What drives the coupling (and decoupling) of plant-microbial-ecosystem interactions across increasing scales of physical, environmental, and biological organization?
Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology
2017 - 2022University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignB.S. in Integrative Biology (with Highest Distinction)
2013 - 2017University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignB.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
2013 - 2017University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUniversity of Tennessee - Knoxville
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
PUBLICATIONS (*Co-first author)
1. Mutz, J., … Edwards, J.D., … & S. Kalisz (2026) Plant invader alters root fungal microbiome, physiology, and biomass allocation in native understory species. Journal of Ecology, In press.
2. Liu, P., … Edwards, J.D., ... & Chen, J. (2026) The effects of incubation temperature, incubation duration, and sample storage condition on the activity of β-1, 4-glucosidase across different soil types. Forest Ecosystems, 100471.
3. Barnes, C. N., … Edwards, J. D., ... & Kivlin, S. N. (2026) Root causes of below‐ground processes: Tree mycorrhizal associations outweigh tree richness. Journal of Ecology, 114(3), e70282.
4. Marín, C., … Edwards, J.D., … & Lindo, Z. (2025) A global call to strengthen national soil biodiversity action through coordination and harmonization. Plants, People, Planet.
5. Edwards, J.D., Kanzel, M.R., Luo, Y., … Rudgers, J.A., & Kivlin, S.N. (2025) Warming disrupts plant-fungal symbiosis more severely in leaves than roots. Global Change Biology, 31(4), e70207
6. Edwards, J.D., Fraterrigo, J.M., Eddy, W.C., Dalling, J.W., Yang, W.H. (2025) Functional traits of ectomycorrhizal trees influence surrounding soil organic matter properties. Functional Ecology.
7. Seyfried, G.S., Edwards, J.D., Kent, A.K., Dalling, J.W., Yang, W.H. (2025) Nitrogen addition alters interactions between ectomycorrhizal host trees and fungal communities in mixed mycorrhizal tropical forests. Plant and Soil, 1-16
8. Fahey, C., … Edwards, J.D., … & Parker, J.D. (2025) Canopy complexity drives positive effects of tree diversity on productivity in two tree diversity experiments. Ecology, 106(1): e4500
9. *Edwards, J.D., *Love, S.J., Phillips, R.P., Parker J.D., … & Kivlin, S.N. (2024) Long- and short-term soil storage methods other than freezing can be useful for DNA-based microbial community analysis. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 191: 109329.
10. Edwards, J.D., Krichels, A.H., Seyfried, G.S., Dalling, J.W., Kent, A.D., & Yang, W.H. (2024) Soil microbial community response to ectomycorrhizal dominance in neotropical montane forests. Mycorrhiza, 1-11.
11. *Love, S.J., *Edwards, J.D., … Bailey, J.K. & Kivlin, S.N. (2023) Identifying ecological and evolutionary research targets and risks in climate change studies to break barriers to broad inference. PLOS Climate, 2(12), e0000320.
12. Lang, A.K., LaRue, E.A., Kivlin, S.N., Edwards, J.D., … & Fei, S. (2023) Forest structural diversity is linked to soil microbial diversity. Ecosphere. 14(11): e4702.
13. Edwards, J.D., Cook, A.H., Yannarell, A.C., & Yang, W.H. (2022) Accelerated gross nitrogen cycling following garlic mustard invasion is linked with abiotic and biotic changes to soils. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. 5: 1050542.
14. Edwards, J.D., Yang, W.H., Yannarell, A.C. (2022) Soil microbial communities are not altered by garlic mustard in recently invaded central Illinois forests. Ecosphere. 13(4), e3967.
15. Edwards, J.D., Pittelkow, C.M., Kent, A.D, & Yang, W.H. (2018) Dynamic biochar effects on soil nitrous oxide emissions and underlying microbial processes during the maize growing season. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 122: 81-90.