Areas of Interest: My lab is broadly interested in the structure and function of grass and shrub-dominated ecosystems. We explore how human land use interacts with climate, soils and biota in these ecosystem types to impact the storage and cycling of nutrients at both local and regional spatial scales.

Examples of research questions our lab addresses:

  1. How do grasslands respond to climate and land use change?
  2. What are the ecosystem consequences of fungal endophyte infection in tall fescue?
  3. What controls litter decomposition in aridlands?
  4. How do invasive species affect grassland structure and function?

Experience

2016-Present, Professor, University of Kentucky

2016-2017, Director, Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment

2006-2016, Assistant, Associate Professor, University of Kentucky

2002-2006, Post-Doctor Scholar, Duke University

Scholars@UK

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Vegetation type and climate determine temperature thresholds of soil respiration across drylands

Almagro, M., Rey, A., Inclán, R. M., Barba, J., Vargas, R., Carrara, A., Grünzweig, J. M., Sternberg, M., Talmon, Y., McCulley, R. L., Marañón-Jiménez, S., Serrano-Ortiz, P., Martínez-López, J., Estruch, C., Guidolotti, G., Chang, C. T., Llovet, J., Lo Cascio, M., Perez-Quezada, J. F. & Correia, A. C. & 8 others, Banza, J., Caldeira, M. C., Nogueira, C., Bugalho, M. N., Carbone, M. S., Martínez-Mena, M., Mereu, S. & Curiel Yuste, J., Dec 2025, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 211, 109984.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Using microbial community interactions within plant microbiomes to advance an evergreen agricultural revolution

Lucero, M. E., DeBolt, S., Unc, A., Ruiz-Font, A., Reyes, L. V., McCulley, R. L., Alderman, S. C., Dinkins, R. D., Barrow, J. R. & Samac, D. A., Aug 7 2023, Sustainable agroecosystems in climate change mitigation. p. 183-202 20 p.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Effects of elevated nutrient supply on litter decomposition are robust to impacts of mammalian herbivores across diverse grasslands

Keller, A. B., Borer, E. T., Buyarski, C. R., Cleland, E. E., Gill, A., MacDougall, A. S., Moore, J. L., Morgan, J. W., McCulley, R. L., Risch, A. C., Seabloom, E. W., Wright, J. & Hobbie, S. E., Oct 2025, In: Oecologia. 207, 10, 157.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Interactions among nutrients govern the global grassland biomass–precipitation relationship

Fay, P. A., Gherardi, L. A., Yahdjian, L., Adler, P. B., Bakker, J. D., Bharath, S., Borer, E. T., Harpole, W. S., Hersch-Green, E., Huxman, T. E., MacDougall, A. S., Risch, A. C., Seabloom, E. W., Bagchi, S., Barrio, I. C., Biederman, L., Buckley, Y. M., Bugalho, M. N., Caldeira, M. C. & Catford, J. A. & 31 others, Chen, Q. Q., Cleland, E. E., Collins, S. L., Daleo, P., Dickman, C. R., Donohue, I., DuPre, M. E., Eisenhauer, N., Eskelinen, A., Hagenah, N., Hautier, Y., Heckman, R. W., Jónsdóttir, I. S., Knops, J. M. H., Laungani, R., Martina, J. P., McCulley, R. L., Morgan, J. W., Venterink, H. O., Peri, P. L., Power, S. A., Raynaud, X., Ren, Z., Roscher, C., Smith, M. D., Spohn, M., Stevens, C. J., Tedder, M. J., Virtanen, R., Wardle, G. M. & Wheeler, G. R., Apr 15 2025, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 122, 15, e2410748122.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Primary productivity regulates rhizosphere soil organic carbon: Evidence from a chronosequence of subtropical Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation

Chen, X., Chen, S., Arthur, M. A., McCulley, R. L., Liu, X., Xiong, D., Xu, C., Yang, Z. & Yang, Y., Dec 10 2024, In: Science of the Total Environment. 955, 177082.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Hemp root system architecture and allometric relationships vary between monoecious and dioecious cultivars

McGrail, R. K., Nelson, J. A., Pearce, R. C. & McCulley, R. L., Jun 2025, In: Agrosystems, Geosciences and Environment. 8, 2, e70123.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Warming Disrupts Plant–Fungal Endophyte Symbiosis More Severely in Leaves Than Roots

Edwards, J. D., Kazenel, M. R., Luo, Y., Lynn, J. S., McCulley, R. L., Souza, L., Young, C., Rudgers, J. A. & Kivlin, S. N., Apr 2025, In: Global Change Biology. 31, 4, e70207.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Genome size influences plant growth and biodiversity responses to nutrient fertilization in diverse grassland communities

