Peer-Reviewed Publications
15. Abolins-Abols, M., N. Christian, J.A. Masters, and R.M. Pigg. In press. “A customizable inquiry-based statistics teaching application for introductory biology students.” Course Source.
14. Christian, N. and M.H. Perlin. 2024. “Plant-endophyte communication: scaling from molecular mechanisms to ecological outcomes.” Mycologia DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2023.2299658.
13. Garces, K.R., H.E. Sage, N. Christian, and S.M. Emery (2022). “Epichloë increases root fungal endophyte richness and alters root fungal endophyte composition in a changing world.” Journal of Fungi 8: 1142.
12. Christian, N., B. Espino Basurto, A. Toussaint, X. Xu, E. A. Ainsworth, P. E. Busby, and K. D. Heath (2021). "Elevated carbon dioxide reduces a dominant soybean leaf endophyte." Global Change Biology 27(17): 4154-4168. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15716
11. Whitaker, B.K., N. Christian, Q. Chai, and K. Clay (2020). "Foliar microbiome community structure is independent of phylogenetic relatedness in an Asteraceae common garden." Ecology and Evolution 10(24):13895-13912. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6983
10. Christian, N., B. E. Sedio, X. Florez-Buitrago, L. A. Ramírez-Camejo, E. I. Rojas, L. C. Mejía, S. Palmedo, A. Rose, J. W. Schroeder, E. A. Herre (2020). “Host affinity of endophytic fungi and the potential for reciprocal interactions involving host secondary chemistry.” American Journal of Botany 107: 219-228. (Special Issue).
9. Zanne, A., K. Abarenkov, M. Afkhami, C. Aguilar-Trigueros, S. Bates, P. Busby, N. Christian, et. al. (2020). "Fungal functional ecology: Bringing a trait-based approach to plant-associated fungi." Biological Reviews. doi:10.1111/brv.12570
8. Christian, N., E.A. Herre, and K. Clay. 2019. "Foliar endophytic fungi alter patterns of nitrogen uptake and distribution in Theobroma cacao." New Phytologist 222: 1573-1583. doi:10.1111/nph.15693.
7. Christian, N. and K.D. Kearns. 2018. "Using scaffolding and deliberate practice to improve scientific writing in an introductory biology laboratory course." Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. 19(2): doi:10.1128/jmbe.v19i2.1564.
6. Christian, N. and J.D. Bever. 2018. "Carbon allocation and competition maintain variation in plant root mutualisms." Ecology and Evolution 8(11):5792-5800. doi: 10.1002/ece3.4118.
5. Christian, N., E. A. Herre, L. C. Mejia, and K. Clay. 2017. “Exposure to the leaf litter microbiome of healthy adults protects cacao seedlings from pathogen damage.” Proceedings of the Royal Society B 284(1858). doi: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0641.
4. Christian, N., C. Sullivan, N. D. Visser, and K. Clay. 2016. “Plant host and geographic location drive endophyte community composition in the face of perturbation.” Microbial Ecology 72(3): 621-632. doi: 10.1007/s00248-016-0804-y.
3. Christian, N., B.K. Whitaker, and K. Clay. 2015. Microbiomes: unifying animal and plant systems through the lens of community ecology theory. Frontiers in Microbiology. 6:869. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00869
2. Lawson, S., N. Christian, and P. Abbott. 2014. Comparative analysis of the biodiversity of fungal endophytes in insect-induced galls and surrounding foliar tissue. Fungal Diversity 66:89-97.
1. Mitchell, S., C. Ellingston, T. Coyne, L. Hall, M. Neill, N. Christian, C. Higham, S. F Dobrowolski, M. Trachman, and M. Summar. 2009. Genetic variation in the urea cycle: a model resource for investigating key candidate genes for common diseases. Human Mutation 30:56-60.
14. Christian, N. and M.H. Perlin. 2024. “Plant-endophyte communication: scaling from molecular mechanisms to ecological outcomes.” Mycologia DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2023.2299658.
13. Garces, K.R., H.E. Sage, N. Christian, and S.M. Emery (2022). “Epichloë increases root fungal endophyte richness and alters root fungal endophyte composition in a changing world.” Journal of Fungi 8: 1142.
12. Christian, N., B. Espino Basurto, A. Toussaint, X. Xu, E. A. Ainsworth, P. E. Busby, and K. D. Heath (2021). "Elevated carbon dioxide reduces a dominant soybean leaf endophyte." Global Change Biology 27(17): 4154-4168. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15716
11. Whitaker, B.K., N. Christian, Q. Chai, and K. Clay (2020). "Foliar microbiome community structure is independent of phylogenetic relatedness in an Asteraceae common garden." Ecology and Evolution 10(24):13895-13912. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6983
10. Christian, N., B. E. Sedio, X. Florez-Buitrago, L. A. Ramírez-Camejo, E. I. Rojas, L. C. Mejía, S. Palmedo, A. Rose, J. W. Schroeder, E. A. Herre (2020). “Host affinity of endophytic fungi and the potential for reciprocal interactions involving host secondary chemistry.” American Journal of Botany 107: 219-228. (Special Issue).
