Dr. James Amon is a microbial ecologist specializing in conservation ecology and restoration of wetlands. Projects currently underway include studies of wetland vegetation and its relation to nitrogen and phosphorus cycling by the microbial community. Work includes both laboratory and field studies. Other projects include using wetlands for bioremediation of waste water and aquifer waters contaminated by chlorinated solvents. Another project is looking at the use of soil amendments such as compost to enhance the restoration potential of sites where good soils are not present. Some work is part of a multidisciplinary team including faculty and students from Biology, Geology and Chemistry as well as other universities including the Air Force Institute of Technology. Dr. Amon is the WSU representative of the Ohio Wetlands Consortium which is centered at Ohio State University.

Much of the field laboratory has been in the Beaver Creek Wetlands, a 1000 acre groundwater fed wetland approximately 10 to 20 minutes from the school. Both large and small scale experiments are underway. Other work has been done in the coastal wetlands of the Atlantic Ocean. The on-campus labs are well equipped to carry out virtually any microbiological or ecological project. A greenhouse is available for selected projects.

Representative Publications:

Amon, J.P. and K.H. French. 2004. Photoresponses of the marine protest Ulkenia sp zoospores to ambient, Artificial and biolimihnescent light. Mycologia 96: 463-469.

Bohrer, K., C. Friese and J. Amon. 2004. Seasonal dynamics of aribuscular mycorrhizal fungi in differing wetland habitats. Mycorrhiza 14: 329-337.

Rousch, S. and J.P. Amon. 2003. Repopulation of Restored Wetland Habitant by Odonata (Dragon Flies and Damselflies). Ecological Restoration 221:174-179.

Amon, J. P., C. A. Thompson, Q. J. Carpenter and J. Miner 2002. Temperate zone fens of the glaciated Midwestern USA. Wetlands 22:301-317

Weyrauch, S. and J.P. Amon. 2002. Relocation of amphibians to created seasonal ponds in Southwestern Ohio. Ecological Restoration 20:31-36

Turner, S.D., R.M. J.P. Amon, Schneble, and C.F. Friese. 2000. Mycorrhizal fungi associated with plants in groundwater fed wetlands. Wetlands 20:200-204

Wolters, J. V. K. M. Rowley, C. F. Friese, J. Amon, and J. B. Robinson.2000. Restoration  of wetland diversity and microbial function: the use of soil amendments in created wetlands (Ohio). Ecological Restoration. 18:119-121.

Amon, J.P. and Elke Briuer, 1993.  Groundwater is hydrology source in Ohio fen creation.  Wetlands Research Program Bulletin 3:5-8 (Corps of Engineers, Waterways Experimental Station).

Schmalhofer, V.R., J.P. Amon and J.R. Runkle.  1992.  The vascular flora of a transect across the Beaver Creek Wetlands, Greene County, Ohio. Ohio J. Sci.  92:14-24.

Amon, J.P.  1988.  Chemotaxis in the marine fungus Rhizophydium littoreum. Appl. and Environ. Microbiol. 54: 1668-1672