Morton, J. A., Arnillas, C. A., Biedermann, L., Borer, E. T., Brudvig, L. A., Buckley, Y. M., Cadotte, M. W., Davies, K., Donohue, I., Ebeling, A., Eisenhauer, N., Estrada, C., Haider, S., Hautier, Y., Jentsch, A., Martinson, H., McCulley, R. L., Raynaud, X., Roscher, C. & Seabloom, E. W. & 6 others, Stevens, C. J., Vesela, K., Wallace, A., Leitch, I. J., Leitch, A. R. & Hersch-Green, E. I., Dec 2024, In: PLoS Biology. 22, 12, e3002927.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Erratum: Author Correction: Widening global variability in grassland biomass since the 1980s (Nature ecology & evolution (2024) 8 10 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02500-x)

MacDougall, A. S., Esch, E., Chen, Q., Carroll, O., Bonner, C., Ohlert, T., Siewert, M., Sulik, J., Schweiger, A. K., Borer, E. T., Naidu, D., Bagchi, S., Hautier, Y., Wilfahrt, P., Larson, K., Olofsson, J., Cleland, E., Muthukrishnan, R., O'Halloran, L. & Alberti, J. & 66 others, Anderson, T. M., Arnillas, C. A., Bakker, J. D., Barrio, I. C., Biederman, L., Boughton, E. H., Brudvig, L. A., Bruschetti, M., Buckley, Y., Bugalho, M. N., Cadotte, M. W., Caldeira, M. C., Catford, J. A., D'Antonio, C., Davies, K., Daleo, P., Dickman, C. R., Donohue, I., DuPre, M. E., Elgersma, K., Eisenhauer, N., Eskelinen, A., Estrada, C., Fay, P. A., Feng, Y., Gruner, D. S., Hagenah, N., Haider, S., Harpole, W. S., Hersch-Green, E., Jentsch, A., Kirkman, K., Knops, J. M. H., Laanisto, L., Lannes, L. S., Laungani, R., Lkhagva, A., Macek, P., Martina, J. P., McCulley, R. L., Melbourne, B., Mitchell, R., Moore, J. L., Morgan, J. W., Muraina, T. O., Niu, Y., Pärtel, M., Peri, P. L., Power, S. A., Price, J. N., Prober, S. M., Ren, Z., Risch, A. C., Smith, N. G., Sonnier, G., Standish, R. J., Stevens, C. J., Tedder, M., Tognetti, P., Veen, G. F. C., Virtanen, R., Wardle, G. M., Waring, E., Wolf, A. A., Yahdjian, L. & Seabloom, E. W., Oct 1 2024, In: Nature Ecology and Evolution. 8, 10, p. 2003 1 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate

Biochanin A feed supplementation alters dynamics of trace gas emissions from lamb urine-amended soil

Jacobs, A. A., Flythe, M. D., Ely, D. G., Munoz, L., May, J. B., Nelson, J. A., Stanton, V., McGrail, R. K., Pham, K. & McCulley, R. L., Nov 1 2024, In: Journal of Environmental Quality. 53, 6, p. 1086-1098 13 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Evaluating and Testing Models of Terrestrial Biogeochemistry: The Role of Temperature in Controlling Decomposition

Burke, I. C., Kaye, J. P., Bird, S. P., Hall, S. A., McCulley, R. L. & Sommerville, G. L., Jan 1 2021, Models in Ecosystem Science. Princeton University Press, p. 225-253 29 p.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Compositional variation in grassland plant communities

Bakker, J. D., Price, J. N., Henning, J. A., Batzer, E. E., Ohlert, T. J., Wainwright, C. E., Adler, P. B., Alberti, J., Arnillas, C. A., Biederman, L. A., Borer, E. T., Brudvig, L. A., Buckley, Y. M., Bugalho, M. N., Cadotte, M. W., Caldeira, M. C., Catford, J. A., Chen, Q., Crawley, M. J. & Daleo, P. & 33 others, Dickman, C. R., Donohue, I., DuPre, M. E., Ebeling, A., Eisenhauer, N., Fay, P. A., Gruner, D. S., Haider, S., Hautier, Y., Jentsch, A., Kirkman, K., Knops, J. M. H., Lannes, L. S., MacDougall, A. S., McCulley, R. L., Mitchell, R. M., Moore, J. L., Morgan, J. W., Mortensen, B., Olde Venterink, H., Peri, P. L., Power, S. A., Prober, S. M., Roscher, C., Sankaran, M., Seabloom, E. W., Smith, M. D., Stevens, C., Sullivan, L. L., Tedder, M., Veen, G. F., Virtanen, R. & Wardle, G. M., Jun 2023, In: Ecosphere. 14, 6, e4542.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Widening global variability in grassland biomass since the 1980s

