Headshot of Dr.Amy Treonis

Dr. Amy Treonis

She/Her
Associate Professor of Biology
  • Profile

    Soil ecology is the study of the organisms that live below ground, interacting with plants, each other, and their environment. Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes are all microscopic soil organisms that play important roles in decomposition and nutrient cycling. These organisms also are incredibly diverse, and a handful of soil can contain hundreds of different species. The use of molecular, microscopic, and stable isotope techniques allows soil ecologists to study the unseen life in the soil and understand the world beneath our feet. Dr. Treonis currently is studying nematode and microbial ecology in arid ecosystems (the Mojave Desert) and at regional field sites (granite rock outcrops of the Piedmont region).

  • Publications
    Journal Articles

    Treonis AM, Marais E, Maggs-Kölling G. 2024. Soil nematode communities vary among populations of the iconic desert plant, Welwitschia mirabilis. Pedobiologia. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedobi.2024.150943

    Treonis AM, Marais E, Maggs-Kölling G. 2022. Nematode communities indicate diverse soil functioning across a fog gradient in the Namib Desert gravel plains. Ecology & Evolution. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9013

    McQueen JP, Treonis AM. 2019. Cacao agroforestry in Belize: Effects on soil nematode community structure. Agroforestry Systems. DOI:10.1007/s10457-019-00477-2

    Treonis AM, Sutton KA, Unangst SK, Wren JE, Dragan ES, McQueen JP.  2019. Soil organic matter determines the distribution and abundance of nematodes on alluvial fans in Death Valley, CA. Ecosphere. DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2659. https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.2659

    Treonis AM, Unangst SK, Kepler RM, Buyer JS, Cavigelli MA, Mirsky SB, Maul JE. 2018. Characterization of soil nematode communities in three cropping systems through morphological and DNA metabarcoding approaches.  Scientific Reports. www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-20366-5

    Treonis A, Sutton K, Kavanaugh B, Narla A, McLlarky T, Felder J, O'Leary C, Riley M, Pikus A, Thomas S. 2012. Soil nematodes and their prokaryotic prey along an elevation gradient in the Mojave Desert (Death Valley National Park, California, USA). Diversity. 4:363-374.

    Landesman WJ, Treonis AM, Dighton J.  2011.  Effects of a one-year rainfall manipulation on soil nematodes, microbial communities and nitrogen mineralization.  Pedobiologia, 54:87-91.

    Treonis AM, Michelle EH, CA O'Leary, EE Austin, CB Marks. 2010. Identification and localization of food source microbial nucleic acids inside soil nematodes. Soil Biology & Biochemistry. 42:2005-2011.

    Treonis AM, Austin EE, Buyer JS, Maul JE, Spicer L, Zasada IA. 2010. Effects of organic amendments and tillage on soil microorganisms and microfauna. Applied Soil Ecology. 46:103-110.

    Austin E, Semmens K, Parsons C, Treonis AM. 2009. Granite rock outcrops: An extreme environment for soil nematodes? Journal of Nematology. 41:84-91.

    Book Chapters

    Treonis AM.  2017.  Below ground trophic interactions. In: Dighton, J and White, J (eds.), The Fungal Community: Its Organization and Role in the Ecosystem 4th Edition, Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press. pp. 333-346. 

    Treonis AM, Sutton K, Unangst S.  2016.  Biodiversity patterns for microscopic life in the soils of Death Valley National Park.  In: Proceedings of the 1st Death Valley Natural History Conference. Death Valley National Park, CA, Death Valley Natural History Association. pp. 293-305.