Melbourne School of Land and Environment Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science

Qualifications

2001              Habilitation in Plant Physiology, Ecophysiology, and Anatomy, Karl-Franzens-University, Graz, Austria.
1997              PhD, Plant Science, Institute of Plant Physiology, Karl-Franzens-University, Graz, Austria.
1992              Master of Science, Botany, Institute of Plant Physiology, Karl-Franzens-University, Graz, Austria.
1988              Bachelor of Science (equiv.), Biology, Karl-Franzens-University, Graz, Austria.
1986              Bachelor of Engineering (equiv.), Chemical Engineering, Technical University, Graz, Austria.

Brief biography

After my PhD on the role of antioxidants in plant defence to abiotic stress at the University of Graz (Austria) completed in 1997, I continued research on stress physiology of trees and crops. During a Senior Fulbright Scholarship at the USDA Forest Service Research Station in Riverside, California, in 1999, I developed the application of multivariate pattern analysis to antioxidant defence compounds for the revelation of early stress impacts on conifers. A guest professorship at the University of La Laguna (Spain) 2000/2001 enabled me to undertake ecophysiological work with pines on wide altitudinal gradients, and in laurel forest ecosystems, before I returned to the University of Graz to receive my ‘habilitation’ (about equivalent to promotion to level C in Australia). I worked on numerous projects including aspects of antioxidant metabolism, stress physiology of trees at high elevations, pollution impacts on trees and crops, effects of climate change related stress factors on trees, and aspects of sulphur metabolism in plants under stress, to name but a few. I cam to Australia as a visiting scientist to the Forest Science Centre of the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), and joined the University of Melbourne in 2004. I acted as Head of School of Forest and Ecosystem Science in 2005, and took on additional responsibilities as the Melbourne School of Land and Environment’s Associate Dean for Research Training in 2008.

back to top

My major research interests are Tree Physiology and Ecophysiology, i. e. the study of the life functions of trees (and other plants) in relation to their environment and climate change. I particularly emphasise the research into the responses of forest trees to adverse environmental conditions (stress physiology), if man-made (e. g. pollution) or natural (drought, high irradiance, etc).

Research Projects

Mid-rotation diagnosis and management options for correction of water and nutrient deficiencies in plantation-grown eucalypts
MA Adams (University of Sydney), M Tausz (Chief Investigators), G Samsa (Partner Investigator)

Improved Monitoring for Sustainable Forest and Natural Resource Management in Victoria.
M Tausz (project coordinator), S Livesley, N Collett, D Smith (all DFES), A Haywood (DSE)

back to top

Current PhD Students

Liubov Volkova
Raymond Dempsey
Thomas Wright
Denise Johnstone

back to top

Master of Forest Ecosystem Science (MFES)

Course coordinator and lecturer for 220408 Trees in a Changing Climate
Course coordinator and lecturer for 220509 Forests Carbon and Climate Change  

back to top

2009

Rowell DM, Ades PK, Tausz M, Arndt SK, Adams MA (2009) Lack of genetic variation in tree ring d13C suggests a uniform, stomatally-driven response to drought stress across Pinus radiata D. Don genotpyes. Tree Physiology 29: 191-198 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpn015

2008

Refereed Journal Articles

Haberer , Herbinger , Alexou , Rennenberg & Tausz M. (2008) Different effects of drought and canopy ozone exposure on antioxidants in fine roots of mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). Tree Physiology. 28: 713–719. DOI:10.1093/treephys/28.5.713

Tausz M, Merchant A, Kruse J, Samsa & Adams A.(2008) Estimation of drought-related limitations to mid-rotation aged plantation grown Eucalyptus globulus by phloem sap analysis. Forest Ecology and Management. 256: 844–848 DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2008.05.045

Book Chapters

Zhao, Tausz M & De Kok LJ. (2008) Role of sulfur for plant production in agricultural and natural ecosystems. In Hell R, Dahl C, Knaff DB & Leustek T (eds), Sulfur Metabolism in Phototrophic Organisms. New York, United States: Springer, pp. 417–435.

