Overview

I am a plant evolutionist who uses physics, engineering, and mathematics to understand the relationship between plant form and function and how this relationship has evolved in consort with the physical environment over the course of Earth`s history.

Research Focus

My focus is on plant evolution, particuarly how the shape, size, internal structure and reproductive biology of plants have changed over the course of millions of years of evolution.

Teaching Focus

I consider myself a teacher and a scientist. I love working with students, and I love doing research.

Additional Links

• Niklas Lab
• Link to CALS Research and Impact
• Link to Research & Expertise Across Cornell

Awards and Honors

• Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow (2012) Cornell University
• Fellow (1995) Linnean Society of London
• Named one of the best 300 professors in the USA (2012) Princeton Review

Selected Publications

Journal Publications

• Deng, J., Zuo, W., Wang, Z., Fan, Z., Ji, M., Ran, J., Wang, G., Zhao, C., Liu, J., Niklas, K. J., Hammond, S. T., & Brown., J. H. (2012). Insights into plant size-density relationships from models and agricultural crops. . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 109:8600-8605.
• Qin, X., Niklas, K. J., Qi, L., Xiong, Y. C., & Li., F. M. (2012). The effects of domestication on the scaling of below- vs. aboveground biomass in four selected wheat (Triticum; Poaceae) genotypes.. American Journal of Botany. 99:1112-1117.
• Liu, Y., Mu, J. P., Niklas, K. J., Li, G., & Sun, S. (2012). Global warming reduces plant reproductive output for temperate multi-inflorescence species on the Tibetan plateau.. New Phytologist. 195:427-436.
• Peng, Y., Niklas, K. J., & Sun., S. (2012). Do plants explore habitats before exploiting them? An explicit test using two soloniferous herbs.. Chinese Science Bulletin. 57:2425-2432.
• Chen, F., Niklas, K. J., Chen, G., & Guo, D. (2012). Leaf traits and relationships differ with season as well as among species groupings in a managed Southeastern China forest landscape.. Plant Ecology. 213:1489-1502.
• Niklas, K. J., & Kutschera, U. (2012). Organ-specific rates of cellular respiration in developing sunflower seedlings and their bearing on metabolic scaling theory.. Protoplasma. 249:1049-1057.
• Hernandez-Hernandez, V., Niklas, K. J., Newman, S. A., & Benitez, M. (2012). Dynamical patterning modules in plant development and evolution.. International Journal of Developmental Biology. 56:661-674.
• Chen, H., Niklas, K. J., & Sun., S. (2012). Testing the packing rule across the twig-petiole interface of temperate woody species.. Trees. 26:1737-1745.
• Niklas, K. J., & Spatz, H. (2012). Mechanical properties of wood disproportionately increase with increasing density. . American Journal of Botany. 99:169-170.
• Poorter, H., Niklas, K. J., Reich, P. B., Oleksyn, J., Poot, P., & Mommer., L. (2012). Biomass allocation to leaves, stems and roots: meta-analyses of interspecific variation and environmental control.. New Phytologist. 193:30-50.
• Brolly, M., Woodhouse, I. H., Niklas, K. J., & Hammond., S. L. (2012). A macroecological analysis of SERA derived forest heights and implications for forest volume remote sensing.. PLoS One. 7:e33927.
• Niklas, K. J., & Kutschera, U. (2012). Plant development, auxin, and the subsystem incompleteness theorem.. Frontiers in Plant Science. 3:1-11.
• Hammond, S. L., & Niklas, K. J. (2012). Computer simulations support a core prediction of a contentious plant model.. American Journal of Botany. 99:508-516.
• Price, C. A., Weitz, J. S., Savage, V. M., Stegen, J., Clarke, A., Coomes, D. A., Dodds, P. S., Etienne, R. S., Kerkhoff, A. J., McCulloh, K., Niklas, K. J., Olff, H., & Swenson, N. G. (2012). Testing the metabolic theory of ecology.. Ecology Letters. 15:1465-1474.
• Kutschera, U., & Niklas, K. J. (2011). Ontogenetic changes in the scaling of cellular respiration with respect to size among sunflower seedlings. . Plant Signaling and Behavior. 6:72 – 76.

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