Jackson A. Helms

I am an ecologist and conservation biologist working at the intersection of basic and applied biology. My research links species invasions, physiology, life history evolution, and global change within agricultural landscapes and natural ecosystems.

Education

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2016	Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Oklahoma. “Ants in Flight: Reproduction, Dispersal and Predation in Ant Queens.” Adviser Eli S. Bridge.
2010	B.S. in Evolution & Ecology, minor in Arabic, summa cum laude, The Ohio State University
2005	A.A. in Arabic, Defense Language Institute, Monterey, California

Specialized training courses

2018	Research Mentor Training, National Research Mentoring Network
2015	IFC Performance Standards in Biodiversity Conservation
2012	Ant Course, California Academy of Sciences

Experience

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2021-Present	Research Entomologist, USDA-ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, Florida
2018-2021	Postdoctoral Researcher, W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, Michigan, host Nick Haddad
2016-2017	Conservation Scientist, Health in Harmony & Alam Sehat Lestari, Portland, Oregon & Gunung Palung National Park, West Kalimantan, Indonesia
2015	NSF Graduate Research Intern, Ants of the Guiana Shield, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., host Ted Schultz
2014-2015	Graduate Teaching Assistant, General Entomology, University of Oklahoma
2013-2019	Associate Scientist, Global Wildlife Conservation
2011-2012	Graduate Research Assistant, University of Oklahoma, Department of Biology
2009-2010	Undergraduate Research Assistant, The Ohio State University, Department of Evolution, Ecology & Organismal Biology
2009	Biological Science Technician, US Geological Survey, Laurel, Maryland
2003-2008	Arabic Language Analyst, Fort Meade, Maryland

Teaching

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2018-2020	Kellogg Biological Station K-12 Partnerships & Summer Programs, Michigan
2016-2017	Directed K-12 Conservation Education Programs, Indonesia
2014-2015	Graduate Teaching Assistant, General Entomology, University of Oklahoma

Research Articles

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*indicates an undergraduate collaborator

18.	Helms JA, Smith J, Clark S, Knupp K & Haddad NM (2021) Ant Communities and Ecosystem Services in Organic Versus Conventional Agriculture in the U.S. Corn Belt. Environmental Entomology 50:1276-1285.
17.	Helms JA, Roeder KA, Ijelu SE*, Ratcliff I & Haddad NM (2021) Bioenergy landscapes drive trophic shifts in generalist ants. Journal of Animal Ecology 90:738-750.
16.	Cusser S, Helms JA, Bahlai CA & Haddad NM (2021) How long do population level field experiments need to be? Utilising data from the 40-year-old LTER network. Ecology Letters 24:1103-1111.
15.	Helms JA, Ijelu SE*, Wills BD, Landis DA & Haddad NM (2020) Ant biodiversity and ecosystem services in bioenergy landscapes. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 290:106780.
14.	Fawzi NI, Helms J, Novianto A, Supianto A, Indrayani AM & Febriani N (2020) Reducing Illegal Logging through a Chainsaw Buyback and Entrepreneurship Program at Gunung Palung National Park. Forest and Society 4:151-161.
13.	Fawzi NI, Helms J, Emerson A & Wibawanto MA (2020) Forest restoration progress and lessons learned in Gunung Palung National Park, Indonesia. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 32:195-205.
12.	Helms JA, Ijelu SE* & Haddad NM (2019) Range expansion in an introduced social parasite-host species pair. Biological Invasions 21:2751-2759
11.	Helms JA, Woerner CR, Fawzi NI, MacDonald A, Juliansyah, Pohnan E & Webb K (2018) Rapid Response of Bird Communities to Small-Scale Reforestation in Indonesian Borneo. Tropical Conservation Science 11:1-8 - Project featured on CNN (Nov 2017) and Mosaic: The Science of Life (Nov 2017)
10.	Helms JA (2018) The flight ecology of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 26:19-30.
9.	Helms, JA & Tweedy B (2017) Invasive fire ants contain high levels of mercury. Insectes Sociaux 64:169-171.
8.	Helms, JA & Bridge ES (2017) Range expansion drives the evolution of alternate reproductive strategies in invasive fire ants. Neobiota 33:67-82.
7.	Helms JA, Godfrey AP, Ames T* & Bridge ES (2016) Predator foraging altitudes reveal the structure of aerial insect communities. Scientific Reports 6:28670.
6.	Helms JA, Godfrey AP, Ames T* & Bridge ES (2016) Are invasive fire ants kept in check by native aerial insectivores? Biology Letters 12:20160059 - Featured on CBC’s Quirks & Quarks radio program (May 2016) - Featured in The Nature Conservancy’s Cool Green Science Blog (Sep 2016)
5.	Helms JA & Godfrey A (2016) Dispersal polymorphisms in invasive fire ants. PLoS ONE 11:e0153955.
4.	Roeder KA, Roeder DV, Kouri JD* & Helms JA (2015) A New Latitudinal Record for the Ant Genus Leptogenys (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in North America. Southwestern Entomologist 40:653-656.
3.	Helms JA & Kaspari M (2015) Reproduction-dispersal tradeoffs in ant queens. Insectes Sociaux 62:171-181.
2.	Helms JA, Peeters C & Fisher BL (2014) Funnels, gas exchange and cliff jumping: natural history of the cliff dwelling ant Malagidris sofina. Insectes Sociaux 61:357-365. - Featured in New Scientist (August 2014)
1.	Helms JA & Kaspari M (2014) Found or Fly: nutrient loading of dispersing ant queens decreases metrics of flight ability (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 19:85-91.

