Matthew Opdyke, Ph.D.
Professor, Environmental Science
Director, M.S. in Environmental Studies Program
Contact Information
- Office: 608C Academic Hall
- Phone: 412-392-3856
- Fax: 412-392-6180
- Email: mopdyke@pointpark.edu
Education
- Bachelor of Science, Biology-Environmental Science, Mansfield University
- Master of Science, Environmental Science, Indiana University at Bloomington, Ind.
- Doctor of Philosophy, Aquatic Biogeochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Courses Taught
- Biological Evolution
- Botany
- Ecology
- General Chemistry
- Introduction to Natural Sciences II
- Politics and the Environment
Background
Matthew Opdyke, Ph.D., is a professor of environmental science and director of the Master of Science in environmental studies program at Point Park University. Opdyke earned his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign studying the connection between stream geomorphology and nitrogen cycling in steams impacted by agriculture. He then pursued a postdoctoral research position at Michigan State University in East Lansing where his research focused on novel, stable isotope techniques to differentiate among sources of nitrous oxide in soils. As a professor at Point Park, Opdyke received external research grants to fund his research with students and send them to international conferences.
Opdyke's research projects include (1) assessing watershed health in preparation for a Coldwater Conservation Plan for Fishing Creek watershed (Columbia and Sullivan Counties, Pa.); (2) studying the application of lichens as indicators of habitat alteration and air quality; and (30) monitoring long-term changes in wetland plants following the rehabilitation of a floodplain wetland at Windfield Pines in Bridgeville, Pa.
Curriculum Vitae
Selected Publications
- "Checklist of Lichens of Crawford County, Pennsylvania," co-authored with Joshua Daugherty, Evansia, March 2016.
- "M.R. Cladistics: A Tool for Teaching about Evolutionary Relationships," Green Teacher, 95:31-35, 2012.
- "Wingfield Pines Wetland Plant Monitoring Report 2008-2012," Final Grant Report, Allegheny Land Trust, Sewickley, Pa., 2012.
- "A study of epiphytic lichen communities in urban and rural environments in southwestern Pennsylvania," (with B.E. Dolney, L. Frost, and J.D. Roy) Journal of Pennsylvania Academy of Science, 85:151-158, 2011.
- "Fishing Creek Watershed Coldwater Conservation Plan 2009-2011," Final Grant Report, Coldwater Heritage Partnership, Harrisburg, Pa. 2011.
Selected Presentations
- "Project Bee Watch: Increasing the Awareness of Pollinators through Citizen Science," Ecological Society of America conference, Louisville, Ky., Aug. 11-16, 2019.
- "Coldwater conservation plan for Fishing Creek," (with R.S. Opdyke), Columbia County, Pa., Keystone Coldwater Conference, 2012.
- "Monitoring wetland plant diversity and growth at Wingfield Pines," Allegheny Land Trust Open Forum Meeting, 2012.
- "Distribution and diversity of lichen communities influenced by urbanization in southwestern Pennsylvania," Botanical Society of America, 2012.
- "Gigapan Technology: A web-based platform for ecological research and outreach" and "Dendrochronology as an assessment tool of tree growth in wetland restoration projects," Ecological Society of America Meeting, 2011 and 2009.
- "Results of developing a Coldwater Conservation Plan in Fishing Creek watershed in Columbia and Sullivan Counties, Pa.," Fishing Creek Sportsman Association special meeting, July 2011.
- "What are Lichens and What Do They Say About Air Quality in Our Region," Café Scientifique-Pittsburgh, May 2011.
- "What Fluffy Dust, Candle Flame and Other Lichens Tell us About the Air," interviewed by The Allegheny Front, Sept. 2010.
Research Interests
- Lichens as indicators of anthropogenic disturbances
- Aquatic ecology and the relationship between fluvial geomorphology, water quality and biological diversity
- Wetland ecology and restoration
In the News
- "Bee Watchers Needed," WESA 90.5 FM, June 6, 2019.
- "Project Bee Watch seeks 'citizen scientists,'" Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 8, 2019.
- "Allegheny County's Bees Love Nectar-Rich Native Milkweed," WESA 90.5 FM, Sept. 3, 2018.
- "Help bring bees back to the region as volunteer for Project Bee Watch," NEXT Pittsburgh, April 16, 2018.
- "Newsmaker: Matthew Opdyke," Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Aug. 30, 2015.
- "Newsmaker: Matthew Opdyke," Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 24, 2014.
- "Lichens Take a Likin' to Upper St. Clair Trees," Upper St. Clair Patch, July 23, 2013.
- "The Next Page: The Secret World of Lichen," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 30, 2012.
- "The Power of Cladistics," Green Teacher magazine, Spring 2012 issue.
Point Park Features
- "Biology Program Provides Students Personalized Attention From Faculty — and Access to Bioinformatics, Cellular/Molecular, Environmental and Organismal Careers," Point Park University website, June 18, 2020.
- "Students’ Research Work With Project Bee Watch Showcased at Ecological Science of America Conference," Point Park University website, Sept. 16, 2019.
- "Graduate Students Present Research on Current Environmental Challenges," Point Park University website, Aug. 19, 2019.
- "Graduate Students and Environmental Firm Collaborate on Stream Flow Project in Schenley Park," Point Park University website, Dec. 10, 2018.
- "Conducting Research in the Field: Biological Sciences Major Interning for Allegheny Land Trust," Point Park University website, July 27, 2018.
- "Professor Presents to Environmental Community Organizers About Lichens," Point Park University website, Feb. 7, 2018.
- "Air and water quality explored through faculty, student research," The Point, Winter 2016 issue.
- "Professor Presents at Ecological Society of America Conference," Point Park University website, Aug. 24, 2015.
- "Ecology Students Shadow Dinosaur Expert at Carnegie Museum of Natural History," Point Park University website, March 31, 2015.
- "Botany Class Studies Wetland Conservation, Collaborates With Allegheny Land Trust," Point Park University website, Oct. 9, 2014.
- "Professor and Graduate Student Awarded Grant to Study Lichen," Point Park University website, April 15, 2014.
- "Environmental Science Professor Presents at 2013 Susquehanna Water Science Forum," Point Park University website, Oct. 21, 2013.
- "Recent Biological Sciences Grad Discusses Her Research on Tree Cores," Point Park University website, May 20, 2013.
- "Science Majors Participate in Tree Planting Event on Sycamore Island," Point Park University website, May 6, 2013.
- "Botany Shadowing Assignment Connects Students to Environmental Experts," Point Park University website, Nov. 7, 2012.
- "Green Teacher Magazine Publishes Article by Professor of Environmental Science," May 25, 2012.
- "Professor Opdyke to Discuss His Research on the Lichen Community," Point Park University website, April 15, 2011.
- "Prof. Opdyke, Students Research Lichen as Indicator of Air Quality," Point Park University website, May 28, 2010.