MacDougall, A. S., Esch, E., Chen, Q., Carroll, O., Bonner, C., Ohlert, T., Siewert, M., Sulik, J., Schweiger, A. K., Borer, E. T., Naidu, D., Bagchi, S., Hautier, Y., Wilfahrt, P., Larson, K., Olofsson, J., Cleland, E., Muthukrishnan, R., O’Halloran, L. & Alberti, J. & 66 others, Anderson, T. M., Arnillas, C. A., Bakker, J. D., Barrio, I. C., Biederman, L., Boughton, E. H., Brudvig, L. A., Bruschetti, M., Buckley, Y., Bugalho, M. N., Cadotte, M. W., Caldeira, M. C., Catford, J. A., D’Antonio, C., Davies, K., Daleo, P., Dickman, C. R., Donohue, I., DuPre, M. E., Elgersma, K., Eisenhauer, N., Eskelinen, A., Estrada, C., Fay, P. A., Feng, Y., Gruner, D. S., Hagenah, N., Haider, S., Harpole, W. S., Hersch-Green, E., Jentsch, A., Kirkman, K., Knops, J. M. H., Laanisto, L., Lannes, L. S., Laungani, R., Lkhagva, A., Macek, P., Martina, J. P., McCulley, R. L., Melbourne, B., Mitchell, R., Moore, J. L., Morgan, J. W., Muraina, T. O., Niu, Y., Pärtel, M., Peri, P. L., Power, S. A., Price, J. N., Prober, S. M., Ren, Z., Risch, A. C., Smith, N. G., Sonnier, G., Standish, R. J., Stevens, C. J., Tedder, M., Tognetti, P., Veen, G. F., Virtanen, R., Wardle, G. M., Waring, E., Wolf, A. A., Yahdjian, L. & Seabloom, E. W., Oct 2024, In: Nature Ecology and Evolution. 8, 10, p. 1877-1888 12 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Tall Fescue and Endophyte Genetics Influence Vertical Transmission and Seed Characteristics Under Climate Change Scenarios

McGrail, R. K., Carlisle, A. E., Nelson, J. A., Dinkins, R. D. & McCulley, R. L., 2024, In: Phytobiomes Journal. 8, 3, p. 272-281 10 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Tillage and Cover Crop Systems Alter Soil Particle Size Distribution in Raised-Bed-and-Furrow Row-Crop Agroecosystems

Jacobs, A. A., Stout Evans, R., Allison, J. K., Kingery, W. L., McCulley, R. L. & Brye, K. R., Mar 2024, In: Soil Systems. 8, 1, 6.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Drivers of soil microbial and detritivore activity across global grasslands

Siebert, J., Sünnemann, M., Hautier, Y., Risch, A. C., Bakker, J. D., Biederman, L., Blumenthal, D. M., Borer, E. T., Bugalho, M. N., Broadbent, A. A. D., Caldeira, M. C., Cleland, E., Davies, K. F., Eskelinen, A., Hagenah, N., Knops, J. M. H., MacDougall, A. S., McCulley, R. L., Moore, J. L. & Power, S. A. & 6 others, Price, J. N., Seabloom, E. W., Standish, R., Stevens, C. J., Zimmermann, S. & Eisenhauer, N., Dec 2023, In: Communications Biology. 6, 1, 1220.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Publisher Correction: Clarifying the effect of biodiversity on productivity in natural ecosystems with longitudinal data and methods for causal inference (Nature Communications, (2023), 14, 1, (2607), 10.1038/s41467-023-37194-5)

Dee, L. E., Ferraro, P. J., Severen, C. N., Kimmel, K. A., Borer, E. T., Byrnes, J. E. K., Clark, A. T., Hautier, Y., Hector, A., Raynaud, X., Reich, P. B., Wright, A. J., Arnillas, C. A., Davies, K. F., MacDougall, A., Mori, A. S., Smith, M. D., Adler, P. B., Bakker, J. D. & Brauman, K. A. & 11 others, Cowles, J., Komatsu, K., Knops, J. M. H., McCulley, R. L., Moore, J. L., Morgan, J. W., Ohlert, T., Power, S. A., Sullivan, L. L., Stevens, C. & Loreau, M., Dec 2023, In: Nature Communications. 14, 1, 4131.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate

The positive effect of plant diversity on soil carbon depends on climate

Spohn, M., Bagchi, S., Biederman, L. A., Borer, E. T., Bråthen, K. A., Bugalho, M. N., Caldeira, M. C., Catford, J. A., Collins, S. L., Eisenhauer, N., Hagenah, N., Haider, S., Hautier, Y., Knops, J. M. H., Koerner, S. E., Laanisto, L., Lekberg, Y., Martina, J. P., Martinson, H. & McCulley, R. L. & 10 others, Peri, P. L., Macek, P., Power, S. A., Risch, A. C., Roscher, C., Seabloom, E. W., Stevens, C., Veen, G. F., Virtanen, R. & Yahdjian, L., Dec 2023, In: Nature Communications. 14, 1, 6624.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Environmental heterogeneity modulates the effect of plant diversity on the spatial variability of grassland biomass

Daleo, P., Alberti, J., Chaneton, E. J., Iribarne, O., Tognetti, P. M., Bakker, J. D., Borer, E. T., Bruschetti, M., MacDougall, A. S., Pascual, J., Sankaran, M., Seabloom, E. W., Wang, S., Bagchi, S., Brudvig, L. A., Catford, J. A., Dickman, C. R., Dickson, T. L., Donohue, I. & Eisenhauer, N. & 20 others, Gruner, D. S., Haider, S., Jentsch, A., Knops, J. M. H., Lekberg, Y., McCulley, R. L., Moore, J. L., Mortensen, B., Ohlert, T., Pärtel, M., Peri, P. L., Power, S. A., Risch, A. C., Rocca, C., Smith, N. G., Stevens, C., Tamme, R., Veen, G. F., Wilfahrt, P. A. & Hautier, Y., Dec 2023, In: Nature Communications. 14, 1, 1809.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Clarifying the effect of biodiversity on productivity in natural ecosystems with longitudinal data and methods for causal inference

Dee, L. E., Ferraro, P. J., Severen, C. N., Kimmel, K. A., Borer, E. T., Byrnes, J. E. K., Clark, A. T., Hautier, Y., Hector, A., Raynaud, X., Reich, P. B., Wright, A. J., Arnillas, C. A., Davies, K. F., MacDougall, A., Mori, A. S., Smith, M. D., Adler, P. B., Bakker, J. D. & Brauman, K. A. & 11 others, Cowles, J., Komatsu, K., Knops, J. M. H., McCulley, R. L., Moore, J. L., Morgan, J. W., Ohlert, T., Power, S. A., Sullivan, L. L., Stevens, C. & Loreau, M., Dec 2023, In: Nature Communications. 14, 1, 2607.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

ARS/FAPRU: Improving Sustainability of Forage-Based Production Systems

McCulley, R. (PI)

Agricultural Research Service

8/28/25 → 8/27/26

Project: Research project

ARS/FAPRU: Improving Sustainability of Forage-Based Production Systems

Matthews, J. (PI), Bridges, P. (CoI), Ely, D. (CoI), Haan, N. (CoI), Harmon, D. (CoI), Hunt, A. (CoI), Ji, H. (CoI), McCulley, R. (CoI), McLeod, K. (CoI), Phillips, T. (CoI), Schardl, C. (CoI), Smith, S. (CoI), Suman, S. (CoI), Teutsch, C. (CoI), Trotta, R. (CoI), VanValin, K. (CoI) & Zhu, H. (CoI)

Agricultural Research Service

8/28/25 → 8/27/26

Project: Research project

Belmont Forum Collaborative Research: Mitigation and Adaptation in Cultural Heritage Landscapes: Lessons from Transhumant Pastoral Systems for Managing Novel Climate Risks

McCulley, R. (PI)

National Science Foundation

7/15/24 → 6/30/27

Project: Research project

ARS/FAPRU: Improving Sustainability of Forage-Based Production Systems

Matthews, J. (PI), Anderson, L. (CoI), Bridges, P. (CoI), Ely, D. (CoI), Haan, N. (CoI), Harmon, D. (CoI), Hunt, A. (CoI), Ji, H. (CoI), McCulley, R. (CoI), McLeod, K. (CoI), Phillips, T. (CoI), Rentfrow, G. (CoI), Schardl, C. (CoI), Smith, S. (CoI), Suman, S. (CoI), Teutsch, C. (CoI), VanValin, K. (CoI) & Zhu, H. (CoI)

Agricultural Research Service

5/1/23 → 4/30/26

Project: Research project

ARS/FAPRU: McCulley - Improving Sustainability of Forage-Based Production Systems

McCulley, R. (PI)

Agricultural Research Service

5/1/23 → 4/30/26

Project: Research project

The Agronomy of Hemp and Its Uses in Forage-Animal Agriculture

Moe, L. (PI) & McCulley, R. (CoI)

