under multiple nutrient limitation. Limnology and Oceanography, 49: 1463-1470.

Litchman, E. 2003. Competition and coexistence of phytoplankton under fluctuating light: experiments with two cyanobacteria. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 31: 241-248.

Litchman, E., D. Steiner and P. Bossard. 2003. Photosynthetic and growth responses of three freshwater algae to phosphorus limitation and daylength. Freshwater Biology, 48: 2141-2148.

Litchman, E., P.J. Neale and A.T. Banaszak. 2002. Increased sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation in nitrogen-limited dinoflagellates: photoprotection and repair. Limnology and Oceanography, 47: 86-94.

Klausmeier, C.A. and E. Litchman. 2001. Algal games: the vertical distribution of phytoplankton in poorly mixed water columns. Limnology and Oceanography, 46: 1998-2007.

Neale, P.J., E. Litchman, C. Sobrino, C. Callieri, G. Morabito, V. Montecino, Y. Huot, P. Bossard, C. Lehmann and D. Steiner. 2001. Quantifying the response of phytoplankton photosynthesis to ultraviolet radiation: biological weighting functions versus in situ measurements in two Swiss lakes. Aquatic Sciences, 63: 265-285.

Litchman, E. and C.A. Klausmeier. 2001. Competition of phytoplankton under fluctuating light. American Naturalist, 157: 170-187.

Litchman, E. 1998. Population and community responses of phytoplankton to fluctuating light. Oecologia, 117: 247-257.