Ecosystem Science and Management

College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources

Stephen E. Williams

FAMILY:  Married to Dr. Karen Cachevki Williams, Professor and Department Head in Family and Consumer Sciences (the University of Wyoming).  They have two grown sons, Eric of Laramie and Brian of Encino, California.

Education:

  • B.S. 1970 New Mexico State University (Microbiology and Chemistry)
  • M.S. 1972 New Mexico State University (Agronomy/Soils Chemistry)
  • Ph.D. 1977 North Carolina State University (Soil Science and Microbiology)

Professional Data:

  • Director, 2007-2009; Wyoming Reclamation and Restoration Center
  • Dean of the Graduate School, 1998-2003.
  • Department Head, Plant Soil and Insect Sciences, 1993-1998.
  • Professor, 1987-present; Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences and Department of Renewable Resources, University of Wyoming.
  • Associate Professor, 1984-1987;
  • Assistant Professor, 1976-1984; Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences, University of Wyoming.
  • Research Associate, 1975-1976; Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University.
  • Graduate Research Assistant, 1973-1975;Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University.
  • Plant Physiologist,1972-1973, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Exp. Station, USDA Forest Service, Albuquerque.
  • Graduate Research Assistant, 1970-1972, Department of Agronomy, New Mexico State University.

Professional Interests:

  • Symbiotic associations between plants and soil microorganisms including applications in mineland reclamation, wildland ecology and intensive agriculture.
  • Interactions and biocycling of metals by soil biota.
  • Below ground parameters that impact revegetation and restoration of disturbed lands.
  • Climate change impacts on soils and soil biota at high elevations.

Courses Taught:

  • Soil Microbiology
  • Introductory Soil Science
  • Readings in Microbial Ecology
  • Soil Classification, Genesis and Morphology
  • Soil Biology and Biochemistry
  • Agroecology Capstone Seminar
  • A Biological Junkpile: Our Industrialized Environment
  • Forest and Range Soils
  • Environment and Society

Selected Publications:

Williams, S. E. and R. Long. 2009. Activities of the Wyoming Reclamation and Restoration Center.

Williams, S. E. 2008. Chapter IV. Organized Doubt, pp 55-74. In: J. K. Wangberg (ed.) A Brand of Excellence: Teaching and Learning. 197 pages. ISBN: 0-941570-31-2

Palmer, K. M., N. L. Stanton, M. Ben-David, J. Mionczynski, and S. E. Williams. 2007. Are pika exposed to and affected by selenium deficiency?  Journal of Wildlife Diseases 43:475-484.

Sandor, J. A., J. B. Norton, J. A. Homburg, D. A. Muenchrath, C. S. White, S. E. Williams, C. I. Havener and P. D. Stahl. 2007. Biogeochemical studies of a native American runoff agroecosystem. In: E. C. Wells and R. E. Terry (eds.) Advances in Archaeological Approaches to Soil Chemistry (Advances in Archeological Science Series, Society for Archeological Sciences 22:359-386. Alta Mira Press, Walnut Creek, California

Bellgard, S. E. and S. E. Williams. 2002. Beneficial mycorrhizas associated with commercial cotton and native Hibiscus species growing in the monsoonal tropics of northern Australia. 8th ICPP

alsrai, A., R. Baatar, and S. E. Williams. 2002. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in native ecosystems of the eastern Mongolian Steppe. Open Symposium on “Change and Sustainability of Pastoral Land Use Systems in Temperate and Central Asia.” Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 28-July 1, 2001

Baatar, Ravjaagiin and S. E. Williams. 1998. Properties of Dark Chestnut Soils (Ustic Mollisols) of the Mongolian Steppe. In: (Anne Phelan, et al., eds.) Land Use In Temperate East Asia: Current Status and Future Trends. Proceedings from the Workshop, Beijing, China, March 5-8, 1998. Pages 65-72.

Busby, F.E., T.W. Box, J.C. Buckhouse, D.C. Clanton, B.C. Coggins, G.R. Evans, K.L. Gadzia, C.M. Jarecki, L.A. Joyce, D. Loper, D.L. Merkel, G.B. Ruyle, J.W. Thomas, J.H. Wald and S.E. Williams. 1994. Rangeland Health. National Research Council, Board on Agriculture. 180 pages.

Sylvia, D.M. and S.E. Williams. 1992. Chapter 6. VA Mycorrhizae and Environmental Stresses. In: Linderman (ed.) VA Mycorrhizae and Sustainable Agriculture. ASA/SSSA Special publication, pp 101-124.

Williams, S.E. and M.F. Allen (eds.). 1984. V.A. Mycorrhizae and Reclamation of Arid and Semi-arid Lands. University of Wyoming Agriculture Experiment Station SA 1261:1-91.

Christensen, N.L., J.K. Agee, P.F. Brussard, J. Hughes, D.H. Knight, G.W. Minshall, J.M. Peek, S.J. Pyne, F.J. Swanson, S. Wells, J.W. Thomas, S.E. Williams, and H.A. Wright. 1989. Interpreting the Yellowstone Fires. Bioscience 39:678-685.

White, J.A., E.J. DePuit, J.L. Smith and S.E. Williams. 1992. Establishment of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on irrigated reclamation in southwestern Wyoming. Soil Sci. Soc. Am J.

Stahl, P.D., M. Christensen and S.E. Williams. 1990. Population variation in the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae: Uniform garden experiments. Mycological Research 94:1070-1076.

Loree, M.A.J., and S.E. Williams. 1987. Colonization of western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii Rhbd.) by vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi during revegetation of a strip mine. New phytologist 106:735-744.

Steve Williams

Professor
Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management

  • Contact Information:
    Ag C 2
    Email: sewms@uwyo.edu
    Phone: (307) 766-2683
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