2007

Refereed Journal Articles

Šircelj H., Tausz M., Grill D., Batič F. (2007) Detecting different levels of drought stress in apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) with selected biochemical and physiological parameters. Scientia Horticulturae, in press. DOI 10.1016/j.scienta.2007.04.012

Tausz M., Grulke N., Wieser G. (2007) Defence and avoidance of ozone under global change. Environmental Pollution 147, 525–531. DOI 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.08.042

Tausz M., Landmesser H., Posch S., Monschein S., Grill D., Wienhaus O. (2007) Multivariate patterns of antioxidative and photoprotective defence compounds in spruce needles at two Central European forest sites of different elevation. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 128, 75-82. DOI 10.1007/s10661-006-9416-1

Matyssek R., Bahnweg G., Ceulemans R., Fabian P., Grill D., Hanke D. E., Kraigher H., Oßwald W., Rennenberg H., Sandermann H., Tausz M., Wieser G. (2007) Synopsis of the CASIROZ case study: Carbon sink strength of Fagus sylvatica L. in a changing environment - experimental risk assessment of mitigation by chronic ozone impact. Plant Biology 9, 163-180. DOI 10.1055/s-2007-964883

Haberer K., Herbinger K., Alexou M., Tausz M., Rennenberg H. (2007) Antioxidative defence of old growth beech (Fagus sylvatica) under double ambient O3 concentrations in a free air exposure system. Plant Biology 9, 215-226. DOI 10.1055/s-2007-964824

Then C., Herbinger K, Blumenröther M, Haberer K, Heerdt C, Oßwald W, Rennenberg H, Grill D, Tausz M, Wieser G. (2007) Evidence that branch cuvettes are reasonable surrogates for estimating O3 effects in entire tree crowns. Plant Biology 9, 309-319. DOI 10.1055/s-2007-964918

Herbinger K, Then C, Haberer K, Alexou M, Remele K, Rennenberg H, Grill D, Wieser G, Tausz M (2007) Gas exchange and antioxidative compounds in young beech trees under free-air ozone exposure and comparisons to adult trees. Plant Biology 9, 288-297. DOI 10.1055/s-2006-924660

Warren C. R., Löw M., Matyssek R., Tausz M. (2007) Internal conductance to CO2 transfer of adult Fagus sylvatica: variation between sun and shade leaves and due to free-air ozone fumigation. Environmental and Experimental Botany 59: 130-138. DOI 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2005.11.004

Book Chapters

Zhao F-J, Tausz M., De Kok L. J. (2007) Role of sulfur for plant production in agricultural and natural ecosystems. In: Dahl C., Hell R., Knaff D., Leustek T. (eds.) Sulfur Metabolism in Phototrophic Organisms. Springer Verlag, Dordrecht, Boston, London, in press.

Tausz M. (2007) Sulfur in forest ecosystems. In: Hawkesford, M. J., De Kok, L. J. (eds.) Sulfur in Plants – an Ecological Perspective. Series: Plant Ecophysiology, Springer Verlag, Dordrecht, Boston, London, pp. 59-75 DOI 10.1007/978-1-4020-5887-5_3

Wieser G., Tausz M. (2007) Current concepts for treelife limitation at the upper timberline. In: Wieser G., Tausz M. (eds.) Trees at their Upper Limit. Treelife Limitation at the Alpine Timberline. Series: Plant Ecophysiology Vol. 5. Springer Verlag, Berlin, ISBN: 1-4020-5073-9, pp. 1-18 DOI 10.1007/1-4020-5074-7_1

Tausz M. (2007) Photo-oxidative stress at the timberline. In: Wieser G., Tausz M. (eds.) Trees at their Upper Limit. Treelife Limitation at the Alpine Timberline. Series: Plant Ecophysiology Vol. 5. Springer Verlag, Berlin, ISBN: 1-4020-5073-9, 181-195. DOI 10.1007/1-4020-5074-7_11

Wieser G., Tausz M. (2007) Synopsis. In: Wieser G., Tausz M. (eds.) Trees at their Upper Limit. Treelife Limitation at the Alpine Timberline. Series: Plant Ecophysiology Vol. 5. Springer Verlag, Berlin, ISBN: 1-4020-5073-9, 219-223. DOI 10.1007/1-4020-5074-7_13

Other publications

Wieser G., Tausz M., editors (2007) Critical Levels of Ozone: Further Applying and Developing the Flux Concept. Special Issue, Environmental Pollution 146 (3), 577-770.

