Brigham Young University Homepage
Route Y Secure Sign In

Life Sciences

Byron Adams

Personal Information

Byron Adams
Biology
Email: Byron_adams@byu.edu

685 WIDB
Provo, UT 84602
(801) 422-3132

Associate Professor

Office Hours: Whenever I'm in the office

Nematode Evolution Laboratory (Adams Lab)
Tylenchida Phylogeny Webpage

 Education
  • PhD , Biological Sciences , University of Nebraska , 1998
  • BS , Zoology , Brigham Young University , 1993
 Research

comparative phylogeography, host-parasite relationships, coevolution, molecular systematics, phylogenetic theory, speciation and species concepts, foodweb assembly, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning

 Selected Publications

Articles

Bai, X., B. J. Adams, T. A. Ciche, S. Clifton, R. Gaugler, S. A. Hoenhout, J. Spieth, P. W. Sternberg and P. S. Grewal.  "Transcriptomic analysis of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora TT01."  BMC Genomics.  10.10.1186/1471-2164-10-205 (2009).  <website>

Adhikari, B. N., D. H. Wall and B. J. Adams.  "Desiccation survival in an Antarctic nematode: Molecular analysis using expressed sequenced tags."  BMC Genomics.  10.69 (2009).  <website>

Johnson, J. J., S. M. Peat and B. J. Adams.  "Where's the ecology in molecular ecology?."  Oikos.  118.11 (2009): 1601-1609. 

Simmons, B. L., D. H. Wall, B. J. Adams, J. E. Barrett, and R. A. Virginia.  "Mesofauna communities in above- and belowground habitats in mosses and algal mats in Taylor Valley, Antarctica."  Polar Biology.  32.11 (2009): 1549-1558. 

Simmons, B.L., Wall, D. H. Adams, B.J., Ayres, E., Barrett, J.E., and R.A. Virginia.  "Long-term experimental warming reduces soil nematode populations in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antartica."  Soil Biology & Biochemistry.  41.10 (2009): 2052-2060. 

Johnson, J. J., M. Adair, B. Adams, D. Fairbanks, V. Itamura, D. Jeffery, D. Merrell, S. Ritter and R. Tolman.  "Evolution Education in Utah: A State Office of Education¿University Partnership Focuses on Why Evolution Matters."  Evolution: Education and Outreach.  2.3 (2009): 349-358.  <website>

Shapiro-Ilan, D. I. Mbata, G. N. Nguyen, K. B. Peat, S. M. Blackburn, D. and B. J. Adams.  "Characterization of biocontrol traits in the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis georgiana (Kesha strain), and phylogenetic analysis of the nematode's symbiotic bacteria."  Biological Control.  51.3 (2009): 377-387.  <website>

Peat, S. M., and B. J. Adams.  "Natural selection on the luxA gene of bioluminescent bacteria."  Symbiosis.  46.2 (2008): 101-108. 

Barrett, J. E., R. A. Virginia, D. H. Wall, and B. J. Adams.  "Decline of a dominant invertebrate species contributes to altered carbon cycling in low diversity soil ecosystem."  Global Change Biology.  14 (2008): 1-11. 

Victoriano, P. F., J. C. Ortiz. E. Benavides, B. J. Adams and J. W. Sites.  "Comparative phylogeography of co-distributed species of Chilean Liolaemus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) from the central-southern Andean range."  Molecular Ecology.  17.10 (2008): 2397-2416. 

Ayres, E., J. N. Nkem, D. H. Wall, B. J. Adams, J. E. Barrett, E. J. Broos, A. N. Parsons, L. E. Powers, B. L. Simmons and R. A. Virginia.  "Human trampling reduces soil faunal populations in a polar desert, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica."  Conservation Biology.  22.6 (2008): 1544-1551. 

Bliss, T., A. R. Dillman, R. Russell, M. Anderson, M. Jett, D. Yourick, and B. J. Adams.  "The exterminators: An inquiry-based experimental module using insect parasitic nematodes."  The Science Teacher.  74.4 (2007): 34-40. 

