Howard Griffiths (scientist)

Howard Griffiths
Born1953 (age 71–72)[2]
Scientific career
FieldsPlant Physiological Ecology
Institutions
Websitewww.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/research/howardgriffiths

Howard Griffiths is a physiological ecologist.[3] He is Professor of Plant Ecology in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge,[4] and a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge.[3][5] He formerly worked for the University of Dundee in the Department of Biological Sciences.[6] He applies molecular biology techniques and physiology to investigate the regulation of photosynthesis and plant water-use efficiency.

Research

Griffiths' specializations include:

Griffiths has a particular interest in introducing the dynamics of plant processes without the need for time-lapse photography. His lectures demonstrate how the spatial segregation of photosystem 1 and photosystem 2 creates a highly dynamic system with lateral mobility and migration of damaged photosynthetic reaction centers through thylakoid membranes.[citation needed]

He studies the reaction mechanism of RuBisCO and how plants have evolved.[3] His primary focus being the types of "carbon dioxide concentrating mechanisms" (CCMs) which enhance the operating efficiency of RuBisCO and thereby CO₂-fixation.[3][5] CCMs of interest include crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), the biochemical C4 pathway, and the biophysical CCM found within algae, cyanobacteria and hornworts.[3][5]

He uses stable isotopes of carbon and oxygen to compare how different types of plants have evolved their own methods of photosynthesis.[3][5] Study of these isotopes can also analyse the water use of plants and insects.[3][5]

He collaborated on an international project investigating the possibility of introducing the algal CCM into terrestrial plants called the Combining Algal and Plant Photosynthesis project (CAPP).[10][11][12][13] In 2016, they achieved successful results[14] and they now hope to implement this technique to increase the rate of photosynthesis in plants and hence increase crop yields.[14]

His goal in his work is not only to discover new molecular and ecological insights but then use those insights to sustain plant diversity and combat climate change.[3]

As part of his work, Griffiths has been a Visiting Research Fellow to the Australian National University in 2006 and 2008.[5] He is part of peer review for the National Environmental Research Council.[5][15] He has also conducted many field work expeditions to countries including Trinidad, Venezuela, and Panama, as part of his research.[3][5]

As of 2021, his projects^ focus on:

  • "Food security: sustainability and equality in crop production systems" - in collaboration with the Global Food Security Interdisciplinary Research Centre[4]
  • "Defining the algal chloroplast pyrenoid" - a continuation of his RuBisCO work.[4]
  • "Carbon assimilation and hydraulic constraints in C3, C4 and CAM systems"[4]
  • "Epiphyte environmental interactions and climate change" - focussing on samples collected during field work[4]

Publications

Griffiths has a blog documenting his and his students' research in physiological ecology.[16]

He is the author, co-author or editor of several textbooks and monographs,[2] including The Carbon Balance of Forest Biomes with Paul Gordon Jarvis.[17]

According to Google Scholar[18] and Scopus,[19] his most highly cited peer-reviewed publications were in The Journal of Experimental Botany,[20][21] Oecologia,[22] New Phytologist,[23] and Functional Plant Biology.[24]

References

  1. ^ Raven, John; Beardall, John; Griffiths, Howard (1982). "Inorganic C-sources for Lemanea, Cladophora and Ranunculus in a fast-flowing stream: Measurements of gas exchange and of carbon isotope ratio and their ecological implications". Oecologia. 53 (1): 68–78. Bibcode:1982Oecol..53...68R. doi:10.1007/BF00377138. ISSN 0029-8549. PMID 28310605. S2CID 220458.
  2. ^ a b Howard Griffiths at Library of Congress
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Professor Howard Griffiths". Clare College. Cambridge University. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Physiological Ecology". Department of Plant Sciences. Cambridge University. 5 June 2013. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Professor Howard Griffiths". Department of Plant Sciences. University of Cambridge. 3 June 2013. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  6. ^ Raven, John; Beardall, John; Griffiths, Howard (1 April 1982). "Inorganic C-sources for Lemanea, Cladophora and Ranunculus in a fast-flowing stream: Measurements of gas exchange and of carbon isotope ratio and their ecological implications". Oecologia. 53 (1): 68–78. doi:10.1007/BF00377138. ISSN 1432-1939. PMID 28310605. S2CID 220458. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Cambridge Centre for Climate Science". climatescience.cam.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  8. ^ "Research theme: food security". cam.ac.uk/research/themes/food-security. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  9. ^ "Introducing the Cambridge Conservation Initiative". conservation.cam.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  10. ^ "CAPP - Combining Algal and Plant Photosynthesis". cambridgecapp.wordpress.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  11. ^ "The Research Dept". CAPP. 20 September 2013. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  12. ^ "About us". CAPP. 18 July 2011. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Overview". CAPP: Combining Plant and Algal Photosynthesis. UKRI. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Outcomes". CAPP: Combining Plant and Algal Photosynthesis. UKRI. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  15. ^ "NERC PEER REVIEW COLLEGE MEMBERS". NERC. December 2019. p. 15. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  16. ^ "physiological ecology". Ecology in a Gingko-covered building. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  17. ^ Griffith, Howard; Jarvis, Paul, eds. (2005). The carbon balance of forest biomes. New York: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0-203-50134-9. OCLC 61853824. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  18. ^ Howard Griffiths publications indexed by Google Scholar Edit this at Wikidata
  19. ^ Howard Griffiths's publications indexed by the Scopus bibliographic database. (subscription required)
  20. ^ Dodd, A. N. (2002). "Crassulacean acid metabolism: plastic, fantastic". Journal of Experimental Botany. 53 (369): 569–580. doi:10.1093/jexbot/53.369.569. ISSN 1460-2431. PMID 11886877.
  21. ^ Price, A. H. (2002). "Linking drought-resistance mechanisms to drought avoidance in upland rice using a QTL approach: progress and new opportunities to integrate stomatal and mesophyll responses". Journal of Experimental Botany. 53 (371): 989–1004. doi:10.1093/jexbot/53.371.989. ISSN 1460-2431. PMID 11971911.
  22. ^ Seibt, Ulli; Rajabi, Abazar; Griffiths, Howard; Berry, Joseph A. (2008). "Carbon isotopes and water use efficiency: sense and sensitivity". Oecologia. 155 (3): 441–454. Bibcode:2008Oecol.155..441S. doi:10.1007/s00442-007-0932-7. ISSN 0029-8549. PMID 18224341. S2CID 451126.
  23. ^ Adams, Patricia; Nelson, Don E.; Yamada, Shigehiro; Chmara, Wendy; Jensen, Richard G.; Bohnert, Hans J.; Griffiths, Howard (1998). "Growth and development of Mesembryanthemum crystallinum (Aizoaceae)". New Phytologist. 138 (2): 171–190. doi:10.1046/j.1469-8137.1998.00111.x. ISSN 0028-646X. PMID 33863085.
  24. ^ Cernusak, Lucas A.; Tcherkez, Guillaume; Keitel, Claudia; Cornwell, William K.; Santiago, Louis S.; Knohl, Alexander; Barbour, Margaret M.; Williams, David G.; Reich, Peter B.; Ellsworth, David S.; Dawson, Todd E.; Griffiths, Howard G.; Farquhar, Graham D.; Wright, Ian J. (2009). "Why are non-photosynthetic tissues generally 13C enriched compared with leaves in C3 plants? Review and synthesis of current hypotheses". Functional Plant Biology. 36 (3): 199–213. doi:10.1071/FP08216. hdl:11299/177648. ISSN 1445-4408. PMID 32688639.