Main Area of Research:

I am a plant ecologist interested on the effects of human activites on natural plant communities. Within this topic I address questions spanning plant community ecology, plant population ecology, evolutionary ecology and ecosystem functioning. The list of keywords describing my past and present work includes: soil seed bank dynamics, grazing effects on natural systems, global climate change, climatic gradients, species diversity, plant invasion, seed ecology, forest ecology, species interaction and root and plant litter decomposition.

Chairman of the Israel Society of Ecology & Environmental Sciences (www.isees.org.il)

Harel, D., Holzapfel, C., Sternberg, M. (2011). Seed mass and dormancy of annual plant populations and communities decreases with aridity and rainfall predictability. Basic and Applied Ecology doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2003.10.071. PDF

Henkin, Z., Ungar, E. D., Dvash, L., Perevolotsky, A., Yehuda, Y., Sternberg, M ., Voet, H. and Landau, S. Y. (2011). Effects of cattle grazing on herbage quality in a herbaceous Mediterranean rangeland. Grass and Forage Science. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2494.2011.00808.x. PDF

Angert, A., Weiner, T., Mazeh, S., Tamburini, F., Frossard, E., Bernasconi, S.M., Sternberg, M . (2011) Seasonal variability of soil phosphate stable oxygen isotopes in rainfall manipulation experiments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 75: 4216-4227. PDF

Sternberg, M., Holzapfel, C., Tielbörger, K., Sarah, P., Kigel, J., Lavee, H., Fleischer, A., Jeltsch, F. and Köchy, M. (2011). The Use and Misuse of Climatic Gradients for Evaluating Climate Impact on Dryland Ecosystems - an Example for the Solution of Conceptual Problems. Climate Change - Geophysical Foundations and Ecological Effects. Blanco, J. and Kheradmand, H. (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-307-419-1, InTech,  Available HERE

Golodets, C., Kigel, J., Sternberg, M. (2011) Plant diversity partitioning in grazed Mediterranean grassland at multiple spatial and temporal scales.  Journal of Ecology   48: 1260-1268.  PDF

Tielbörger, K., Fleischer, A., Menzel, L. Metz, J. Sternberg, M. (2011) The aesthetics of water and land - a promising concept for managing scarce water resources under climate change. Philosophical Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A 368: 5323-5337  PDF

Talmon, Y., Sternberg, M., Grünzweig, J.M. (2011) Impact of rainfall manipulations and biotic controls on soil respiration in Mediterranean and desert ecosystems along an aridity gradient. Global Change Biology 17: 1108-1118  PDF

Samocha, Y., Sternberg, M. (2010). Herbivory by sucking mirid bugs can reduce nectar production in Asphodelus aestivus Brot. Arthropods-Plant Interactions 4: 153-158   PDF

Metz, J., Liancourt, P.  Kigel, J. Harel, D., Sternberg , M., Tielbörger, K. (2010). Plant survival in relation to seed size and dormancy along environmental gradients: A long-term study from semi-arid and Mediterranean plant communities. Journal of Ecology 98: 697-704. PDF

Golodets, C., Kigel, J., Sternberg, M. (2010) Recovery of plant species composition and ecosystem function after cessation of grazing in a Mediterranean grassland. Plant & Soil 329: 365-378. PDF

Har-Edom, O. L., Sternberg, M. (2010) Invasive species and climate change: Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist as a tool for assessing the invasibility of natural plant communities along an aridity gradient. Biological Invasions 12 : 1953-1960  PDF 

Samocha, Y., Shenklar, G., Korol, L., Sternberg, M. (2009) From mesic to arid environments: morphological and genetic divergence in Asphodelus aestivus Brot. populations. Israel Journal of Plant Sciences 57: 91-102   PDF

Golodets, C., Sternberg, M., Kigel, J. (2009). A community-level test of the Leaf-Height-Seed ecology strategy scheme in relation to grazing conditions. Journal of Vegetation Science 20: 392-402 PDF

Aboling, S., Sternberg, M., Perevolotsky, A., Kigel, J. (2008). Cattle grazing effects on soil seed banks and regeneration strategies in a Mediterranean grassland. Community Ecology 9: 97-106.   PDF 

Yu, S., Bell, D., Sternberg, M., Kutiel, P. (2008). The effect of microhabitats on vegetation and its relationships with seedlings and soil seed bank in a Mediterranean coastal sand dune community. Journal of Arid Environments. 72: 2040-2053. PDF

Pakeman, R., Garnier, E., Lavorel, S., Ansquer, P., Castro, H., Cruz, P., Dolezal, J., Eriksson, O., Golodets, C., Kigel J., Kleyer, M., Leps, J., Meier, T., Papadimitriou, M., Papanastasis, V., Quested, H., Quetier, F., Rusch, G., Sternberg, M.  Theau, JP., Thébault, A. (2008). Impact of abundance weighting on the response of seed traits to climate and land use. Journal of Ecology 96: 355-366. PDF

Garnier, E., Lavorel, S., Ansquer, P., Castro, H., Cruz, P., Dolezal, J., Eriksson, O., Fortunel, C., Freitas, H., Golodets, C., Grigulis, K., Jouany, C., Kazakou, E., Kigel, J., Kleyer, M., Lehsten, V., Leps, J., Meier, T., Pakeman, R. (2007). A standardized methodology and lessons from an application to 11 European sites. Annals of Botany 99: 967-985. PDF  

Henkin, Z., Landau, Y., Ungar, E., Perevolotsky, A., Yehuda, Y., Sternberg, M. (2007). Effect of timing and intensity of grazing on herbage quality in a Mediterranean rangeland. Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences . 16, 318-32. PDF

