Mario E.

Personal Data

Education
B.S. Agronomy. Universidad Nacional del Sur (Argentina) 1975

M.S. Range Ecology-Systems Analysis. Texas Tech University. 1980

Ph.D. Range Ecosystems Science-Statistics. Colorado State University. 1984
Languages
Fluent in Spanish and English
Technical Expertise
1. Programming in C, C++, and Fortran. Includes parallel computing programming using MPI (Message-Passing Interface).
2. System analysis and ecosystem modeling.
3. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis, spatial pattern analysis (including geostatistics, and fractal geometry methods), and statistical ecology (including species abundance relationships, species affinity, ordination, and classification methods).
4. Use of Geographic Information System for the analysis of ecosystem structure and function.
Honors and Award
- Member of Phi Kappa Phi
- North Dakota College of Agriculture Award for Excellence in Research-- Early Career (1995).
- North Dakota State University Fred Waldron Award for Outstanding Research (2003).
- North Dakota College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources Eugene R. Dahl Excellence in Research Award—Senior Career (2004)
Research Interest
Ecosystem level carbon flows and nutrient cycling, grazing ecology, ecosystem modeling, statistical ecology, spatial pattern analysis, scaling issues in ecology, landscape ecology and plant community ecology. The two main biomes where I have conducted research are the North and South American grasslands and Northern Great Plains wetlands.
Professional Experience
- 2009-2012 Associate editor, Rangeland Ecology and Management
- 2002-2005 Panel Manager for the USDA-NRICGP Managed Ecosystem Program
- 2000-2003 Panel Review Member: National Science Foundation--Ecosystems Program
- 2000-2002 Panel Review Member: USDA National Research Initiative--Ecosystems Program
- 1996-present Professor, North Dakota State University
- 1989-1996 Associate Professor, North Dakota State University
- 1986-1989 Assistant Professor, North Dakota State University
- 1984-1986 Post-Doctoral Fellow, Colorado State University
- 1984-1986 Consultant, Winrock International, Morrilton, Arkansas
- 1984 Consultant, Robert Mitchell and Associates, Greeley, Colorado
- 1983-1984 Consultant, Goodson and Associates, Lakewood, Colorado
- 1980-1984 Research Associate, Colorado State University
- 1978-1980 Research Assistant, Texas Tech University
- 1977-1978 Research Associate, INTA Balcarce Experiment Station, Argentina
- 1975-1977 Research Associate, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Argentina
Major Awarded Grants

Semi-arid Ecosystem Development as a Function of Resource Processing and Allocation. DOE Grant: DE-AS02-76EV040128. Co-PI, 1984-1987. $770,000.
Carbon and Nitrogen Allocation and Utilization in a Crested Wheatgrass and Native Shortgrass Ecosystem. National Science Foundation Grant: BSR-8405604. Co-PI, 1984-1986. $250,000.
Grazing-Nitrogen Cycle Interactions in Grassland Ecosystems. NSF-EPSCoR Program. Principal Investigator. 1987-1990. $60,000.
The Biogeochemistry of Carbon, Nitrogen and Sulfur Transformations in a Seasonal and a Semipermanent Wetland. Department of Interior: 14-08-0001-G1581. Principal Investigator. 1990-1992. $50,000.
Grassland Patchiness and the Scaling of Soil Nitrogen. USDA-NRICGP-93-0051. Principal Investigator. 1993-1998. $135,000.
Relationships Between Landscape Patterns, Ecological Processes, and Biological Diversity in Native Great Plains Grasslands. The Nature Conservancy/Mellon Foundation Ecosystem Research Program. Principal Investigator. 1994-1997. $285,000.
Advancing Science Excellence in North Dakota- Environmental Program. P.Boudjouk (Director) and M. Biondini (PI). 1994-1996. EPA-EPSCoR Program. $384,000.
Plant Competition and the Scaling of soil Resources. Principal Investigator. 1996-2000. National Science Foundation DEB-9627928. $185,757.
Internet2/UCAID. Co-PI. 1998. National Science Foundation-EPSCoR Program. $300,000.
Plant Diversity, Production, and Stability in Grassland Ecosystems. Principal Investigator. USDA-NRICGP-9900979. 1999-2004. $279,500.
Patch Dynamics Processes and the Restoration of Prairie Landscapes. TNC/Mellon Foundation Ecosystem Research Program. 2000-2006. C0-PI. $104,616.
Effects of Fire on Grazed Prairie Grasslands. Co-PI. Forest Service Agreement 04-PA-11011800-031. 2004-2006. $95,925.
Multifunctional Biomass Production for Ethanol from High Diversity CRP Grasslands. Principal Investigator. USDA-NRICGP-2008-00717. 2008-2011. $399,720.