9. Zanne, A., K. Abarenkov, M. Afkhami, C. Aguilar-Trigueros, S. Bates, P. Busby, N. Christian, et. al. (2020). "Fungal functional ecology: Bringing a trait-based approach to plant-associated fungi." Biological Reviews. doi:10.1111/brv.12570
8. Christian, N., E.A. Herre, and K. Clay. 2019. "Foliar endophytic fungi alter patterns of nitrogen uptake and distribution in Theobroma cacao." New Phytologist 222: 1573-1583. doi:10.1111/nph.15693.
7. Christian, N. and K.D. Kearns. 2018. "Using scaffolding and deliberate practice to improve scientific writing in an introductory biology laboratory course." Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. 19(2): doi:10.1128/jmbe.v19i2.1564.
6. Christian, N. and J.D. Bever. 2018. "Carbon allocation and competition maintain variation in plant root mutualisms." Ecology and Evolution 8(11):5792-5800. doi: 10.1002/ece3.4118.
5. Christian, N., E. A. Herre, L. C. Mejia, and K. Clay. 2017. “Exposure to the leaf litter microbiome of healthy adults protects cacao seedlings from pathogen damage.” Proceedings of the Royal Society B 284(1858). doi: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0641.
- Awarded Honorary Mention - Organization for Tropical Studies Best Student Paper Award (2018)
- Selected News Coverage:
- Scientific American: "Chocolate Trees Shower Young with Disease-Fighting Leaves"
- CBC Radio’s Quirks and Quarks: “Chocolate plants get fungus armour from their parents”
- Science News: “How plant microbes could feed the world and save endangered species”
- IFL Science: “How shared microbes are saving chocolate”
- Science Daily: “Litter bugs may protect chocolate supply: Microbiome from mother trees protects baby trees from disease”
- Phys.org: “Litter bugs may protect chocolate supply”
- ScIU Blog: “Horton Hears a Who – Hidden Communities in Leaves”
- Copa Airlines Inflight Magazine: “Microbios benéficos para la salud del cacao/Microbes help protect cacao plants”
4. Christian, N., C. Sullivan, N. D. Visser, and K. Clay. 2016. “Plant host and geographic location drive endophyte community composition in the face of perturbation.” Microbial Ecology 72(3): 621-632. doi: 10.1007/s00248-016-0804-y.
3. Christian, N., B.K. Whitaker, and K. Clay. 2015. Microbiomes: unifying animal and plant systems through the lens of community ecology theory. Frontiers in Microbiology. 6:869. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00869
2. Lawson, S., N. Christian, and P. Abbott. 2014. Comparative analysis of the biodiversity of fungal endophytes in insect-induced galls and surrounding foliar tissue. Fungal Diversity 66:89-97.
1. Mitchell, S., C. Ellingston, T. Coyne, L. Hall, M. Neill, N. Christian, C. Higham, S. F Dobrowolski, M. Trachman, and M. Summar. 2009. Genetic variation in the urea cycle: a model resource for investigating key candidate genes for common diseases. Human Mutation 30:56-60.
Book Chapters
3. Christian, N. “Who am I? How I reconciled my identity as a woman in science and education through pedagogy courses and evidence-based teaching.” In Teaching as if Learning Matters: Pedagogies of Becoming by Next-Generation Faculty. Eds. Jennifer Meta Robinson, Valerie Dean O'Loughlin, Katherine Dowell Kearns, and Laura Plummer. Under contract, anticipated 2022.
2. Christian, N. and M. Marasco. “Avoiding the easy way out: How we pushed ourselves and our students to try something new.” In Teaching as if Learning Matters: Pedagogies of Becoming by Next-Generation Faculty. Eds. Jennifer Meta Robinson, Valerie Dean O'Loughlin, Katherine Dowell Kearns, and Laura Plummer. Under contract, anticipated 2022.
1. Christian, N., B.K. Whitaker, and K. Clay. 2017. “A novel framework for decoding fungal endophyte diversity.” In The Fungal Community: Its Organization and Role in the Ecosystem 4th Edition. Eds. John Dighton, James White and Peter Oudemans. Submitted as an invited contribution.
2. Christian, N. and M. Marasco. “Avoiding the easy way out: How we pushed ourselves and our students to try something new.” In Teaching as if Learning Matters: Pedagogies of Becoming by Next-Generation Faculty. Eds. Jennifer Meta Robinson, Valerie Dean O'Loughlin, Katherine Dowell Kearns, and Laura Plummer. Under contract, anticipated 2022.
1. Christian, N., B.K. Whitaker, and K. Clay. 2017. “A novel framework for decoding fungal endophyte diversity.” In The Fungal Community: Its Organization and Role in the Ecosystem 4th Edition. Eds. John Dighton, James White and Peter Oudemans. Submitted as an invited contribution.
Manuscripts in Review and in Revision
None currently.