Bai, X., P. S. Grewal, S. A. Hogenhout, B. J. Adams, T. A. Ciche, R. Gaugler and P. W. Sternberg.  "Comparative analysis of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora expressed sequence tags (ESTs)."  Journal of Parasitology.  93.6 (2007): 1343-1349. 

Ayres, A., D. H. Wall, B. J. Adams, J. E. Barrett and R. A Virginia.  "Unique similarity of faunal communities across aquatic-terrestrial interfaces in a polar desert ecosystem."  Ecosystems.  DOI: 10.1007/s10021-007-9035-x (2007). 

Carrasco-Ballesteros, S.#, P. Castillo, B. J. Adams, and E. Perez-Artes.  "Identification of Pratylenchus thornei, the cereal and legume root-lesion nematode, based on SCAR-PCR and satellite DNA."  European Journal of Plant Pathology.  118 (2007): 115-125. 

Adams, B. J., D. H. Wall, U. Gozel, A. R. Dilllman, J. M. Chaston, and I. D. Hogg.  "The southernmost worm, Scottnema lindsayae (Nematoda): diversity, dispersal and ecological stability."  Polar Biology.  30 (2007): 809-815. 

Bilgrami, A. L., R. Gaugler, D. I. Shapiro-Ilan and B. J. Adams.  "Source of trait deterioration in entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema carpocapsae during in vivo culture."  Nematology.  8.3 (2006): 535-548. 

Tigano, M., B. J. Adams, S. Maimala, D. G. Boucias.  "Genetic diversity of Hirsutella thompsonii isolates from Thailand based on AFLP analysis and partial ²-tubulin gene sequences."  Genetics and Molecular Biology.  29.4 (2006): 715-721. 

Gozel, U., F. Lamberti, L. Duncan, A. Agostinelli, L. Rosso, K. Nguyen and B. J. Adams.  "Molecular and morphological consilience in the characterization and delimitation of five nematode species from Florida belonging to the Xiphinema americanum group."  Journal of Nematology.  8.4 (2006): 521-532. 

Nguyen, K. B., D. I. Shapiro-Ilan, J. R. Fuxa, B. W. Wood, M. A. Bertolotti, and B. J. Adams.  "Taxonomic and Biological Analysis of Two Isolates of Steinernema rarum (Doucet, 1986) Mamiya, 1988 Found in the Southeastern USA."  Journal of Nematology.  38 (2006): 28-40. 

Pérez-Losada, M., R. G. Christensen, D. A. McClellan, B. J. Adams, R. P. Viscidi, J. C. Demma and and K. A. Crandall.  "Phylogenetic codivergence of polyomaviruses and their hosts."  Journal of Virology.  80.12 (2006): 5663-5669. 

Nkem, J. N., D. H. Wall, R. A. Virginia, J. E. Barrett, E. J. Broos, D. L. Porazinska, and B. J. Adams.  "Wind dispersal of soil invertebrates in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica."  Polar Biology.  29 (2006): 346-352. 

Nadler, S. A., P. De Ley, M. Mundo-Ocampo, A. B. Smythe, S. P. Stock, D. Bumbarger, B. J. Adams, I. T. De Ley, O. Holovachov, and J. G. Baldwin.  "Phylogeny of Cephalobina (Nematoda): Molecular evidence for substantial phenotypic homoplasy and incongruence with traditional classifications."  Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.  40.3 (2006): 696-711. 

Barrett JE, Virginia RA, Wall DH, Cary SC, Adams BJ, Hacker AL, Aislabie JM.  "Co-variation in soil biodiversity and biogeochemistry in northern and southern Victoria Land, Antarctica."  Antarctic Science.  18.4 (2006): 535-548. 

