A5055296536- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Insect Pheromone Research and Control
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Remote Sensing in Agriculture
- Bioenergy crop production and management
- Horticultural and Viticultural Research
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Avian ecology and behavior
Imperial College London
2018-2025
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
2024-2025
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
2002-2023
University Medical Center Brackenridge
2006-2011
The University of Texas at Austin
2004-2010
Summary Fungal symbionts that live asymptomatically inside plant tissues (endophytes) can influence plant–insect interactions. Recent work has shown damage by leaf‐cutting ants, a major Neotropical defoliator, is reduced to almost half in plants with high densities of endophytes. We investigated changes the phenotype leaves could ants' behavior result reduction foliar damage. produced cucumber seedlings and low one common endophyte species, Colletotrichum tropicale . used bioassays compare...
Abstract Forbs (“wildflowers”) are important contributors to grassland biodiversity but vulnerable environmental changes. In a factorial experiment at 94 sites on 6 continents, we test the global generality of several broad predictions: (1) Forb cover and richness decline under nutrient enrichment, particularly nitrogen enrichment. (2) increase herbivory by large mammals. (3) less affected enrichment in more arid climates, because water limitation reduces impacts competition with grasses....
Ecological divergence can cause speciation if adaptive traits have pleiotropic effects on mate choice. In Heliconius butterflies, mimetic patterns play a role in detection between sister species, as well signalling to predators. Here we show that male butterflies from four recently diverged parapatric populations of melpomene are more likely approach and court their own colour compared with those other races. A few exceptions, where males were attracted than own, suggest some sub-optimal...
Abstract When species converge in their colour patterns because of mimicry, and those are also used mate recognition, there is a probability conflicting selection pressures. Closely related that mimic one another particularly likely to face such confusion similarities courtship behaviour ecology. We conducted experiments greenhouse conditions study interspecific attraction between two mimetic butterfly species, Heliconius erato melpomene . Both spent considerable time approaching courting...
Two new minute egg parasitoid wasp species belonging to the genus Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), T. chagres sp. nov. and soberania nov., were found in a tropical lowland rainforest Panama, Central America. In this paper, we describe, illustrate discuss biology morphological molecular characterization of two species. Both collected from eggs passion vine butterflies, Agraulis vanillae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae) unidentified Heliconiini species, laid on different...
Abstract 1. The ecological circumstances that precipitate speciation remain poorly understood. Here, a community of Heliconius butterflies in lowland Panama was studied to investigate patterns pollen use, and more specifically the changes associated with recent divergence melpomene (Linnaeus) H. cydno (Doubleday). 2. Considering seven commonest species community, 32 types or spore were encountered loads but only five common. Systematic exploitation therefore confined small proportion flowers...
Competition for mates has resulted in sophisticated mechanisms of male control over female reproduction. Antiaphrodisiacs are pheromones transferred from males to females during mating that reduce attractiveness subsequent courting males. generally help unreceptive harassment. However, lack pheromone release by and the amount provides an opportunity use antiaphrodisiacs delay remating have returned a receptive state. We propose model evolution under influence intrasexual selection, determine...
1. The biodiversity crisis is often framed in terms of the reduction species found at a site (alpha diversity). However, changes composition across landscape (beta diversity) caused by biotic homogenisation are part same crisis. Much British terrestrial landscapes post-war period (1945 onwards) has been driven agricultural conversion and intensification. Restoration efforts must therefore contend with restoring land to some desired state, rewilding emerged as potential solution this problem....
Fungus-farming ant colonies vary four to five orders of magnitude in size. They employ compounds from actinomycete bacteria and exocrine glands as antimicrobial agents. Atta have millions ants are particularly relevant for understanding hygienic strategies they abandoned their ancestors' prime dependence on antibiotic-based biological control favour using metapleural gland (MG) chemical secretions. MGs unique synthesizing large quantities phenylacetic acid (PAA), a known but little...
Competition for mates has substantial effects on sensory systems and often leads to the evolution of extraordinary mating behaviours in nature. The ability males find sexually immature females associate with them until is a remarkable example. Although several aspects such pre-copulatory mate guarding have been investigated, little known about mechanisms used by locate assess their maturity. These are not only key components origin maintenance this strategy, but also necessary inferring...
Abstract Although famous for photic courtship displays, fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are also notable emitting strong odors when molested. The identity of volatile emissions and their possible role, along with signals, as aposematic warnings unpalatability have been little explored, especially in tropical species. Pursuant to the observation that widespread Neotropical fireflies, Photuris trivittata Bicellonycha amoena , emit pungent odors, glows, flashes handled, we investigated...
The four major components present in scent gland extracts of the male Costa Rica longwing butterflies Heliconius cydno and pachinus were identified as 12- 14-membered macrolides containing a C18-carbon skeleton. By use micro-reactions spectrometric examinations, structural proposals made subsequently proven by synthesis, using ring-closing-metathesis key steps. These macrolides, (9Z,11E,13S)-octadeca-9,11-dien-13-olide (5, S-coriolide), (9Z,11E,13S,15Z)-octadeca-9,11,15-trien-13-olide (6),...
Many organisms participate in symbiotic relationships with other organisms, yet studies of symbioses typically have focused on the reciprocal costs and benefits within a particular host-symbiont pair. Recent indicate that many ecological interactions involve alliances symbionts acting together as mutualistic consortia against consortia. Such interacting are likely to be widespread nature, even if often occur cryptic fashion. Little theory empirical data exist concerning how these complex...
Previous work has shown that leaf-cutting ants prefer to cut leaf material with relatively low fungal endophyte content. This preference suggests endophytes exact a cost on the or development of their colonies. We hypothesized may play role in host plants’ defense against ants. To measure long-term ant colony forage material, we conducted 20-week laboratory experiment garden for colonies foraged leaves high Colony mass and dry did not differ significantly between feeding treatments. There...
Plants host a vast diversity of fungal symbionts inside their tissues that live in close proximity with each other to form rich and dynamic communities. Although endophytes can affect plant-herbivore interactions several ways, it is still not known what extent such effects are influenced by the properties endophyte communities or particular species traits. Here we compared high versus low foliar on preferences laboratory wild colonies leaf-cutting ants. We found when densities were high,...
Abstract Quantifying gene flow between lineages at different stages of the speciation continuum is central to understanding speciation. Heliconius butterflies have undergone an adaptive radiation in wing color patterns driven partly by natural selection for local mimicry. Color are also known be used as assortative mating cues. Therefore, pattern divergence considered play a role A corollary that mimicry closely related species may associated with hybridization and interfere reproductive...
<title>Abstract</title> Forbs (“wildflowers”) are important contributors to grassland biodiversity and services, but they vulnerable environmental changes that affect their coexistence with grasses. In a factorial experiment at 94 sites on 6 continents, we tested the global generality of several broad predictions arising from previous studies: (1) Forb cover richness decline under nutrient enrichment, particularly nitrogen which benefits grasses expense forbs. (2) increase herbivory by large...