Postdoctoral WorkTo combat the destruction of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in the US, the USDA has released four species of parasitoid wasps that specifically target EAB eggs and larva. My goal is to determine how well these parasitoid populations have established across a climatic gradient in the midwestern US. My field sites lie between Poplar Bluff, MO and Duluth, MN. We are measuring the health of the ash trees in these areas, as we also monitor the populations of EAB and the parasitoids.
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Dissertation Work
Intraspecific conflict in termites
What is more important when going to war: a larger army or stronger (better trained) soldiers? In 1916, Frederick William Lanchester developed two models for airplane warfare to try to understand this question. Since then, behavioral ecologists have applied his ideas to a wide array of species and phenomena. However, there have been little to no empirical experiments testing the validity of Lanchester's models. This project aimed to remediate that by placing Nasutitermes corniger termites in experimental battles. |
Interspecific conflict in termites
This project is a follow-up to the intraspecific experiments. The previous study only tested the importance of group size on the outcome of a large battle. This project aimed to determine how the make-up of a group effects battle outcomes. We used the species Nasutitermes corniger, Coptotermes testaceus, Rhynchotermes perarmatus, Cylindrotermes macrognathus, and Embiratermes spp., all of which varying in size and "weapon" between species. [Photo by George Grall] |
Diversity of termite defenses
Despite their limited number of species (compared to other social insects), termites display an impressive assortment of behavioral and physical defenses. Physically, termites can bite, slice, stab, inject, spray, crush, and block their enemies. Some termites have evolved the ability to suicidally rupture their body in order to protect their colony. This project will be a review of what is known and still unknown about termite defenses.
Despite their limited number of species (compared to other social insects), termites display an impressive assortment of behavioral and physical defenses. Physically, termites can bite, slice, stab, inject, spray, crush, and block their enemies. Some termites have evolved the ability to suicidally rupture their body in order to protect their colony. This project will be a review of what is known and still unknown about termite defenses.