Hogg, I., C. Cary, T. ODonnell, K. Newsham, B. Adams, J. Aislabie, P. Convey, F. Frati, M. Stevens and D. H. Wall.  "Biotic interactions in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems: are they a factor?."  Soil Biology and Biochemistry.  38 (2006): 3035-3040. 

Adams, B. J., R. D. Bardgett, E. Ayres, D. H.Wall, J. Aislabie, S. Bamforth, R. Bargagli, C. Cary, P. Cavacini, L. Connell, P. Convey, J. W. Fell, F. Frati, I. Hogg, K. Newsham, A. ODonnell, N. Russell, R. Seppelt, and M. I. Stevens.  "Diversity and Distribution of Victoria Land Biota. Soil Biology & Biogeochemistry."  Soil Biology and Biochemistry.  38 (2006): 3003-3018. 

Wall, D. H., B. J. Adams, J. E. Barrett and D. W. Hopkin.  "A synthesis of soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in Victoria Land, Antarctica."  Soil Biology and Biochemistry.  38 (2006): 3001-3002. 

Eyualem-Abebe, J. G. Baldwin, B. Adams, D. Hope, S. Gardner, R. Huettel, P. Mullin, T. Powers, J. Sharma, W. Ye and W. K. Thomas.  "A position paper on the electronic publication of nematode taxonomic manuscripts."  Journal of Nematology.  38.3 (2006): 305-311. 

Adams, B. J., A. Fodor, H. S. Koppenhöfer, E. Stackebrandt, S. P. Stock and M. G. Klein.  "Biodiversity and Systematics of Nematode-Bacterium Entomopathogens."  Biological Control.  37 (2006): 32-49. 

Tigano, M. S., R. M. D. G. Carneiro, A. Jeyaprakash, D. W. Dickson, and B. J. Adams.  "Phylogeny of Meloidogyne spp. based on 18S rDNA and the intergenic region of mitochondrial DNA sequences."  Nematology.  7.6 (2005): 851-862. 

Nguyen, K. B., Tesfamariam, M., Gozel, U., Gaugler, R. and B. J. Adams.  "Steinernema yirgalemense n. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) from Ethiopia."  Nematology.  6.6 (2004): 839-856. 

Baldwin, J., S. A. Nadler and B. J. Adams.  "Evolution of plant parasitism among nematodes."  Annual Review of Phytophathology.  42 (2004): 83-106. 

Rodrigues, J.C.V., C.C. Childers, M. Gallo-Meagher, R. Ochoa and B. J. Adams.  "Mitochondrial DNA and RAPD polymorphisms in the haploid mite Brevipalpus phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)."  Experimental and Applied Acarology.  34 (2004): 275-290. 

Nguyen, K. B., D. I. Shapiro-Ilan, R. J. Stuart, C. W. McCoy, R. R. James and B. J. Adams.  "Heterorhabditis mexicana n. sp. (Heterorhabditidae: Rhabditida) from Tamaulipas, Mexico."  Nematology.  6.2 (2004): 231-244. 

Zhang, Y., I. Calin-Jageman, J. R. Gurnon, B. J. Adams, A. W. Nicholson, and J. L. Van Etten.  "Characterization of a chlorella virus PBCV-1 encoded ribonuclease III."  Virology.  317 (2003): 73-83. 

Grewal, P. S., S. K. Grewal, L. Tan and B. J. Adams.  "Parasitism of Mollusks by Nematodes: Types of Associations and Evolutionary Trends."  Journal of Nematology.  35.2 (2003): 146-156. 

Nadler, SA, R. A. Carreno, B. J. Adams. H. Kinde, J. G. Baldwin, and M. Mundo-Ocampo.  "Molecular phylogenetics and diagnosis of soil and clinical isolates of Halicephalobus gingivalis (Nematoda: Cephalobina: Panagrolaimoidea), an opportunistic pathogen of horses."  International Journal for Parasitology.  33 (2003): 11151125. 

Nguyen, K. B. and B. J. Adams.  "SEM and systematic studies of Steinernema abbasi Elawad et al., 1997, and S. riobrave Cabanillas et al., 1994 (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae)."  Zootaxa.  179 (2003): 1-10. 

Tartar, A., D. G. Boucias, J. J. Becnel and B. J. Adams.  "Comparison of plastid 16S rDNA (rrn16) genes from Helicosporidium spp.: evidence supporting the reclassification of Helicosporidia as green algae (Chlorophyta)."  International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.  53 (2003): 1719-1723. 

Dickman, M. B., Y.-S. Ha, Z. Yang, B. Adams, and C. Huang.  "A protein kinase from Colletotrichum trifolii is induced by plant cutin and is required for appressorium formation."  Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions.  16.3 (2003): 411-421. 

Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., W. A. Gardner, J. R. Fuxa, B W. Wood, K. B. Nguyen, B. J. Adams., R. A. Humber, and M. J. Hall.  "Survey of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi endemic to pecan orchards of the Southeastern US and their virulence to the pecan weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)."  Environmental Entomology.  32.1 (2003): 187-195. 

Morehead, T., J. R Gurnon, B. J Adams., K. W. Nickerson, L. Fitzgerald,. and J. L. Van Etten.  "Ornithine decarboxylase encoded by chlorella virus PBCV-1."  Virology.  301 (2002): 165-175. 

Marti, O. G., Adams, B. J. and Sylvain, J-F.  "Speciation in the Acugutturidae."  Nematology.  4.4 (2002): 489-504. 

Tartar, A., Boucias, D., Adams, B. and Becnel, J.  "Phylogenetic analysis identifies the invertebrate pathogen Helicosporidium sp. as a green algae (Chlorophyta)."  International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.  52 (2001): 273279. 

Nguyen, K. B., J. Maruniak and B. J. Adams.  "The diagnostic and phylogenetic utility of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer sequences of Steinernema."  Journal of Nematology.  33 (2001): 73-82. 

Adams, B. J.  "The species delimitation uncertainty principle."  Journal of Nematology.  33 (2001): 153-160. 

Zhang, Y., B. Adams, L. Sun, D. E. Burbank, and J. L. Van Etten.  "Intron conservation in the DNA polymerase gene encoded by chlorella viruses."  Virology.  285 (2001): 313-321. 

Sun, L, J. R. Gurnon, B. J. Adams, M. V. Graves and J. L. Van Etten.  "Characterization of a b-1,3-glucanase encoded by chlorella virus PBCV-1."  Virology.  276 (2000): 27-36. 

Pruess, K. P., B. J. Adams, T. J. Parsons, X. Zhu, and T. O. Powers.  "hylogenetic relationships of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) inferred from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II gene."  Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.  16 (2000): 286-295. 

Nadler S. A., B. J. Adams, E. T. Lyons, R. L. DeLong, and S. R. Melin.  "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 (2000): 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.  "Intron conservation in a UV-specific DNA repair gene encoded by chlorella viruses."  Journal of Molecular Evolution.  50 (2000): 82-92. 

Sun, L., B. Adams, J. R. Gurnon, Y. Ye, and J. L. Van Etten.  "Characterization of two chitinase genes and one chitosanase gene encoded by chlorella virus PBCV-1."  Virology.  264 (1999): 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.  "Application of PHastSystem PAGE as a new tool for molecular identification of entomopathogenic steinernematid and heterorhabditid nematodes."  Electrophoresis.  20 (1999): 1266-1273. 

Books

Peat, S. M., B. C. Hyman and B. J. Adams.  "Phylogenetics and population genetics of entomopathogenic and insect-parasitic nematodes."  Molecular approaches and techniques for the study of insect pathogens.  Ed. P.S. Stock, Boemare N., I. Glazer and J. Vandenberg.  Wallingford, Oxfordshire: CABI Publishing, July 2009. 

