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Microbes in Action!

Research in our lab focuses on integrating microbial ecology into broader ecological theory and using it as a foundation for ecosystem management.

 

We are based in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at the University of Kansas as well as the Kansas Biological Survey​.

New Microbial Cultures

Research Areas

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Open Graduate Student positions

Our lab has graduate student positions for fall of 2024. We have several projects. The first explores feedbacks between soil microbiomes, as impacted by plant diversity and rainfall, impact plant root traits. This is part of the New Roots for Restoration Biology Integration Institute. Second, we are exploring whether symbiotic fungi limit the restoration of pyrophillic pine savanna-wiregrass ecosystems. Finally, we are testing the traits of extremophile soil fungi in adaptation to space environments, including radiation tolerance and to help produce "soil" in human moon habitats. If you (or someone you know) are interested please email Ben directly (ben.sikes[at]ku.edu). Come join our growing team!

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Feedbacks between social and ecological systems

Papers continue to blossom from a collaborative NSF grant on the dynamics of coupled Human and Natural Systems. This grant explored how ecological properties and management practices change at the borders of National Parks, when one moves into adjacent areas managed by other agencies or even privately owned. Over time, these different practices may promote ecotones created by human practices. Most recently we showed the key responses of soil properties at these boundaries and how collaboration costs can impact the social networks needed to respond to wildfires that span these boundaries.

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Pyrophilic plants respond to fire-altered soils

Dr. Jacob Hopkins (former Sikes Lab PhD) had his recent paper accepted at American Naturalist. The paper continues our exploration of fire, plants, and soil biotic feedbacks in pine savannas. In this work, Jacob explored how pyrophilic plants respond to differential effects of fire severity on soil abiotic and biotic properties. Lots of interesting finding,s, including differences in life forms and preferences for soils from particular fire severities. This variation is likely to help maintain the high diversity of pine savannas, particularly among the pyrodiversity on the landscape.

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Extremophile Soil Crust Sampling Complete!

With excellent teams in the Mojave National Preserve and Colorado High Rockies, we were able to sample soil crusts from across some extreme environments. Monsoonal rains had washed out roads in the Mojave and rain/altitude were big challenges in the Rockies. Nevertheless we were able to collect more than 200 crusts that we will use for testing on their resilience to space-like stresses back in Kansas.

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