Byron J. Adams

 Employment (Since Ph.D.)
University of California, Davis, postdoc, 1999-2000
University of Florida, Assistant Professor, 2000-present

 Research Interests:

Research in my lab approaches nematode evolution broadly, from the microevolutionary processes that occur within and among populations, to the diverse patterns of morphological and life history traits. Our goal is to better understand the historical relationships between nematode parasites and their hosts in order to come up with novel ways of managing them. Our subjects are primarily insect parasitic nematodes that can be used to control insect pests, and plant parasites that cause substantial agronomic damage.

Current topics under investigation in the lab include:

• Morphology, taxonomy & molecular systematics of entomopathogenic nematodes
• Gene flow and phylogeography
• The origin and maintenance of Commensalism, Symbiosis, Unisexuality and Parasitism (plant and insect)
• Nematode-Bacterium Symbiosis and Coevolution
• Nematode Biodiversity and Soil Ecosystems
• The evolution of body size, geographic and ecological range requirements, facultative utilization of males, rates of DNA substitution and molecular evolution, so-called "key innovations" (such as stylet, esophagus, and cuticle morphology)
• Speciation and Species Concepts
• The origin and evolution of plant parasitism

 
• Nematode Anatomy & Morphology (ENY 6101C)
• Nematode Taxonomy and Systematics (ENY 6102C)
• Information Techniques in Research (ENY 5810C)
• Soil Invertebrate Field Biology

 
• Sun, L, J. R. Gurnon, B. J. Adams, M. V. Graves and J. L. Van Etten. 2000. Characterization of a (-1,3-glucanase encoded by chlorella virus PBCV-1. Virology 276:27-36.
• Pruess, K. P., B. J. Adams, T. J. Parsons, X. Zhu, and T. O. Powers. 2000. Phylogenetic relationships of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) inferred from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II gene. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 16:286-295.
• Nadler S. A., B. J. Adams, E. T. Lyons, R. L. DeLong, and S. R. Melin. 2000. Molecular and morphometric evidence for separate species of Uncinaria (Nematoda: Ancylostomatidae) in California sea lions and northern fur seals: Hypothesis testing supplants verification. Journal of Parasitology 86:1099-1106.
• Sun, L., Y. Li, A. K. McCullough, T. G. Wood, R. S. Lloyd, B. J. Adams, J. R. Gurnon, and J. L. Van Etten. 2000. Intron conservation in a UV-specific DNA repair gene encoded by chlorella viruses. Journal of Molecular Evolution 50:82-92.
• Sun, L., B. Adams, J. R. Gurnon, Y. Ye, and J. L. Van Etten. 1999. Characterization of two chitinase genes and one chitosanase gene encoded by chlorella virus PBCV-1. Virology 264:376-587.
• Buzas, Z., H. Pamjav, D. Triga, T. Vellai, B. Adams, A. Reid, A. Burnell, I. Glazer, M. Klein, A. Fodor, and A. Chrambach. 1999. Application of PHastSystem PAGE as a new tool for molecular identification of entomopathogenic steinernematid and heterorhabditid nematodes. Electrophoresis 20:1266-1273.
• Adams, B. J. 1998. Species concepts and the evolutionary paradigm in modern nematology. Journal of Nematology 30:1-21.
• Adams, B. J., A. M. Burnell, and T. O. Powers. 1998. "Phylogenetic inference and taxonomic resolution among Heterorhabditid species: Limitations and delimitations." IN: Abad, P., Burnell, A.M., Laumond, C. Boemare, N. and Coudert F. (Eds.). Genetics and Molecular Biology of Entomopathogenic Nematodes. Proceedings of a symposium and workshops held at INRA Antibes, April 1-6 1997. European Commission Publications, Luxembourg.
• Adams., B. J., A. M. Burnell, and T. O. Powers. 1998. A phylogenetic analysis of Heterorhabditis (Nemata: Rhabditidae) based on internal transcribed spacer 1 DNA sequence data. Journal of Nematology 30:22-39.
• Powers, T. O., T. C. Todd, A. M. Burnell, P.C.B. Murray, C.C. Fleming, A. L. Szalanski, B. J. Adams, and T. S. Harris. 1998. The internal transcribed spacer region as a taxonomic marker for nematodes. Journal of Nematology 29:441-450.
• Hall, J. S., B. J. Adams, T. J. Parsons, R. C. French, L. C. Lane, and S. G. Jensen. 1998. Molecular cloning, sequencing and phylogenetic relationships of a new potyvirus-sugarcane streak mosaic virus and a reevaluation of the classification of the Potyviridae. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 10:323-332.
• Taylor, D.B., A.L. Szalanski, B.J. Adams, and R.D. Peterson II. 1998. Susceptibility of house fly (Diptera: Muscidae) larvae to entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae, Steinernematidae). Environmental Entomology 27:1514-1519.