Wieser G., Tausz M., editors (2007) Trees at their Upper Limit. Treelife Limitation at the Alpine Timberline. Series: Plant Ecophysiology Vol. 5. Springer Verlag, Berlin, approx. 200 pp. ISBN: 1-4020-5073-9

Wieser G., Tausz M. (2007) Preface to the special issue of the Obergurgl workshop on ozone. Environmental Pollution 146: 577-577. DOI 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.09.009

2006

Refereed Journal Articles

Warren C., Dreyer E., Tausz M., Adams M. A. (2006) Ecotype adaptation and acclimation of leaf traits to rainfall in 29 species of 16-year-old Eucalyptus at two common gardens. Functional Ecology 20, 929-940. DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01198.x

Wieser G., Manning W., Tausz M., Bytnerowicz A. (2006) Evidence for potential impacts of ozone on Pinus cembra L. at mountain sites in Europe: An overview. Environmental Pollution 139: 53-58. DOI 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.04.037

Löw M., Herbinger K., Nunn A. J., Häberle K.-H., Leuchner M., Heerdt C., Werner H., Wipfler P., Pretzsch H., Tausz M., Matyssek R. (2006) Extraordinary drought of 2003 overrules ozone impact on adult beech trees (Fagus sylvatica). Trees – Structure and Function 20: 539-548. DOI 10.1007/s00468-006-0069-z

Merchant A., Tausz M., Arndt S. K., Adams M. A. (2006) Cyclitols and carbohydrates in leaves and roots of 13 Eucalyptus species suggest contrasting physiological responses to water deficit. Plant Cell and Environment 29: 2017-2029. DOI 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2006.01577.x

Non-Refereed Proceedings

Matyssek R., Ceulemans R., Fabian P., Grill D., Hanke D., Kraigher H., Oßwald W., Rennenberg H., Sandermann H., Tausz M., Wieser G. (2006) The CASIROZ project at Kranzberg Forest on the carbon sink strength of Fagus sylvatica L. in a changing environment: Experimental risk assessment of mitigation by chronic ozone impact. A case study on adult forest trees. In: Wieser G. (Ed.) Ozone impact on forest trees: results, conclusions and recommendations of the experiment at “Kranzberger Forst”. Proceedings of the CASIROZ session at the UN/ECE workshop “Critical levels of ozone: further applying and developing the flux-based concept” held at Obergurgl, Austria, Nov 15-19, 2005.

Matyssek R., Ceulemans R., Fabian P., Grill D., Hanke D., Kraigher H., Oßwald W., Rennenberg H., Sandermann H., Tausz M., Wieser G. (2006) Conclusions from the CASIROZ case study at Kranzberg Forest. In:  Wieser G. (Ed.) Ozone impact on forest trees: results, conclusions and recommendations of the experiment at “Kranzberger Forst”. Proceedings of the CASIROZ session at the UN/ECE workshop “Critical levels of ozone: further applying and developing the flux-based concept” held at Obergurgl, Austria, Nov 15-19, 2005.

Then C., Herbinger K., Remele K., Grill D., Wieser G., Tausz M. (2006) Differences in gas exchange and antioxidative compounds between young and adult beech trees at the branch and tree level exposed to defined ozone regimes. In:  Wieser G. (Ed.) Ozone impact on forest trees: results, conclusions and recommendations of the experiment at “Kranzberger Forst”. Proceedings of the CASIROZ session at the UN/ECE workshop “Critical levels of ozone: further applying and developing the flux-based concept” held at Obergurgl, Austria, Nov 15-19, 2005.

