Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPhone: +1(785) 864-1500
Kansas Biological Survey
University of KansasE-mail:
Lawrence, KS, USA, 66047.
Professional Details
Appointments
University of Kansas/Assistant Professor/2013-
Kansas Biological SurveyAssistant Researcher2013-
Lincoln University, Bio-Protection CenterPostdoctoral Fellow2012-2013
Archbold Biological StationResearch Associate, 2011-current
University of Texas at AustinPostdoctoral Fellow2010-2012
National Wetlands Research CenterBiologist I 2003-2005
Education
Postdoctoral Fellow – Lincoln University, New Zealand2012-2013
David H. Smith Postdoctoral Research Fellow- University of Texas at Austin2010-2012
“Utilizing natural soil biotic communities to enhance ecosystem resilience and recovery”
Ph.D.-University of Guelph, Canada 2005-2010
“Functional Differences in Arbuscular Mycorrhizas: Causes and Consequences”
BSc.- University of Tennessee, Knoxville1997-2001
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB)
Awards and Grants
David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship ($141,000 total)2010-2012
FESIN travel grant- Edinburgh Fungal Metagenomics Workshop ($2,000)2010
Parkinson Travel Award, Soil Ecological Society ($400)2009
Visiting Researcher Grant, Freie Universität Berlin-CIC (3100 €)2009
University of Guelph, International Graduate Scholarship ($4,000 total) 2007, 2008
University of Guelph Graduate Scholarship ($2,000)2007
Arthur Richmond Memorial Scholarship, University of Guelph ($3,500)2006
Gold Award Customer Satisfaction /National Wetlands Research Center ($500)2005
Publications
Journal Articles
† = undergraduate student co-author,‡=high school student co-author,i= invited
- BA Sikes, H Maherali, JN Klironomos. (2013) Mycorrhizal fungal growth responds to soil characteristics, but not plant host identity, during a primary lacustrine dune succession. Mycorrhiza. In press.
- BA Sikes, H Maherali, JN Klironomos. (2012)Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities change among three stages of primary sand dune succession but do not alter plant growth. Oikos. 121: 1791-1800.
- KC Courtney†, LD Bainard, BA Sikes, AM Koch, MM Hart, H Maherali, and JN Klironomos (2012) Determining a minimum detection threshold in terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Journal of Microbiological Methods 88(1): 14-18.
- J Harnden†, AS MacDougalland BA Sikes.(2011)Field-based effects of allelopathy in invaded tallgrass prairie. Botany89(4): 227-234.
- SA Schnitzer, JN Klironomos, J HilleRisLambers, LL Kinkel, PB Reich, K Xiao, MC Rillig, BA Sikes & RM Callaway. (2011) Soil microbes drive the classic plant diversity–productivitypattern.Ecology92(2): 296-303. [Selected by Faculty of 1000]
- BA Sikes, JR Powell, MC Rillig. (2010) Deciphering the relative contributions of multiple functions within plant-microbe symbioses.Ecology 91(6): 1591-1597.
- BA Sikes, K Cottenie and JN Klironomos. (2009)Plant and fungal identity determines pathogenprotection of plant roots by arbuscular mycorrhizas.Journal of Ecology 97: 1274-1280.
- RJ Howard, SE Travis and BA Sikes. (2007)Rapid Growth of a Eurasian haplotype of Phragmites australis in a restored brackish marsh in Louisiana, USA. Biological Invasions 10(3): 369-379.
Manuscripts In Review
R1.BA Sikes, J Paszalek†, NE de Leon‡, CV Hawkes. Fungal Endophytes from Converted Pastures Outgrow and Outcompete Native Endophytes. Fungal Ecology
R2.C Aslan, BA Sikes, K Gedan.Mutualisms between native and non-native partners in earth, air, and water.Journal of Ecology
Manuscripts In Preparation (full manuscripts at the editing stage)
P1.M Mann‡, CV Hawkes, BA Sikes. Fungal endophyte improves corn root proliferation in living soils, but simultaneous addition with mycorrhizal fungi inhibits benefits. Target Journal: Journal of Agronomy
Non peer-reviewed/ Book Chapters articles
B1.BA Sikesi(2012) Internalizing Conservation through our own Microbes. Conservation Biology, 26(2): 198.
B2.BA Sikes i. (2010) When do arbuscular mycorrhizas protect plant roots from pathogens? Plant Signaling and Behavior 5(6): 763-765.
B3.BE Wolfe, JL Parrent, AM Koch, BASikes, M Gardes, JN Klironomos. (2009) Spatial heterogeneity in mycorrhizal populations and communities: scales and mechanisms. In Mycorrhizas – Functional Processes and Ecological Impact. Edited by C. Azcon-Aguilar, J.M. Barea, S. Gianinazzi, V. Gianinazzi-Pearson. Springer-Verlag. Berlin Heidelberg. Chapter 12. Pg. 167- 185.
Scientific Presentations(*presenter,)
Press
BA Sikes (2011) Enhanced restoration using soil microbial communities. Curious Nature web presentation:
Invited Talks
BA Sikes (2013) Deciphering the dirt: understanding microbes, their roles in ecosystems, and potential application. Louisiana State University.
BA Sikes (2013) Deciphering the dirt: understanding microbes, their roles in ecosystems, and potential application. Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, University of Western Sydney-Hawksbury Campus, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
BA Sikes (2012) Plant and Fungal Community Assembly Can Determine Exotic or Native Dominance. EcoPathWays Seminar Series: Lincoln University. Lincoln, New Zealand.
