The pictures below represent some of the insects I have studied or encountered over the years. I have taken all of these pictures except where noted, and viewers are welcome to use them for educational or research, but not commercial, purposes.
Broadly, my research explores the nature of variation in complex biological traits such as movement, aging, learning, and stress tolerance. Specifically, it asks the following questions:
- What is the genetic, environmental and/or behavioral basis of trait variation?
- What cellular/physiological/anatomical mechanisms underlie the variation?
- To what extent is the variation subject to evolutionary forces?
- How does the variation impart advantage (or disadvantage) in the natural environment?
To answer these questions, my research has focused almost entirely on insects, endlessly fascinating creatures whose small size, diversity, abundance, and experimental tractability make them excellent model systems. Experiments have been conducted in the lab and field, ranging from molecular assays to advanced imaging to whole organism metabolic measurements to mark-recapture studies. My teams include faculty collaborators, research technicians, post-docs, and graduate and undergraduate students. Research funding has come from NSF, NIH, NASA, and other sources.
Over the years I’ve studied:
- Water use and conservation strategies in flightless grasshoppers Romalea microptera and Taeniopoda eques
- Mechanisms of thermoregulation during flight in strongly endothermic bees Apis mellifera and Centris pallida
- Energetic and biomechanical limits to flight performance in bees Xylocopa varipuncta and A. mellifera
- Genetic and physiological mechanisms of mitigating lethal and sublethal effects of hypothermia in the fruitflies Drosophila melanogaster and Chymomyza amoena
- Significance of heat shock proteins and the stress response in mitigating lethal and sublethal effects of hyperthermia in D. melanogaster
- Behavioral, environmental, and genetic basis of the development and senescence of flight performance in D. melanogaster and A. mellifera
Highlights of the research outcomes include dozens of journal articles and professional presentations, a book, several research awards, and significant coverage in mainstream media including National Geographic. In addition to addressing fundamental biological questions, my research has inspired applied technologies for assessing pollinator health and development of micro-aerial vehicles. By far the most satisfying aspect of this work has been the lifelong friendships gained through collaboration and mentor relationships.