2005

Refereed Journal Articles

Tausz M., Warren C. R., Adams M. A. (2005) Dynamic light use and protection from excess light in upper canopy and coppice leaves of Nothofagus cunninghamii in an old growth, cool temperate rainforest in Victoria, Australia. New Phytologist 165: 143-156. DOI 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01232.x

Tausz M., Trummer W., Goessler W., Wonisch A., Grill D., Naumann S., Jiménez M. S., Morales D. (2005) Accumulating pollutants in conifer needles on an Atlantic island – a case study with Pinus canariensis on Tenerife, Canary Islands. Environmental Pollution 136: 394-407. DOI 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.01.020

Wonisch A., Weidner W., Tausz M., Westerman S., De Kok L. J., Grill D. (2005) Interactions between atmospheric and pedospheric sulfur nutrition: Impact of short-term H2S exposure on the uptake and distribution of 35S-sulfate in roots and shoots of curly kale (Brassica oleracea L.). Phyton Annales Rei Botanicae 45: 45-50.

Tausz M., Warren C. R., Adams M. A. (2005) Is the bark of shining gum (Eucalyptus nitens) a sun or a shade leaf? Trees – Structure and Function 19: 415-421. DOI 10.1007/s00468-004-0400-5

Warren C. R., Tausz M., Adams M. A. (2005) Does rainfall explain variation in leaf morphology and physiology among populations of red ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon subsp. tricarpa) grown in a common garden? Tree Physiology 25: 1369-1378. Link to article

Herbinger K., Then C., Löw M., Haberer K., Alexous M., Koch N., Remele K., Heerdt C., Grill D., Rennenberg H., Häberle K.-H., Matyssek R., Tausz M., Wieser G. (2005) Tree age dependence and within-canopy variation of leaf gas exchange and antioxidative defence in Fagus sylvatica under experimental free-air ozone exposure. Environmental Pollution 137: 476-482. DOI 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.01.034

Tausz M., Löffler S., Posch S., Monschein S., Grill D., Kätzel R. (2005) Do photoprotective pigments and antioxidants in needles of Pinus sylvestris relate to high N or water availability at field plots in a dry year? Phyton Annales Rei Botanicae 45: 107-116.

Šircelj H., Tausz M., Grill D., Batič F. (2005) Biochemical responses of two apple cultivars subjected to progressive drought. Journal of Plant Physiology 162: 1308-1318. DOI 10.1016/j.jplph.2005.01.018

Vidaković-Cifrek Ž., Wonisch A., Tausz M., Grill D. (2005) Effects of CaCl2 and CaBr2 on growth, photosynthetic pigments and ion accumulation in duckweed. Phyton Annales Rei Botanicae 45: 183-196.

Book Chapters

Matyssek R., Wieser G., Nunn A. J., Löw M., Then C., Herbinger K., Blumenröther M., Jehnes S., Reiter I. M., Heerdt C., Koch N., Häberle K.-H., Haberer K., Werner H., Tausz M., Fabian P., Rennenberg H., Grill D., Oßwald W. (2005) How sensitive are forest trees to ozone? – New research on an old issue. In:  Omasa K., Nouchi I., De Kok L. J. (Eds.) Plant Responses to Air Pollution and Global Change. Springer Verlag Tokyo, ISBN: 4-431-31013-4. pp 21-28. DOI 10.1007/4-431-31014-2_3

Grill D., Pfanz H., Lomsky B., Bytnerowicz A., Grulke N. E., Tausz M. (2005) Physiological responses of trees to air pollutants at high elevation sites. In:  Omasa K., Nouchi I., De Kok L. J. (Eds.) Plant Responses to Air Pollution and Global Change. Springer Verlag Tokyo, ISBN: 4-431-31013-4. pp. 37-44. DOI 10.1007/4-431-31014-2_5

