education

• Forestry Engineer, Universidad de La Plata, Argentina
• M.S. in Soil Science, Universidad del Sur, Argentina
• Ph.D. in Agronomy and Soil Science, University of Hawaii

selected publications

• Trentini, C., P.I. Campanello, A. Ares. 2017. Thinning of loblolly plantations in subtropical argentina: impact on microclimate and understory vegetation. Forest Ecology and Management 384: 236-247.
• Puettmann, K., A. Ares, J.I. Burton, E.K. Dodson. 2016. Forest restoration using variable density thinning: Lessons from Douglas-fir stands in Western Oregon. Forests (Published online December 7, 2016).
• Himmelstein, J., A. Ares, E. van Houweling. 2016. Sustainable intensification: A multifaceted systemic approach to improve food security. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 96: 4833-4839.
• Himmelstein. J., A. Ares, D. Gallagher, J. Meyers. 2016. A meta-analysis of intercropping in Africa: Impacts on yield, integrated pest management and farm income. In preparation for the International Journal of Agriculture Sustainability (Published online October 20, 2016).
• Ella, V.B., M.R. Reyes, A. Mercado, A. Ares, R. Padre. 2016. Conservation agriculture increases soil organic carbon and residual water content in upland crop production systems. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 5: 24-29.
• Burton, J., A. Ares, K.J. Puettmann, D. Olsen. 2013. Ecosystem functioning in managed forests: tradeoffs among carbon storage and plant species richness. Ecological Applications 23:1297-1310.
• Amiotti, N.L., P. Zalba, A. Ares, J.M. Rossi. 2012. Coniferous afforestation increases soil carbon in maritime sand dunes. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science 59:289-304.
• Dodson, E.K, A. Ares, K.J. Puettmann. 2012. Early tree responses to thinning treatments designed to accelerate late successional forest structure in young coniferous stands of western Oregon, USA. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 42: 345-355.
• Gleason, S.M., J. Read, A. Ares. 2011. Biomass partitioning and phosphorus economics of Queensland rainforest tree seedlings grown under different levels of fertilisation and radiation. Journal of Tropical Ecology 27:133-145.
• Ares, A., A.R. Neill, K. Puettmann. 2010. Understory abundance, species diversity and functional attribute response to stand density management in coniferous stands. Forest Ecology and Management 260: 1104-1113.
• Gleason, S.M., J. Read, A. Ares. 2010. Species-soil associations, disturbance, and nutrient cycling in Australian rainforests in soils of contrasting fertility. Oecologia 162: 1047-1058.
• Gleason, S.M., J. Read, A. Ares, D.J. Metcalfe. 2009. Phosphorus economics of tropical rainforest species and stands across soil contrasts in Queensland, Australia: Understanding the effects of soil specialisation and trait plasticity. Functional Ecology 23:1157-1166.
• Ares, A., S.D. Berryman, K.J. Puettmann. 2009. Understory vegetation response to thinning disturbance of varying intensities in young coniferous stands. Applied Vegetation Science 12: 472-487.
• Ares, A., D.M. Burner, D.K. Brauer. 2009. Soil phosphorus and water effects on growth, nutrient and carbohydrate concentrations, δ13C, and nodulation of mimosa (Albizia julibrissin Durz.) on a highly-weathered soil. Agroforestry Systems 76: 317-325.
• Ares, A., C.A. Harrington, T.A. Terry, J.M. Kraft. 2008. Early and late wood δ13C in young Douglas-fir in relation to intensive vegetation management. Trees-Structure and Function 22:603-609.
• Friday, J.B., P.G. Scowcroft, A. Ares. 2008 Responses of native and invasive plant species to selective logging in an Acacia koa-Metrosideros polymorpha, forest in Hawaii. Applied Vegetation Science 11:471-482.
• Ares, A., J. Fownes, P. Simmonds. 2008. Wood production and native vegetation conservation in Hawaii’s uplands. Western Journal of Applied Forestry 23:177-182.
• Petersen, K.S., A. Ares, T. A. Terry, R. B. Harrison. 2008. Vegetation competition effects on aboveground biomass and macronutrients, leaf area, and crown structure in five-year old Douglas-fir. New Forests 35:299-311.
• Burner, D.M., D.J. Carrier, D.P. Belesky, D.H. Pote, A. Ares, E.C. Clausen. 2008. Yield components and nutritive value of Robinia pseudoacacia and Albizia julibrissin in Arkansas, USA. Agroforestry Systems 72:51-62.