Agricultural Research Service

8/1/21 → 7/31/26

Project: Research project

The Agronomy of Hemp and Its Uses in Forage-Animal Agriculture

Matthews, J. (PI), Adam, E. (CoI), Adams, A. (CoI), Ely, D. (CoI), Gauthier, N. (CoI), Harmon, D. (CoI), Hunt, A. (CoI), Ji, H. (CoI), Kawashima, T. (CoI), Lawrence, L. (CoI), Mark, T. (CoI), McCulley, R. (CoI), McLeod, K. (CoI), Moe, L. (CoI), Page, A. (CoI), Pearce, R. (CoI), Schendel, R. (CoI), Urschel, K. (CoI), Vanzant, E. (CoI), Villanueva, R. (CoI) & Xiong, Y. (CoI)

Agricultural Research Service

8/1/21 → 7/31/26

Project: Research project

DISES: Co-producing Knowledge to Sustain Pastoral Socio-environmental systems: System Feedbacks, Future Scenarios, and Adaptive Responses

McCulley, R. (PI)

University of Georgia

1/1/23 → 11/30/27

Project: Research project

NIFA-SAS-CAP-Diverse Perennial Circular Systems

McCulley, R. (PI)

University of Wisconsin

9/1/21 → 8/31/26

Project: Research project

Impact of Climate Change of Wheat Production in Kentucky

Van Sanford, D. (PI), McCulley, R. (CoI) & Russell, K. (CoI)

KY Small Grain Growers Association

9/1/11 → 12/31/13

Project: Research project

ARS/FAPRU: Improving pasture sustainability by enhancing red clover abiotic stress resistance, interactions with rhizobium, and incorporation of beneficial plant secondary compounds into animal feed

McCulley, R. (PI)

Agricultural Research Service

5/1/18 → 4/30/23

Project: Research project

Improving Sustainability of Forage-Based Production Systems

Matthews, J. (PI), Aaron, D. (CoI), Anderson, L. (CoI), Barrett, M. (CoI), Bridges, P. (CoI), Ely, D. (CoI), Harmon, D. (CoI), Hunt, A. (CoI), Ji, H. (CoI), McCulley, R. (CoI), McDowell, K. (CoI), McLeod, K. (CoI), Phillips, T. (CoI), Schardl, C. (CoI), Schendel, R. (CoI), Smith, S. (CoI), Teutsch, C. (CoI), Vanzant, E. (CoI), Bennett, A. (Former PI), Houtz, R. (Former PI) & Holder, M. (Former CoI)

Agricultural Research Service

5/1/18 → 4/30/23

Project: Research project

Evaluation of Soybean Cultivars performance in Kentucky

Bruening, W. (PI), McCulley, R. (Former PI) & Venard, C. (Former PI)

Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board

7/1/22 → 6/30/23

Project: Research project

Precision Nitrogen Management of Corn for Improving Farm Profitability and Water Quality in Southern Illinois

Ritchey, E. (PI), McCulley, R. (Former PI) & McGrath, J. (Former PI)

Southern Illinois University

10/1/21 → 11/20/22

Project: Research project

Precision Agriculture: Precision Resource Management - Phase VI

McCulley, R. (PI)

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

9/1/10 → 8/31/13

Project: Research project

ARS/SCA Cooperative Agreement - Effect of Forage Species and Diversity on Pasture Ecosystem Function

McCulley, R. (PI)

Agricultural Research Service

7/1/07 → 12/31/09

Project: Research project

KY EPSCoR: Integrating Collegiate Ecological and Molecular Research into the K-12 STEM Curriculum

Hirsch, R. (PI), Andrews, R. (CoI), McCulley, R. (CoI), Schardl, C. (CoI) & White, J. (CoI)

KY Council on Postsecondary Education

8/1/16 → 7/31/17

Project: Research project

ARS/SCA: McCulley FAPRU-SCA Award

McCulley, R. (PI)

Agricultural Research Service

8/1/14 → 4/30/18

Project: Research project

Field station planning for the Ecological Research and Education Center, University of Kentucky

Crowley, P. (PI), McCulley, R. (CoI), Sargent, R. (CoI), Westneat, D. (CoI) & Zeidler-Watters, K. (CoI)

National Science Foundation

8/1/14 → 12/31/16

Project: Research project

ARS/SCA: McCulley FAPRU-SCA Award

McCulley, R. (PI)

Agricultural Research Service

6/1/14 → 2/29/16

Project: Research project

Education

  • Ph.D., Colorado State University, 2002
  • M.S., Texas A&M University, 1998
  • B.A., Rice University, 1995

Associated Departments

Plant and Soil Sciences