Adams, B. J., A. R. Dillman and C. Finlinson.  "Molecular taxonomy and phylogeny."  Root-knot Nematodes.  Ed. Perry, R. N., Moens, M., Starr, J.  Wallingford, Oxfordshire: CABI Publishing, Oct. 2009. 

Adams, B. J., S. M. Peat and A. R. Dillman.  "Phylogeny and evolution."  Entomopathogenic Nematodes: Systematics, Phylogeny and Bacterial Symbionts.  Ed. K. Nguyen and D. J. Hunt.  Oct. 2007.  Vol. 5. 

Adams, B. J. and K. B. Nguyen.  "Nematode Parasites of Insects."  Encyclopedia of Entomology.  Ed. J. L. Capinera.  2004. 

Adams, B. J. and K. B. Nguyen.  "Taxonomy and Systematics."  Entomopathogenic Nematology.  Ed. R. Gaugler.  CAB publishing, CAB International, 2002. 

Adams, B. J.  "Nematological Examination."  Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater.  Ed. S. J. Posavec.  21st ed.  American Public Health Association Washington, DC, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation, 2002. 

Adams, B. J.  "Benthic Meiofauna."  Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater.  Ed. S. J. Posavec.  21st ed.  American Public Health Association Washington, DC, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation, 2002. 

Adams, B. J.  "Species concepts and entomopathogenic nematodes: What species are, how we can find them, and an application to the genus Heterorhabditis."  Developments in entomopathogenic nematode/bacterial research.  Ed. C. T. Griffin, A. M. Burnell, M. J. Downes and R. Mulder.  Luxembourg: European Commission Publications, 2001. 

D. Shapiro-Ilan, B. Wood, W. Gardner, T. Cottrell, J. Fuxa, M. Hall, K. Nguyen, and B. Adams.  "Research toward microbial control of the pecan weevil."  Proceedings of the Southeastern Pecan Growers Association.  Orange Beach Alabama: 94th Annual Convention, 2001. 

 Experience

Teaching

  • Associate Professor , Brigham Young University , 2008-Present
  • Assistant Professor , Brigham Young University , 2003-2007
  • Assistant Professor , University of Florida , 2000-2003

Professional

  • Post-doc , University of California at Davis , 1999-1999

 Awards
  • 2009 Ice Marathon, McMurdo Station Antarctica, First Place (over 40 division) , Raytheon Polar Services, National Science Foundation , 2009
  • 2007-2008 Golden Beaker Award , McMurdo Station Helicopter Operations , 2008
  • Young Scholar Award , Brigham Young University , 2007
  • Antarctic Service Medal , United States Deparatment of Defense and the National Science Foundation , 2006
  • Who's Who in Agriculture , Academic Keys , 2003
  • 21st Century Award for Achievement , International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England , 2001
  • Who's Who in the 21st Century , International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England , 2001
  • International Man of the Year , International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England , 2001
  • One Thousand Great Americans , International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England , 2001
  • International Scientist of the Year , International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England , 2001
  • Exemplar Lecturer , University of Florida Center for Excellence in Teaching , 2000
  • Outstanding Scientists of the 21st Century , International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England , 2000
 Courses Taught
BIOL 503 : Graduate Orientation
BIO 494R : Mentored Research
BIO 421 : Evolutionary Biology Lab
INBIO 442 : Advanced Invertebrate Zoology
MMBIO 240 : Molecular Biology
MMBIO 695R : Research
PAS 494R : Exploring Current Environmental Issues (Climate Change)
BIOL 100 : Principles of Biology, Freshman Academy
LFSCI 494R : Mentored Research
MMBIO 494R : Mentored Research
BIO 799R : Dissertation
BIO 420 : Evolutionary Biology
Biology | Microbiology & Molecular Biology | Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Science | Physiology & Developmental Biology | Plant & Wildlife Sciences
Life Sciences Office | Office of Academic Advisement | Office of College Life
Updated by the Life Sciences Web Team, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602 - (801)422-3963 - Copyright 2009, All Rights Reserved