BA Sikes (2012) Deciphering the dirt: understanding microbes, their roles in ecosystems, and potential application. Bio-Protection Research Centre. Lincoln, New Zealand.
BA Sikes (2011) Soil microbes as a restoration tool to improve degraded landscapes. Society for Conservation Biology (SCB-ICCB). Auckland, New Zealand.
BA Sikes(2011)Can soil microbial amendments enhance plant and ecosystem restoration?Baylor University Seminar. Waco, TX, USA.
BA Sikes (2011)Changes in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi during sand dune succession and their effects on plants. Rice University Seminar. Houston, TX, USA
BA Sikes (2011) Using soil microbes to enhance restoration of native Florida scrub. Lake Wales Ridge Ecological Working Group (LWREWG), Archbold Biological Station, Lake Placid, FL
BA Sikes*, JN Klironomos. (2008) Who wears the pants? Plant roots, pathogens and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Ecological Society of America (ESA), Milwaukee, WI,USA
Contributed Talks
BA Sikes*. (2010)Utilizing natural soil biotic communities to enhance ecosystem recovery and resilience. Society of Conservation Biology(SCB-ICCB), Edmonton, AB, Canada.
BA Sikes*, JN Klironomos (2009)Where’s the biota? Lack of differential plant benefit from arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi across a sand dune succession. Soil Ecology Society, Burlington, VT, USA.
JR Powell*, BA Sikes, MC Rillig. (2009) Evolution of pathogen protection in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. British Ecological Society, Hertfordshire, U.K.
BA Sikes*, JN Klironomos. (2007)The Roots of Succession. Soil Ecology Society (SES), Moab, UT, USA.
RJ Howard*, SE Travis, BA Sikes. (2006) Growth comparisons between European and U.S. Gulf of Mexico clones of Phragmites australis in different environmental conditions. Society of Wetland Scientists, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
Posters
BA Sikes*, JN Klironomos. (2007)The Roots of Succession.Soil Ecology Society (SES), Moab, UT, USA.
JR Powell, PM Antunes, L Carvalho, G De Deyn, A Fisher, JN Klironomos, J Rodrigues, BA Sikes*. (2006) International Conference on Mycorrhizae (ICOM5), Granada, Spain.
RJ Howard, SE Travis, and BA Sikes. (2005) Invasiveness of a European lineage of Phragmites australis in a restored Louisiana coastal wetland.Annual Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists, Charleston, SC.
Teaching Experience
Guest Lectures
University of Texas at Austin
Microbial Ecology 364 (Spring 2011, 2012)
Advanced Topics in Microbial Ecology graduate level discussion group (Fall 2010)
University of Guelph
Environmental Soil Biology 3200 (Spring 2010)
Students Supervised
Estefania de Leon (Fall 2011-Spring 2012): University of Texas at Austin
High School Senior: UT Research and Design Intern
Rudy Portillo (Fall 2011): University of Texas at Austin Freshman Research Initiative
Effect of root fungal endophytes on competition between native and invasive plants
Michael Mann (Fall 2011- Spring 2012):International Science Fair (high school student)
Interactions between Piriformospora indica and Glomus intradices on Maize growth; 2nd place in Intel International Science Fair, Plant Science Category.
Matt Daley (2010-2011): University of Texas at Austin (co-advised w/ Christine Hawkes)
Effects of Drought and Priority Effects on Fungal Community Assembly
John Paszalek (2010-2011): University of Texas at Austin (co-advised w/ Christine Hawkes)
Senior thesis: Fungal Endophyte Resource Use and Competition
Adam Garibay (2010-2011): University of Texas at Austin
High School Senior: UT Research and Design Intern: Fungal decomposition of Bahiagrass
Kevin Courtney (2009-2010): University of Guelph (co-advised with John Klironomos)
Honors thesis: T-RFLP limitations in mycorrhizal fungal detection -> leading to publication
Graduate Teaching Assistant - University of Guelph
Environmental Biology I (ENV1020)2009
Humans and the Natural World (ZOO1500)2009, 2006
Biology I (1030)2008
Biostatistics and the Life Sciences (BIO2250)2008
Community Ecology (BIO3120)2007
Ecological Methods (BIO4110)2007, 2006, 2005
Service
University
Undergraduate Curriculum Committee- Guelph Integrative Biology2009
Seminar Committee- Guelph Integrative Biology 2008
Associate Professor IB/BIO Search Committee- Guelph2008
Journals
Ad-hoc Handling Editor: Conservation Biology
Recent Reviewer: PNAS, Ecology, American Journal of Botany, Oikos, Plant and Soil
Societies
SCB North America Board Member at Large2011-2014
ESA Soil Ecology Society Nominating Committee2008
Membership
Ecological Society of America (2005-present); Soil Ecological Society (2006-present); Society for Conservation Biology (Lifetime member); AAAS (2009-present)
Outreach
UT Design and Research Mentor- High school student internship2010,2011, 2012
National Science Fair Mentor (high school)2011
Conservation biology symposium for 40 AP Env. Bio. Students2011
Organized symposium between Crockett High School and Smith Fellows;
Crockett teacher contact: Michael Herring:
Other Research Experience
National Wetlands Research Center (NWRC)2003-2005
General Biologist I /Genetics Researcher
UTK Center for Environmental Biotechnology2003
Volunteer Research Assistant
UTK Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries2002
Field Research Assistant
Institute for Biological Invasions2001- 2002
Research Assistant, Volunteer Research/Web Design
Website:
Benjamin A. Sikes- Curriculum Vitae