Biodiversity & Conservation Publications

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5.	Fawzi NI, Husna VN & Helms JA (2018) Measuring deforestation using remote sensing and its implication for conservation in Gunung Palung National Park, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 149:012038
4.	Helms JA, Helms SM, Fawzi NI, Tarjudin & Xaverius F (2017) Ant community of an Acacia mangium forest in Indonesian Borneo. Serangga 22:147-159.
3.	Helms JA, Alonso L & Isaacs S (2016) Ants of the South Rupununi Savannah, Guyana. BAT Survey Report 1:135-147. World Wildlife Fund, Guyana. - Project featured in Amphibian Survival Alliance blog, Guyana Times, Guyana Government’s Information Agency, Guyana Times International, iNews Guyana, Kaieteur News, National Geographic Explorers Journal, Stabroek News
2.	Helms J, Alonso L & Isaacs S (2014) Ants—Preliminary Report. In: South Rupununi Biodiversity Assessment Team (BAT) Expedition Preliminary Report, pp. 20-23. WWF- Guianas Biodiversity Publication.
1.	Alonso LE & Helms JA (2013) A rapid assessment of the ants of the Grensgebergte and Kasikasima regions of Southeastern Suriname. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 67:109-118.

Magazine Articles

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3.	Helms JA, Godfrey A, Ames T* & Bridge ES (2017) Dining with Purple Martins— what’s on the menu for North America’s most popular insect hunter? Purple Martin Update 26:22-25.
2.	Helms J (2017) Ants abound in South Rupununi: Diverse and interesting ant species found during expedition. Guyana Sunday Times Magazine, 15 January 2017.
1.	Helms JA, Godfrey A, Ames T* & Bridge ES (2015) Fire Ant exterminators: Purple Martins and aerial pest control. Purple Martin Update 24:24-27.

Manuscripts in Revision, Review, or Prep

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3.	Kemmerling L, Rutkowski C, Evans S, Helms J, Cordova-Ortiz E, Smith J, Vázquez Custodio J, Vizza C, Haddad N (In Review) Prairie strips and crop management practices create tradeoffs and synergies for biodiversity and ecosystem services.
2.	Helms JA (In Prep) Climate and the mating phenology of ants.
1.	Hsieh H-Y, Helms JA, Perfecto I (In Prep) Can higher-order interactions influence pest control effects of a predatory beetle in Neotropical coffee agroecosystems?

Grants & Awards($419,929)

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2017	USFWS Great Ape Program, $75,000
2017	Disney Conservation Fund, $50,000
2017	David & Lucile Packard Fdn—Agric., Livelihoods, and Conservation, $100,000
2017	CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award Nominee
2017	OU Provost’s Ph.D. Dissertation Award, $1,000
2016	OU Libraries Open Access Fund, $1,495
2012-2016	NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, $132,000
2011-2016	University of Oklahoma Alumni Fellowship, $43,800
2015	Soc. of Environ. Journalists Grad Student Poster Competition, 2nd Prize, $150
2015	NSF Graduate Research Internship, $5,000
2014	George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Scholarship, $2,500
2014	OU Biological Station Graduate Summer Research Fellowship, $2,500
2013	OU Graduate Student Senate Grants, $984
2012	OU College of Arts & Sciences Student Travel Fund, $500
2008-2010	Horatio Alger Military Scholarship, $5,000
2007	Marine Corps Language Professional of the Year Nominee
2005	Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center Commandant’s Award
2005	Defense Language Institute Middle East School II Provost’s Award

