Dr. Martin Huss

Associate Professor of Botany

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Education

BA - 1983 - Biology, Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas
MA - 1988 - Botany, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
PhD - 1992 - Botany,  The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

Courses Taught

• Biological Science - non-majors general education course (lecture and lab course)
• Biology of the Cell (lecture and lab course)
• Mycology - Biology of Fungi (lecture and lab course)
• Honors Biology of the Cell (lecture course only)
• General Botany - Biology of Plants (lecture and lab course)
• Honors Biology of Plants (lecture course only)
• Plant Pathology (lecture and lab course)
• Economic Botany (lecture course only)
• Medical Mycology (lecture and lab course)
• Virology (team taught course - lecture course only)

Research Interests

Fungal & Plant Biology

My research focuses on the population biology, genetics, and ecology of fungi and related organisms.   I have experience working with slime molds, trichomycetes, gasteromycetes, plant pathogenic fungi, and wood-decay fungi.  I am particularly interested in the consequences of intra- and interspecific interactions among fungi, as well as their associations with other organisms.  Current research efforts are devoted toward understanding dispersal and reproductive strategies in gasteromycetes (e.g., bird's nest fungi, puffballs, and stinkhorns) on population structure in these fungi.   I am also investigating the effects that exotic and invasive plant species (e.g., kudzu) may have on microbial communities (i.e., bacteria, fungi, and cellular slime molds) in the soil.

In a separate, but ongoing project, I have been working with other biologists in evaluating a proposed management approach of inoculating wood-decay fungi into selected trees within lands managed for timber production.  If the proposed technique is successful, trees with artificially-induced wood-decay may facilitate colonization by birds, flying squirrels, and other desirable wildlife into younger-aged forests than would normally occur.  Potential benefits of this management strategy may include providing for the conservation of sensitive and rare birds, the northern flying squirrel, and possibly, the Northern Spotted Owl in concert with the commercial production of timber. 

Curriculum Vitae

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