Diaz, S., Lavorel, S., McIntyre, S., Falczuk, V., Casanoves, F., Milchunas, D., Skarpe, C., Rusch, G., Sternberg, M., Noy-Meir, I., Landsberg, J., Wei, Z., Clark, H., Campbell, B. (2007). Grazing and plant traits A global synthesis. Global Change Biology 12: 1-29 .  PDF

Yu, S., Sternberg, M., Kutiel, P., Chen, H. (2007). Seed mass, shape, and persistence in the soil seed bank of Israeli coastal sand dune flora. Evolutionary Ecology Research. 9, 325-340. PDF

Petru, M., Tielboerger, K., Belkin, R., Sternberg, M., Jeltsch, F. (2006). ) Life history variation in an annual plant under two opposing selective forces along a steep climatic gradient. Ecography. 29, 66-74. PDF

Holzapfel, C., Tielboerger, K., Parag, H., Kigel, J., Sternberg, M. (2006). Annual plant-shrub interactions along an aridity gradient in Israel. Basic and Applied Ecology . 7, 268-279. PDF

Sternberg, M., Gishri, N., Mabjeesh S, . (2006). Effects of grazing on functional traits of Bituminaria bituminosa in a Mediterranean grassland . Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science . 192, 399-4. PDF

Radhakrishnan, M., Waisel, Y., Sternberg, M. (2006). Kikuyu grass a valuable salt tolerant fodder grass. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis . 37, 1269-1279. PDF

Kaligaric, M., Skornik, S., Ivancic, A., Rebeusek, F., Kramberger, B., Sternberg, M., Sencic, L. (2006). Restoration efforts on declining population of Pulsatilla grandis, (Ranunculaceae) - could revitalization by seeding be successful? . Israel Journal of Plant Sciences . 54 , 9-17. PDF

Henkin, Z., Sternberg, M., Seligman, N., Noy-Meir, I. (2006). Species richness in relation to phosphorus enrichment and competition in a Mediterraneandwarf-shrub community. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment . 113 , 277-283. PDF

Fleischer, A., Sternberg, M. (2006). The Economic Impact of Global Climate Change on Mediterranean Rangeland Ecosystems: A Space-for-Time Approach. . Ecological Economics . 59, 287-29. PDF

Li Q., Shemir, I., Mayzlish, E., Sternberg, M., Steinberger, Y. (2005). Impact of grazing on soil nematode community and microbial biomass in a Mediterranean grassland. Land Degradation and Development 16: 581-592. PDF

Olsvig-Whittaker, L., Sternberg, M. (2005). The changing Mediterranean landscape: An editorial view . Israel Journal of Plant Sciences. 53, 149-150. PDF

Souto, C., Becker, G., Siffredi, G., Busso, C., Sternberg, M. (2004). Axillary bud viability and dry matter production of Poa ligularis in Patagonian grasslands.. Phyton. 53, 39-51. PDF

Sternberg, M., Yu, S. L., Bar (Kutiel) P. , . (2004). Soil seed banks and regeneration strategies in a Mediterranean coastal sand dune. Israel Journal of Plant Sciences. 52 , 213-221. PDF

Sternberg, M., Gutman, M., Perevolotsky, A., Kigel, J. (2003). Effects of grazing on soil seed bank dynamics: An approach with functional groups. Journal of Vegetation Science . 14, 375-386. PDF

Yu, S., Sternberg, M., Jiang, G. M., Kutiel, P. (2003). Heterogeneity of soil seed banks in a Mediterranean coastal sand dune. . Acta Botanica Sinica . 45, 536-543. PDF

Gutman, M., Noy-Meir, I., Pluda, D., Seligman, N. G., Rothman, S., Sternberg, M. (2002). Biomass partitioning following defoliation of annual and perennial Mediterranean grasses . Conservation Ecology . 5(2), 1. http://www.consecol.org/journal/vol5/iss2/art1/index.html

Sternberg, M., Shoshany, M. (2001). Aboveground biomass allocation and water content relationships in Mediterranean trees and shrubs at two climatological regions in Israel. Plant Ecology. 157, 171-179. PDF

Sternberg, M., Danin, A., Noy-Meir, I. (2001). Effects of clearing and herbicide treatments on coniferous seedling establishment and growth in newly planted Mediterranean forests. Forest Ecology and Management . 148, 179-184. PDF

Sternberg, M., Shoshany, M. (2001). Influence of slope aspect on Mediterranean woody formations: a comparison of a semiarid and an arid site in Israel. . Ecological Research. 16, 335-345 . PDF

Gutman, M., Perevolotsky, A., Sternberg, M. (2000). Grazing effects on a perennial legume, Bituminaria bituminosa (L) Stirton, in a Mediterranean rangeland. Cahiers Options Mediterraneenes . 45, 299-303.

Sternberg, M. (2000). Terrestrial gastropods and global climate change: an experimental study in a calcareous grassland. Ecological Research. 15, 73-82 . PDF

Sternberg, M., Gutman, M., Perevolotsky, A., Ungar, E., Kigel, J. (2000). Vegetation response to grazing management in a Mediterranean herbaceous community: a functional group approach. Journal of Applied Ecology . 37, 224-237 . PDF

Sternberg, M., Danin, A., Noy-Meir, I. (1999). Dynamics of Mediterranean vegetation following clearing and herbicide treatments in newly planted forests. Journal of Mediterranean Ecology . 1, 65-76. PDF

Gutman, M., Perevolotsky, A., Ungar, E., Sternberg, M., Kigel, J. (1999). Mediterranean herbaceous vegetation response to high animal density and grazing deferment: implications for management and conservation. Cahiers Options Mediterraneenes . 39, 161-164.

Sternberg, M., Brown, V. K., Masters, G., Clarke, I. (1999). Plant community dynamics in a calcareous grassland under climate change manipulations. Plant Ecology. 143, 29-37. PDF

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