Undergraduate Student Mentorship

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2020	Rachel Matejewski (Michigan State University, Ant Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Restored Prairie Strips)
2019	Stephanie Clark (Aquinas College, Chemical Agriculture and Ant Communities in the US Corn Belt)
2019	Anna Paraskevopoulos (Cameron University, Ants in Restored Prairies)
2019	Katie Knupp (Western Michigan University, Ecosystem Services of Agricultural Prairie Strips)
2018	Selassie Ijelu (University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, NSF REU Mentor, Ecosystem Services of Ants in Biofuel Crops)
2015	Gretchen Scheel (Univ. of Oklahoma, Undergraduate Honors Thesis Committee)
2015	Emma Hanisch (Smithsonian NMNH Intern, Ants of the Guiana Shield)
2015	Tiago Fernandes (Smithsonian NMNH Intern, Brazilian Science without Borders Intern, Ants of the Guiana Shield)
2015	Christopher Patrick (Smithsonian NMNH Intern, Ants of the Guiana Shield)
2014	Tayna Ames (Lorain County Community College, Purple Martins & Insects)

Research Talks

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2021	Helms JA. Climate and mating phenology in ants. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting.
2021	Helms JA. Climate and mating phenology in ants. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting.
2020	Helms JA. Ants, bioenergy, and pest regulation in agricultural landscapes. USDA Southern Insect Management Research Unit, Stoneville, MS
2020	Helms JA. Flight, invasion, and evolution in ants. USDA Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL
2020	Helms JA. Roeder KA, Ijelu S, Ratcliff I & Haddad NM. Ecological opportunity and the trophic niches of social insects in bioenergy landscapes. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting
2020	Haddad NM & Helms JA. Landscape connectivity increases biodiversity and ecosystem services in working lands. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting.
2020	Helms JA. Beyond research: war, indigenous nations, and conservation. The Ohio State University at Lima, Lima, OH
2020	Helms JA. Flight, evolution, and bioenergy in an era of global change. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
2019	Helms JA. Flight, evolution, and bioenergy in an era of global change. Minot State University Seminar, Minot, ND
2018	Helms JA. Beyond research: war, indigenous nations, and conservation. Kellogg Biological Station Brown Bag Seminar Series, MI
2018	Helms JA, Ijelu S* & Haddad N. Can next-generation biofuel crops support native insect communities and meet energy needs? Entomological Society of America Joint Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC
2016	Helms JA. Ants in flight: reproduction, dispersal and predation of ant queens. OU Department of Biology Ph.D. Dissertation Defense, Norman, OK
2016	Helms JA. Ants in the atmosphere: when Earth’s most diverse social animals take wing. OU Department of Biology Seminar Series, Norman, OK
2015	Helms JA, Godfrey A, Ames T* & Bridge ES. Purple Martins, flight altitudes and fire ants: using aerial predators to study atmospheric animal communities. American Ornithologists’ Union & Cooper Ornithological Society Meeting, Norman, OK
2014	Helms JA,Kaspari M & Godfrey A. Ants in flight: the Found or Fly tradeoff in queens. International Union for the Study of Social Insects International Congress, Cairns, Australia
2014	Helms JA. Conservation exploration in Madagascar and Guyana. OU Department of Biology EcoMunch Seminar Series, Norman, OK
2013	Helms JA. & Kaspari M. Flight, reproduction and biomechanical tradeoffs in ant queens. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA
2012	Helms JA. Flight, reproduction & biomechanical tradeoffs in ant queens. OU Department of Biology EcoMunch Seminar Series, Norman, OK