• Leishman, M.R., T. Haslehurst, A. Ares, Z. Baruch. 2007. Leaf trait relationships of native and invasive plants: community and global-scale comparisons. New Phytologist 176:635-643.
• Campanello, P., M.G. Gatti, A. Ares, L. Montti, G. Goldstein. 2007. Tree regeneration and microclimate in a liana and bamboo-dominated semideciduous Atlantic Forest. Forest Ecology and Management 252: 108-117.
• Ares, A., T.A. Terry, C.A. Harrington, W. D. Devine, D. Peter. 2007. Biomass removal, soil compaction, and vegetation control effects on five-year growth of Douglas-Fir in Coastal Washington. Forest Science 53: 600-610.
• Yost, R.S., and A. Ares. 2007. Phosphorus and lime requirements in acid soils for tree crops: a review. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 19: 176-185.
• Ares, A., T.A. Terry, K. B. Piatek, R.B. Harrison, R.E. Miller, B. Flaming, C. Licata, B. Strahm, C.A. Harrington, R. Meade, H. W. Anderson, L.C. Brodie, J.M. Kraft. 2007. The Fall River long term site productivity study in coastal Washington: site characteristics, experimental design, and biomass, carbon and nitrogen stores before and after harvest. U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Gen. Tech. Report PNW-GTR-691. Portland, OR. 85 p.
• Burner, D.M., D.H. Pote, A. Ares. 2006. Foliar and shoot allometry of pollarded black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia L. Agroforestry Systems 68: 37-42.
• Ares, A., W. Reid, D. K. Brauer. 2006. Production and economics of native pecan silvopastures. Agroforestry Systems 66: 205-215.
• Ares, A., T.A. Terry, R.E. Miller, H.W. Anderson, B.L. Flaming. 2005. Forest harvest effects on soil physical properties and Douglas-fir growth. Soil Science Society of America Journal 69:1822-1832.
• Ares, A. and D. K. Brauer. 2005. Biomass partitioning in loblolly pine silvopastoral stands: spatial configuration and pruning effects. Forest Ecology and Management 219: 176-184.
• Ares, A. and D.K. Brauer. 2005. Growth and nut production of black walnut in relation to site quality, tree type and stand conditions in south-eastern United States. Agroforestry Systems 63: 79-86.
• Gleason, S.M., and A. Ares. 2004. Ecophysiology of native and invasive tree species: growth, photosynthesis, and carbohydrate storage of koa and tropical ash in relation to light and defoliation. Tree Physiology 24: 1087-1097.
• Ares, A., D. St Louis, D. Brauer. 2003. Trends in tree growth and understory yield in silvopastoral practices with southern pines. Agroforestry Systems 59: 27-33.
• Ares, A., N., Falcao, K. Yuyama, R.S. Yost, C.R. Clement. 2003. Response to fertilization and nutrient deficiency diagnosis in peach palm in Central Amazonia. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 66: 221-232.
• Ares, A., J.P. Quesada, J. Boniche, R.S. Yost, E. Molina, J. Smyth. 2002. Allometric relationships in Bactris gasipaes Kunth for heart-of-palm production agroecosystems in Costa Rica. Journal of Agriculture Science (Cambridge) 138: 285-292.
• Ares, A., J. Boniche, E. Molina, R.S. Yost. 2002. Bactris gasipaes agroecosystems for heart-of-palm production in Costa Rica: Changes in biomass, nutrient and carbon pools with stand age and plant density. Field Crops Research 74: 13-22.
• Ares, A. and J.H. Fownes. 2001. Productivity, resource use and competitive interactions of Fraxinus uhdei in Hawaii uplands. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 31: 1-11.
• Ares, A., J.H. Fownes, W. Sun. 2000. Genetic differentiation of intrinsic water-use efficiency in the Hawaiian native Acacia koa. International Journal of Plant Sciences 161: 909-915.
• Ares, A. and J.H. Fownes. 2000. Productivity, nutrient and water-use efficiency of Eucalyptus saligna and Toona ciliata in Hawaii. Forest Ecology and Management 139: 227-236.
• Deenik, J., A. Ares, R.S. Yost. 2000. Fertilization response and nutrient diagnosis in peach palm (Bactris gasipaes): a review. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 56: 195-207.
• Ares, A. and J.H. Fownes. 2000. Comparisons between generalized and specific tree biomass functions as applied to tropical ash. New Forests 20: 277-286.
• Ares, A. and J.H. Fownes. 1999. Water supply regulates structure, productivity and water-use-efficiency of Acacia koa forest in Hawaii. Oecologia 121: 458-46.
• Pattison, R.R., G. Goldstein, A. Ares. 1998. Growth, biomass allocation and photosynthesis of invasive and native Hawaiian wet rainforest species. Oecologia: 117:449-459.

