Phenotypic/Developmental PlasticityMy primary interest is in understanding phenotypic plasticity, which is when environmental factors influence how an organism looks or behaves. I use wing pattern variation in the cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae) to understand the environmental factors that influence phenotypes . Wing patterns vary seasonally, and recent work has tested hypotheses about what environmental factors (temperature, day length, dietary nutrients) cause that seasonal variation.
|
Sexual selection |
I have long had an interest in all aspects of animal mating behavior, especially sexual selection. Former work examined various aspects of the bright plumage color of house finches. Recent work with former Butler student Erin Wojan and Denison University student Kaitlin Hayes examined the role of wing spots in interactions between male and female cabbage white butterflies.
|
Ecological Immunology |
Immune defense is not "free"; that is, it has costs. This means that the best immune response is not necessarily the maximal immune response. Understanding variation among individuals, between the sexes, among species, etc. in light of their ecological environments is what "ecological immunology" attempts to do. Current work in this area includes meta-analyses to examine sex differences in immunity among taxa. This work is conducted as part of a NESCent working group.
|