Guest Lectures

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2020	Promoting a productive summer research experience. Summer Research Internship Professional Development Seminar, Kellogg Biological Station, MI.
2020	Big Jumps in Evolution: Evolution across large timescales and mechanisms for rapid evolutionary change. The Ohio State University at Lima Honors Intro Biology Course, Lima, OH
2019	Making it as a first-generation scientist. Gull Lake Gateway Academy, MI
2018	The Little Things that Run the World: Foraging, teamwork, and competition in ants. K-12 Partnership Summer Institute, Kellogg Biological Station, MI
2017	Ants in flight—dispersal ecology of earth’s most diverse social animals. Kellogg Biological Station, MI
2016	Insects in the atmosphere. OU Aeroecology Group, Norman, OK
2015	Conservation exploration in Madagascar and Guyana. OU General Entomology Course, Norman, OK
2014-2015	Rediscovering the Malay Archipelago: Alfred Russel Wallace, changing landscapes and conservation in Indonesia. OU Capstone Course, Norman, OK
2014	Ant Diversity & Ecology. OU General Entomology Course, Norman, OK
2014	Competition, niche differentiation, and the maintenance of species diversity in communities. OU Principles of Ecology Lab, Norman, OK
2013	The Diversity & Ecological Importance of Ants and Ant Collection & Identification. University of Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana
2013	South Rupununi Biodiversity Assessment Team Expedition. Press conference, Georgetown, Guyana

Poster Presentations

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2020	Clark S, Helms JA, Smith J, Knupp K & Haddad NM. Chemical and organic farming methods alter ant activity during the Michigan growing season. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting.
2020	Hsieh H-Y, Chaves LF, Vandermeer J, Perfecto I & Helms JA. Far-flung species’ environmental sensitivity creates alternative pest control stable states in coffee agroecosystems. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting.
2019	Clark S, Helms JA, Smith J, Knupp K, Haddad NM. Conventional and organic farming methods alter ant activity during the Michigan growing season. LTER All Scientists’ Meeting, Hickory Corners, MI
2018	Helms JA, Ijelu SE*, Haddad NM. Can next-generation biofuel crops support native biodiversity and meet energy needs? LTER All Scientists’ Meeting, Pacific Grove, CA
2018	Ijelu S, Helms JA. Ecosystem services of native perennial biofuels: Natural pest consumption in corn, switchgrass, and prairie crops. KBS Summer Research Symposium, Hickory Corners, MI
2015	Helms JA, Godfrey A, Ames T* & Bridge ES. Purple Martins and Fire Ants: high altitude interactions between a native predator and an invasive prey. The Society of Environmental Journalists Annual Meeting, Norman, OK
2010	Helms J, Zola J, Salhi H & Raczkowski J. Intraspecific Competition in Pavement Ants. The Ohio State University Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, Columbus, OH
2010	Helms J, Zola J, Salhi H & Raczkowski J. Intraspecific Competition in Pavement Ants. The Ohio State University Biological, Mathematical and Physical Sciences Research Forum, Columbus, OH

Manuscript Reference

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The American Midland Naturalist, Applied Entomology and Zoology, Biology Letters, Diversity, Ecology and Evolution, Forests, Ibis, Insect Science, Insectes Sociaux, Journal of Animal Ecology, Myrmecological News, PLoS ONE, Scientific Reports

Blogs

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2018	Helms JA. Gratitude in Biology: thanking the organisms and communities that enable discovery. Rapid Ecology. rapidecology.com/2018/04/04/
2017	Helms J. Health in Harmony. healthinharmony.org
2015	Helms JA. Ants in flight. Insectes Sociaux. insectessociaux.com/2015/05/03

Outreach, Service & Citizen Science

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2019	Gull Lake Gateway Academy Alternative School, Michigan
2018	K-12 Partnership Summer Institute, Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan
2016-2017	Directed ASRI Kids & Teens Conservation Education Programs, Indonesia
2012-2015	Regional Elementary and High School Science Lessons, Oklahoma
2011-2015	Oklahoma Biological Survey BioBlitzes, Ant Surveys
2011-2013	Oklahoma Academy of Science Field Meetings, Ant Surveys
2010	The Ohio State University BioBlitz, Bird Survey, Franklin County, Ohio
2009-2010	The Ohio State Univ. Students for a Sustainable Campus
2009	Breeding Bird Atlas Surveys for Colorado, Delaware, and Virginia

Radio & Other Press

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2020	Marine to Myrmecologist: One Entomologist’s Journey to Understand and Conserve Native Biodiversity. Entomology Today. https://entomologytoday.org
2016	Purple martins keep invasive fire ants in check. Quirks and Quarks with Bob McDonald, CBC Radio, Canada, 28 May.