2004

Refereed Journal Articles

Tausz M., Trummer W., Wonisch A., Goessler W., Grill D., Jiménez M. S., Morales D. (2004) A survey of foliar mineral nutrient concentrations of Pinus canariensis at field plots in Tenerife. Forest Ecology and Management 189: 49-55. DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2003.07.034

González-Rodríguez A. M., Tausz M., Wonisch A., Peters J., Grill D., Morales D., Jiménez M. S. (2004) Photostress, photoprotection, and water soluble antioxidants in the canopies of five Canarian laurel forest tree species during a diurnal course in the field. Flora 199: 110-119. DOI 10.1078/0367-2530-00140

Tausz M., Pilch B., Herschbach C., Rennenberg H., Grill D. (2004) Uptake, transport and metabolisation of glutathione in seedlings of Phaseolus vulgaris L. Journal of Plant Physiology 161: 347-349. DOI 10.1078/0176-1617-00658

Grill D., Tausz M., Pöllinger U., Jiménez M. S., Morales D. (2004) Effects of drought on needle anatomy of Pinus canariensis. Flora 199: 85-89. DOI 10.1078/0367-2530-00137

Grill D., Müller M., Tausz M., Strnad B., Wonisch A., Raschi A. (2004) Effects of sulphurous gases in two CO2 springs on total sulphur and thiols in acorns and oak seedlings. Atmospheric Environment 38: 3775-3780. DOI 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2004.04.005

Tausz M., Šircelj H., Grill D. (2004) The glutathione system as a stress marker in plant ecophysiology – is a stress-response concept valid? Journal of Experimental Botany 55: 1955-1962. Link to article

Fischer G., Tausz M., Köck M., Grill D. (2004) Effects of weak 16 2/3 Hz magnetic fields on growth parameters of young sunflower and wheat seedlings. Bioelectromagnetics 25: 638-641. DOI 10.1002/bem.20058

Tausz M., Olszyk D. M., Monschein S., Tingey D. T. (2004) Combined effects of CO2 and O3 on antioxidative and photoprotective defense systems in needles of ponderosa pine. Biologia Plantarum 48: 543-548. DOI 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047150.82053.e9

Others

Tausz M., Grill D. (2004) Biomarker als Vitalitätsanzeiger von Pflanzen. In: Kätzel R., Landmesser H., Löffler S., Wienhaus O. (Eds.) Tagungsband zur Fachtagung „Einsatz von Biomarkern für das Forstliche Monitoring.“ September 30 – Oktober 1 2002, Chorin bei Eberswalde, Germany. Forstwissenschaftliche Beiträge Tharandt, TU Dresden. Beiheft 5, pp. 72-86.

2003

Refereed Journal Articles

Wieser G., Hecke K., Tausz M., Häberle K.-H., Grams T.E.E., Matyssek R. (2003) The influence of microclimate and tree age on the defense capacity of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) against oxidative stress. Annals of Forest Science 60: 131-136. DOI 10.1051/forest:2003005

Wonisch A., Tausz M., Müller M., Soja G., Grill D. (2003) Ozone-induced long-term effects on chromosomal aberration rates in root-tip meristems of spruce trees do not correspond to changes in tissue antioxidant status. Phyton Annales Rei Botanicae 43: 147-160.

Grulke N. E., Johnson R., Esperanza A., Jones D., Nguyen T., Posch S., Tausz M. (2003) Canopy transpiration of Jeffrey pine in mesic and xeric microsites: O3 uptake and injury response. Trees - Structure and Function 17: 292-298. DOI 10.1007/s00468-002-0237-8

Carletti P., Masi A., Wonisch A., Grill D., Tausz M., Ferretti M. (2003) Changes in antioxidant and pigment pool dimensions in UV-B irradiated maize seedlings. Environmental and Experimental Botany 50: 149-157. DOI 10.1016/S0098-8472(03)00020-0

