Department of Biology, University of Utah

Advisor: Prof. James Ehleringer

phone number: 1-801-587-3405

fax number: 1-801-581-4665

Education

MSc (1999) with distinction. University of Cape Town.
Advisors: William Bond and Jeremy Midgely

BSc Hons (1996), first-class. University of Cape Town.

BSc, Botany and Zoology (1995). University of Cape Town.

Interests
I have a wide range of interests from plant ecophysiology and forest ecology to animal physiology and marine ecology. For my graduate studies at Utah, I am working in Pinyon-Juniper woodlands, studying plant-water relations and responses to altered precipitation patterns. In addition to my thesis work I am also involved in work attempting to unravel the isotopic information contained in animal hair and epi-zooic barnacles found on whales.

Theses

West A.G. (1999) Hunting for humans in forest ecosystems: are the traces of Iron-Age people detectable? MSc dissertation, University of Cape Town. Pdf download.

West A.G. (1996) Classification and dynamics of the forest vegetation of Hluhluwe Nature Reserve, Kwa Zulu-Natal. BSc Honours dissertation. University of Cape Town.

West A.G. (1996) Substrate dependant survivorship of Ecklonia maxima, in southern African kelp communities. BSc Honours dissertation. University of Cape Town.

Publications

Baugh, A.T., West, A.G., Rickart, E.A, Cerling, T.E., Ehleringer, J.R. and Dearing, M.D. (2004) Stable isotope ratios (d15N and d13C) of syntopic shrews (Sorex). The Southwestern Naturalist. 49(4):493-500. Pdf download.

West A.G., Ayliffe, L.K., Cerling, T.E., Robinson, T.F., Karren, B., Dearing, M.D. and Ehleringer, J.R. (2004) Short term diet changes revealed using stable carbon isotopes in horse tail-hair. Functional Ecology. 18:616-624. Pdf download.

Ayliffe, L.K., Cerling T.E., Robinson, T., West, A., Sponheimer, M., Passey, B., Hammer, J., Roeder, B, Dearing, M.D, Ehleringer, J.R. (2004) Turnover of carbon isotopes in tail hair and breath CO2 of horses fed an isotopically varied diet. Oecologia 139:11-12. Pdf download.

Cerling, T.E.; Ehleringer, J.R., West, A.G., Stange, E. and Dorigan, J. (2003) Forensic applications of stable isotopes in hair. Forensic Science International 136: 172.

Sponheimer M, Robinson T, Ayliffe L, Roeder B, Hammer J, Passey B, West A , Cerling T, Dearing D, Ehleringer J. (2003) Nitrogen isotopes in mammalian herbivores: Hair delta N-15 values from a controlled feeding study. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 13 (1-2): 80-87.

West A.G., Midgley J.J. and Bond W.J. (2001) The evaluation of d13C isotopes of trees to determine past regeneration environments. Forest Ecology and Management 147: 139-149. Pdf download.

West A.G., Midgley J.J. and Bond W.J. (2000) Regeneration failure and the potential importance of human disturbance in a sub-tropical forest. Applied Vegetation Science 3: 223-232. Pdf download.

West A.G., Bond W.J. and Midgley J.J. (2000) Soil carbon isotopes reveal ancient grassland under forest in Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal. South African Journal of Science 96: 252-254. Pdf download.

West A.G., Midgley J.J. and Bond W.J. (2000) Hunting for human historical impacts in forest ecosystems: patterns and processes. In: A, Seydack, W. Vermeulen & C. Vermeulen (eds). Towards sustainable management based on scientific understanding of natural forests and woodlands. Dept. of Water Affairs and Forestry. Knysna, South Africa. pp. 59-64.

West A.G., Bond W.J. and Midgley J.J. (2000) Dune forest succession on old lands: implications for post-mining restoration. In: A, Seydack, W. Vermeulen & C. Vermeulen (eds). Towards sustainable management based on scientific understanding of natural forests and woodlands. Dept. of Water Affairs and Forestry. Knysna, South Africa. pp. 35-39.

Conference contributions

West, A.G., Hultine, K.R., Jackson, T.L., Bush, S.E., Sperry, J.S. and Ehleringer, J.R. (2005) Cavitation avoidance and root refilling in Pinus edulis facilitates summer rain pulse uptake. Ecological Society of America: Montreal, Canada. (Paper)

Bush, S.E., Pataki, D.E., Hultine, K.R., West, A.G. and Ehleringer, J.R. (2005) Physiology and water use of native and non-native trees in the Salt Lake City, Utah, urban forest. Ecological Society of America: Montreal, Canada. (Paper)

West, A.G., Pataki, D.E., Schauer, A. and Ehleringer J.R. (2003) Measuring Pinyon-Juniper sap flow on the Colorado plateau. 7th biennial conference intergating science and management on the Colorado Plateau, Flagstaff, Arizona, November, 2003. (Poster).

February, E.C., Newton, R.J. and West, A.G. Can oxygen isotopes from wood elucidate weather patterns of the past? 29th Annual assembly of the South African Association of Botanists, Pretoria, Jan 2003. (Paper)

February, E.C., Newton, R.J. and West, A.G. (2003) The importance of different water sources to the endangered Clanwilliam cedar, Widdringtonia cedarbergensis. 29th Annual assembly of the South African Association of Botanists, Pretoria, Jan 2003. (Paper)

Cerling, T.E., Ehleringer, J.R., West, A., Stange, E. & Dorigan, J. (2003) Forensic applications of stable isotopes in hair. Forensic Science International 136, 172-172.

Sponheimer, M., West, A.G., Robinson, T. Roeder, B. Ayliffe, L., Passey, B., Ehleringer, J., Cerling, T. & Dearing, M.D. Mammalian evolution and diversity in a C4 world. History of Atmospheric CO2 and the Impacts on Plants, Animals, and Ecosystems, Snowbird, Utah. Dec 2001. (Poster)

Sponheimer, M., West, A.G., Lee-Thorp, J., Robinson, T. Ayliffe, L., Dearing, M.D. Ehleringer, J., Cerling, T. Tastes good to me: Antelopes and C4 grasses. History of Atmospheric CO2 and the Impacts on Plants, Animals, and Ecosystems, Snowbird, Utah. Dec 2001. (Poster)

West A.G., Midgley J.J. and Bond W.J. Hunting for human historical impacts in forest ecosystems: patterns and processes. Natural Forests and Savanna Woodlands Symposium II, 5 - 9 September 1999. Knysna, South Africa. (Paper)

West A.G., Bond W.J. and Midgley J.J. Dune forest succession on old lands: implications for post-mining restoration. Natural Forests and Savanna Woodlands Symposium II, 5 - 9 September 1999. Knysna, South Africa. (Paper)