Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science
Jerry Qualls

Photo of Jerry Qualls
Dr. Qualls leading a field trip to Bay Area, CA.

Associate Professor
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science
University of Nevada/Mail Stop 370
1664 North Virginia Street
Reno,  Nevada   89557

 

Office: (775) 327-5014
Lab: 327-5116
Email: qualls@unr.edu
Building: Max Fleischmann Agriculture,  Office 123
Personal Web: http://www.cabnr.unr.edu/qualls/

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EDUCATION

B.S. University of North Carolina
M.S. University of North Carolina
Ph.D. University of Georgia

 
ACADEMIC & RESEARCH INTEREST

How ecosystems develop means of retaining soluble organic nutrients during primary succession and soil development, denitrification, fate of organic nitogen inputs in the Truckee River, phosphorus input and cycling in Lake Tahoe, control of phosphorus eutrophication by addition of ferric chloride and alum, the process of humification and the control of carbon sequestration in soil, soil nitrogen and carbon mineralization in the Mojave desert, microbial decomposition of dissolved humic substances, ecophysiology and competitive relationships of Lepidium latifolium (tall whitetop) and other invasive wetland plants.
 
COURSES & TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES

Wetland Ecology and Management: NRES 440/640. 4 credits. Geomorphology, hydrology, soils, biogeochemistry, physiology of wetland organisms, wildlife management, restoration, mitigation, and law of wetlands. Laboratory required. For upper level undergraduates and graduates.

 
Microbial Ecology: NRES 777. 4 credits. Topics include: the origin of life, microbial evolution, biochemistry and cell structure of Archaea, Bacteria, algae, classification, algal ecology, methods, plant-microbe interactions, soil and water environments, biodegradation. 4 credits includes required Lab. For graduate students.
 
AWARDS, HONORS, & PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

“Pioneer of Disinfection Award”: Awarded jointly by International Water Association the Water Environment Association, the, and the American Water Works Association, Feb. 2007.

All American Award, USA Track and Field, Masters Division, 1500 m, 1 mile, 3000 m, 10,000 m. runs in 2006 and 2007.
 
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

 

Book or Chapter(s) in Books
Richardson, C. J., King, R. S., Qian, S. S., Vaithiyanathan, P., Qualls, R. G., Stowe, C. A. 2008, "An ecological basis for establishment of a phosphorus threshold for the Everglades ecosystem." Chapter 25. In C.J. Richardson (Ed.), The Everglades Experiments: Lessons for Ecosystem Restoration (pp. 658-679). NY: Springer.  
Qualls, R. G., Richardson, C. J. 2008, "Carbon cycling and dissolved organic matter export in the northern Everglades." Chapter 13. In C.J. Richardson (Ed.), The Everglades Experiments: Lessons for Ecosystem Restoration (pp. 335-379). Springer, New York.  
Qualls, R. G., Richardson, C. J. 2008, "Decomposition of litter and peat in the Everglades: The influence of P concentrations." Chapter 17. In C.J. Richardson (Ed.), The Everglades Experiments: Lessons for Ecosystem Restoration (pp. 445-464). Springer, New York  
Richardson, C. J., Pahl, J. W., Vymazal, J., Vaithiyanathan, P., Qualls, R. G., Sundareshwar, P. V., Barber, L., Johnson, J. 2008, "Enrichment gradients in WCA-2A and Northern WCA-3A: Water, soil, plant biomass, and nutrient storage responses." Chapter 6. In C.J. Richardson (Ed.), The Everglades Experiments: Lessons for Ecosystem Restoration (pp. 79-137). Springer, New York.  
Richardson, C. J., Qualls, R. G., Vymazal, J., Vaithiyanathan, P., Zahina, J. G. 2008, "Macrophyte slough community response to experimental phosphorus enrichment and periphyton removal." Chapter 16. In C.J. Richardson (Ed.), The Everglades Experiments: Lessons for Ecosystem Restoration (pp. 401-444). Springer, New York.  
Richardson, C. J., Qualls, R. G., Vaithiyanathan, P., Bush, M. B., Stow, C. A., Ho, M. Water quality, soil chemistry, and ecosystem responses to P dosing. 2008, "Water quality, soil chemistry, and ecosystem responses to P dosing." Chapter 15. In C.J. Richardson (Ed.), The Everglades Experiments: Lessons for Ecosystem Restoration (pp. 383-400).  
Journals
Uselman*, S. M., Qualls, R. G., Lilienfein, J. 2008, "Production of potentially soluble organic C, N, and P across a primary ecosystem chronosequence." Ecosystems DOI:10:1007/s10021-008-9220-6  
Vandenbruwane*, J., De Neve, J. S., Qualls, R. G., Hoffmann, G. 2007, "Comparison of different isotherm models for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) sorption to mineral soil." Geoderma:139: 144-153.  
Uselman, S. M., Qualls, R. G., Lilienfein 2007, "Contribution of Root- vs. Leaf-Litter to Dissolved Organic Carbon Leaching through Soil." Soil Science Society of America Journal 71:1555-1563.  
Richardson, C. J., King, R. S., Qian, S. S., Vaithianathan, P., Qualls, R. G., Stowe, C. A. 2007, "Estimating ecological thresholds for phosphorus in the Everglades." Environmental Science and Technology. 41, 8084-8091.(Feature/ Cover Article)  
Uselman, S. M., Qualls, R. G., Lilienfein*, J. 2007, "Fine root production across a primary ecosystem chronosequence at Mt. Shasta, California." Ecosystems 10: 703-717.  
Saito, L., Miller, W. W., Johnson, D. W., Qualls, R. G., Provencher, L., Carroll, E., Szameitat, P. 2007, "Fire effects on stable isotopes in a Sierran forested watershed." Journal of Environmental Quality 36: 91-100.  
Vandenbruwane, J., De Neve, S., Qualls, R. G., Hoffmann, G. 2007, "Optimization of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) measurements in aqueous samples with high inorganic nitrogen concentrations" Science of the Total Environment 386, 103-113  
Carroll EM, Miller WW, Johnson DW, Saito L, Qualls RG, Walker RF. 2007, "Spatial analysis of a large magnitude erosion event following a Sierran wildfire." Journal of Environmental Quality: 36: 1105-1111.  
Nadeau, J., Qualls, R. G., Nowak, R. S., Blank, R. R. 2007, "The potential bioavailabiltiy of organic C, N, and P through enzyme hydrolysis in soils of the Mojave Desert." Biogeochemistry: 82:305-320.  
Lindberg S.E., Dong, W., J. Chanton, R.G. Qualls, and T. Meyers. 2005, "A mechanism for bimodal emission of gaseous mercury from aquatic macrophytes in the Everglades." Atmospheric Environment 1289-1301.  
Qualls R.G. 2005, "Biodegradability of fractions of dissolved organic carbon leached from decomposing leaf litter." Environmental Science and Technology 39: 1616-1622.  
Chen*, H, Qualls R.G., and Blank R.R. 2005, "Effect of soil flooding on photosynthesis, carbohydrate partitioning, and nutrient uptake in the invasive exotic Lepidium latifolium." Aquatic Botany 82: 250-268.  
Qualls, R.G and Bridgham, S.D. 2005, "Mineralization rate of 14C labeled dissolved organic carbon in soils from a weathering chronosequence." Soil Biology and Biochemistry 37:905-916.