ResearchGate

CREDENTIALS

• BSN, University of Guam
• MSN, University of Phoenix

ABOUT 

Research Interests

Estimated to comprise over 10,000 living species, the predatory prosobranch gastropods within the taxonomic superfamily Conoidea are arguably the largest single group of venomous animals presently known. What is surprising is that these slow-moving soft-bodied animals can be abundantly found on tropical coral reefs, which can be summed up by the universal motto “eat or be eaten.”

The genus Conus (suborder: Toxoglossa), commonly referred to as the cone snails, are the most famous of all venomous molluscs, as they have received a great amount of attention from pharmacologists for their ability to produce a functionally diverse group of small disulfide-rich peptides that act predominantly by wreaking havoc on the nervous systems of their prey and an even greater amount of attention from shell collectors for their incredibly ornate shells. Ecologically speaking, cone snails can be categorized into three groups, depending on their target prey: (i) the vermivorous cone snails are worm hunters that feed on polychaetes, hemichordates and echiuroid worms; (ii) the molluscivores are snail hunters that prey upon other gastropods; and (iii) the piscivorous cone snails are remarkable fish hunters who have venoms capable of rapidly paralyzing fish.

The innate beauty of this classification system is that it takes evolution into account while providing a classification system that potentially reflects upon the active components present in the venom, simply because venom components are heavily selected for by the necessity to rapidly subdue prey. What may work on snails, won’t necessarily work on fish; and examples of this can be found in the prey-specific activity associated with crude venoms isolated from Conus species with different prey.

My research interests include: (i) cataloging the feeding behavior of these incredible animals, understanding the biochemical mechanism by which the components of their venoms act; (ii) the biological diversity of neogastropod symbionts; (iii) the phylogenetic diversity that has resulted from the evolution of venom as a predatory strategy; and (iv) the application of venom components as pharmaceutical therapies to treat a variety of illnesses including cancer. These research interests are a great way to integrate both classical taxonomic and ecological approaches with modern scientific techniques (e.g., genetics, pharmacology, and marine natural products chemistry) in an effort to increase the awareness of molluscan species diversity in marine environments and their potential for enhancing the quality of life on Earth. 

CREDENTIALS

• B.A., Biology, University of Guam
• M.S., Biology, University of Guam
• Ph.D., Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah

Recent Publications

J. S. Biggs, M. Watkins, N. Puillandre, J.P. Ownby, E. Lopez-Vera, S. Christensen, K. J. Moreno, A. L. Navarro, P. C. Showers, and Baldomero M. Olivera. Evolution of Conus Peptide Toxins: Analysis of Conus californicus Reeve, 1844. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. In press.

J. S. Biggs, M. Watkins, P. C. Showers, and B. M. Olivera. (2010) Defining a Clade by Morphological, Molecular and Toxinological Criteria: Distinctive Forms related to Conus praecellens A. Adams, 1854. Nautilus. 124(1), 1-19.

Peraud O., Biggs J.S., Hughen R.W., Light A.R., Concepcion G.P., Olivera B.M., and E.W. Schmidt (2009) Microhabitats within venomous cone snails yield diverse actinobacteria. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 75(21), 6820–6826.

J.S. Biggs, Olivera B.M., and Y.I. Kantor (2008) Alpha-conopeptides specifically expressed in the salivary gland of Conus pulicarius. Toxicon. Jul;52(1):101-5.

J.S. Biggs, Rosenfeld, Y., Shai, Y., and B. M. Olivera. (2007) Conolysin-Mt: A Conus Peptide that Disrupts Cellular Membranes. Biochemistry, 46(44), 12586-12593.

J.S. Biggs, Jie Wan, N. Shane Cutler, Jukka Hakkola, Päivi Uusimäki, Hannu Raunio, and Garold S. Yost. (2007) Transcription Factor Binding to a Double E-Box Motif Represses CYP3A4 Expression in Human Lung Cells. Molecular Pharmacology, 72, 514-525.

Biggs, J.S. (2005) Lung-Selective Regulation of the Human CYP3A Genes. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112.

Matsumoto S.S., Biggs J.S., Copp, B.R., Holden, J.A. and L.R. Barrows . (2003) Mechanism of ascididemin-induced cytotoxicity. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 16, 113-122.

Puglisi, M.P., Paul, V.J., Biggs, J.S., and M. Slattery (2002) Co-occurrence of chemical and structural defenses in the gorgonian corals of Guam. Marine Ecology Progress Series 239:105-114.

J.S. Biggs (2000) The Role of Secondary Metabolite Complexity in the Red Alga Laurencia palisada as a Defense Against Diverse Consumers. Thesis. University of Guam Marine Laboratory. Mangilao, Guam 96923.

Harrigan, G., Luesch, H., Yoshida, W.Y., Moore, R.E., Nagle, D.G., Biggs, J.S., Park, P.U., and V.J. Paul. (1999) Tumonoic Acids, Novel Metabolites from a Cyanobacterial Assemblage of Lyngbya majuscula and Schizothrix calcicola. Journal of Natural Products. Vol. 62. Pp. 464-467.

Harrigan, G., Yoshida, W.Y., Moore, R.E., Nagle, D.G., Park, P.U., Biggs, J.S., Paul, V.J., Mooberry, S.L., Corbett, T.H., and F.A. Valeriote (1998) Isolation, Structure Determination, and Biological Activity of Dolastatin 12 and Lyngbyastatin 1 From Lyngbya majuscula/Schizothrix calcicola Cyanobacterial Assemblages. Journal of Natural Products. Vol.61. Pp. 1221-1225.

RESEARCHGATE

ABOUT

Mike T. Carson (Ph.D. in Anthropology, University of Hawaii, 2002) investigates archaeology and natural-cultural landscape histories throughout the Asia-Pacific region. 

External link for access to published works: https://uog.academia.edu/MikeCarson

CREDENTIALS

• B.A., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles
• M.A., Anthropology, University of Hawaii at Manoa
• Ph.D., Anthropology, University of Hawaii at Manoa