Michael Strickland
Professor Michael Strickland is an ecologist whose research sits at the interface of soil, microbial, and ecosystem ecology. His research has led to a greater understanding of the role microbial communities play in soil ecosystems and how these communities interact with other organisms to influence ecosystem processes. He leverages multiple techniques to understand how systems and communities respond to factors such as soil health management, the role of animals in shaping ecosystems, and the interactive effects of global change and antibiotics.
Recently, Michael’s work has highlighted how antibiotic exposure from livestock manure acts as a significant environmental stressor, altering microbial community structure and decreasing ecosystem carbon-use efficiency. His research has shown that antibiotics can increase fungal-to-bacterial ratios and disrupt nutrient cycling, potentially leading to greater nutrient losses from terrestrial systems. Furthermore, his team has explored how these antibiotic "legacies" interact with rising temperatures to further disrupt bacterial networks and shift communities toward slower-growing, oligotrophic taxa, illustrating that historical environmental stressors can fundamentally shape how soil ecosystems respond to future climate change.
In addition to this research, Michael is also the Director of the Deep Soil Ecotron, a $23M National Science Foundation facility that will enable researchers to explore soils up to three meters deep. This facility is comprised of 24 replicated enclosures capable of simulating above- and belowground environments, while leveraging state-of-the-art instrumentation for monitoring a wide array of ecosystem responses.
Abstracts this author is presenting: