Sunshine A. Van Bael
Assistant Professor - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
School of Science & Engineering
https://vanbaellab.wp.tulane.edu/
Stone Center Departments
The Stone Center
People Classification
Faculty
Tulane Affiliation
Core Faculty
Region
- Central America
Additional Info
Recently-Taught Latin American-Related Courses:
Number of Dissertations or Theses Supervised in the Past 5 Years:
2
Research
Community ecology;, vertebrate ecology, microbial ecology, plant-animal-fungal interactions, multi-trophic interactions, tropical agriculture, biodiversity, Brazil
Degrees
- B.A., University of Chicago, Biology, 1996
- Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Animal Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2003
Academic Experience
Academic Experience
- Assistant Professor, Tulane University, 2012-
- Adjunct Faculty, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 2010
- Associate Scientist, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 2009
Distinctions
- National Science Foundation, “Research Experience for Undergraduates Supplement” S. Van Bael, 2012
- Arizona State University – Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) Collaborative Research “Drivers of Microbial Community Structure and Function in Tropical Soils” F. Garcia-Pichel, E.Herre, B. Turner, S. Van Bael, 2011
- Smithsonian Restricted Endowment Program, “Mechanisms of fungal-mediated protection in tropical plants” S. Van Bael, C. Estrada, W. Wcislo, 2011
- National Science Foundation (NSF), “Conflicts among members of interacting symbioses: How do symbiotic fungi influence plant defense against leaf-cutting ants?” S. Van Bael, W. Wcislo, S. Rehner, 2010
- Panama’s Secretary of Science and Technology, “National Investigator,” S. Van Bael, 2010
Languages
- Spanish
Overseas Experience
- Australia
- Thailand
- Papua New Guinea
- Brazil
- Peru
- Costa Rica
- South Africa
Selected Publications
- 2017. “Fungal diversity in galls of baldcypress trees.” With Washburn, G. Fungal Ecology 29: 85-89.
- 2016. “Selective elimination of microfungi in leaf-cutting ant gardens.” With Mighell, K. Fungal Ecology 24:15-20.
- 2016. “Red coloration in young tropical leaves associated with reduced fungal pathogen damage.” With Tellez, P. H. Biotropica, 48(2)150-153.
- 2015. “An endophyte-rich diet increases ant predation on a specialist herbivorous insect.” With Hammer, T. J. Ecological Entomology, 40: 316-321.
- 2013. “Bird communities in forested and human modified landscapes of Central Panama: a baseline survey for a native species reforestation treatment.” With R. Zambrano and J. E. Hall. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Mana