James Sikes Graduate Student Advisor: Dr. Alexa Bely Program in Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, & Systematics 1210 Biology/Psychology Bldg University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 USA email: phone: office: lab: jsikes @ umd . edu (remove spaces within address) (301) 405-0239 / -0453 (lab) 1215Q Biology/Psychology bldg 0249 Biology/Psychology bldg

Previous Education:

B.S.   Biology     Furman University, Greenville, SC

Research Interests:

I am broadly interested in the evolution of asexual reproduction, regeneration, and symbiosis in marine invertebrates.  My research focuses on a group of closely related acoel worms in the genus Convolutriloba, which possess remarkably different modes of asexual division, amazing abilities of regeneration, and an obligate symbiosis with unicellular algae.  By reconstructing phylogenetic relationships within this genus, I hope to elucidate the evolutionary steps that led to the development of these varied asexual reproductive strategies as well as the symbiotic association with algal cells.  I am also studying potential differences in development and gene expression between different stages of asexual reproduction and regeneration in this group of acoels. 

(A)	(B)

Images of nonbudding (A) and budding Convolutriloba retrogemma (B).  This species demonstrates a remarkable form of asexual reproduction by producing posterior buds that have a reversed anterior/posterior polarity relative to the parent.

Publications & Presentations:

Sikes, J. M. and A. E. Bely (in prep). Evolution of diverse modes of asexual reproduction in Convolutriloba acoels.

Sikes, J.M. & Bely, A.E. Development and evolution of diverse asexual
   reproductive strategies in Convolutriloba acoels. Poster presentation at Integrating
   Evolution, Development, and Genomics conference, Berkeley, CA. 2006. 

Sikes, J.M. & Bely, A.E.  Regeneration and asexual reproduction in acoels of the
   genus Convolutriloba.  Poster presentation at Society of Integrative and Comparative
   Biology annual conference, San Diego, CA. 2005. 

Awards:

2005	University of Maryland Graduate Teaching Award, Dept. of Biology
2004-05	University of Maryland Distinguished Teaching Assistant
2004	University of Maryland Janie Pritchard Award for Graduate Teaching Assistants