Tausz M., Wonisch A., Grill D., Morales D., Jiménez M. S. (2003) Measuring antioxidants in tree species in the natural environment. From sampling to data evaluation. Journal of Experimental Botany 54: 1505-1510. Link to article
Grulke N. E., Johnson R., Monschein S., Nikolova P., Tausz M. (2003) Variation in morphological and biochemical O3 injury attributes of mature Jeffrey pine within canopies and between microsites. Tree Physiology 23: 923–929. Link to article

Tausz M., Weidner W., Wonisch A., De Kok L. J., Grill D. (2003) Uptake and distribution of 35S-sulfate in needles and roots of spruce seedlings as affected by exposure to SO2 and H2S. Environmental and Experimental Botany 50: 211-220. DOI 10.1016/S0098-8472(03)00025-X

Hecke K., Tausz M., Gigele T., Havranek W. M., Anfodillo T., Grill D. (2003) Foliar antioxidants and protective pigments in Larix decidua Mill. from contrasting elevations in the Northern and Southern Tyrolean Limestone Alps. European Journal of Forest Science 122: 368-375. DOI 10.1007/s10342-003-0005-2

Book Chapters

Tausz M., Gullner G., Kömives T., Grill D. (2003) Role of thiols in plant adaptation to environmental stress. In: Abrol Y. P., Ahmad A. (eds.) Sulphur in plants. Kluwer Publishers, Dordrecht, pp. 221—244.

Serrão M. d. G., Tausz M., Neves M. J., Syers J. K., Pires F. (2003) Explaining sulphur and nitrogen interactions in the growth of cropped hybrid ryegrass. In: Davidian J.-C., Grill D., De Kok L. J., Stulen I., Hawkesford M. J., Schnug E., Rennenberg H. (eds.) Sulfur Transport and Assimilation in Plants: Regulation, Interaction, Signaling. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, 2 pages.

Tausz M., Wonisch A., Weidner W., De Kok L. J., Grill D. (2003) Modification of S-metabolism in spruce trees by H2S studied by radiolabelled sulfate uptake. In: Davidian J.-C., Grill D., De Kok L. J., Stulen I., Hawkesford M. J., Schnug E., Rennenberg H. (eds.) Sulfur Transport and Assimilation in Plants: Regulation, Interaction, Signaling. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, 341-343.

Wonisch A., Weidner W., Tausz M., Westerman S., De Kok L. J., Grill D. (2003) Effects of SO2 exposure on sulfur distribution in curly kale (Brassica oleracea L.) investigated by 35S labeled nutrient solution. In: Davidian J.-C., Grill D., De Kok L. J., Stulen I., Hawkesford M. J., Schnug E., Rennenberg H. (eds.) Sulfur Transport and Assimilation in Plants: Regulation, Interaction, Signaling. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, 359-361.

Grill D., Tausz M., Strnad B., Wonisch A., Müller M., Raschi A. (2003) Thiols in acorns and feeding mites collected at sites with naturally elevated atmospheric sulphur concentrations. In: Davidian J.-C., Grill D., De Kok L. J., Stulen I., Hawkesford M. J., Schnug E., Rennenberg H. (eds.) Sulfur Transport and Assimilation in Plants: Regulation, Interaction, Signaling. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, pp. 213-215.

Müller M., Zechmann B., Tausz M., Zellnig G. (2003) Subcellular distribution of glutathione – a high resolution immunogold analysis in leaves of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.). In: Davidian J.-C., Grill D., De Kok L. J., Stulen I., Hawkesford M. J., Schnug E., Rennenberg H. (eds.) Sulfur Transport and Assimilation in Plants: Regulation, Interaction, Signaling. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, 295-297.

Others

Grill D., Tausz M. (2003) Biochemische Schutzsysteme in Pflanzen und ihre Brauchbarkeit für die Stressdiagnose bei Bäumen. In: Landmesser H. (Ed.) Chemie und Forstwirtschaft – Gegensatz oder Symbiose. Forstwissenschaftliche Beiträge Tharandt, TU Dresden. Beiheft 4, pp.59-72.