Research Interests:
Fundamental questions that pique my interest are how and why certain organisms occur where they do and how organisms interact to influence these spatial patterns. In particular, I am fascinated by trees and how they are able to support communities of microscopic organisms. My research can be categorized into the following areas:
· Population ecology
· Community ecology
· Plant pathology
· Epidemiology
· Quantitative ecology
· Mycology
· Protistology
Current Research:
My current research is on the spatial epidemiology and population biology of brown rot fungi (Monilinia spp.) of stone fruits. The purpose of my research is to determine the 3D spatial distribution of brown rot symptom types within tree canopies, use flow cytometry and GFP-labeling to quantify the multinucleate state and determine if multinucleate heterokaryons occur in vitro, and develop microsatellite markers to examine the fine-scale genetic structure of populations of Monilinia spp. in tree canopies and stone fruit orchards. Click here to read the abstract of my research proposal.
Previous Research:
Research I’ve recently completed at the University of Central Missouri was on the community ecology and distribution of myxomycete (true slime molds) in the tree canopy in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The purpose of the research was to determine what factors of bark (pH, thickness, water absorption, etc.) influence the abundance and richness of myxomycete species, and to determine if other epiphytes influence that. This research was completed in 2007 and has gained national attention for our double-rope tree climbing techniques. To read more about my previous research, here are some of my recent publication:
Everhart, S.E. 2009. Collection and identification of grapevines (Vitis) from the tree canopy of select forests in the southeastern United States. Castanea. In review.
Everhart, S.E., J.S. Ely, and H.W. Keller. 2009. Association of tree canopy myxomycetes with epiphytes and bark characteristics. Botany. Accepted.
Keller, H.W., S.E. Everhart, M. Skrabal, and C.M. Kilgore. 2008. Tree Canopy Biodiversity in Temperate Forests: Exploring islands in the sky. Southeastern Biology 56:52–74. [pdf reprint]
Keller, H.W. and S.E. Everhart. 2008. Myxomycete species concepts, monotypic genera, the fossil record, and additional examples for good taxonomic practice. Revista Mexicana de Micologia 27:9–19. [pdf reprint]
Everhart, S.E. and H.W. Keller. 2008. Influence of bark pH on the occurrence and distribution of tree canopy myxomycete species. Mycologia 100:191–204. [pdf reprint]
Everhart, S.E. and H.W. Keller. 2008. Life history strategies of corticolous myxomycetes: The life cycle, fruiting bodies, plasmodial types, and taxonomic orders. Fungal Diversity 29:1–16. [pdf reprint]
Keller, H.W., C.M. Kilgore, S.E. Everhart,G.J. Carmack, C.D. Crabtree, and A.R. Scarborough. 2008. Myxomycete plasmodia and fruiting bodies: unusual occurrences and user friendly study techniques. Fungi 1:24–37. [pdf reprint]
Kilgore, C.M., H.W. Keller, S.E. Everhart, A.R. Scarborough, K.L. Snell, M.S. Skrabal, C. Pottorff, and J.S. Ely. 2008. Tree canopy research and student experiences using the double rope climbing method. Journal of Botanical Research Institute of Texas 2:1309–1336. [pdf reprint]
Everhart, S.E. 2006. Slime invaders on your lawn. The Iowa Horticulturist 22(2): 18-20. [pdf reprint]