Although many ecological and evolutionary studies focus on single species or two-species interactions, there is a growing recognition that the factors determining the distribution and abundance of species, and the evolution of phenotypic traits, can only be understood in the context of multiple interactions. For example, interactions with antagonists and mutualists have historically been studied independently, although plants are often under simultaneous and potentially conflicting selective pressures exerted by both groups. My research integrates plant-animal interactions across mutualisms and antagonisms, including floral, foliar, and belowground tissues, to arrive at a more complete understanding of how multiple species select on resistance and attractive traits. My approach has combined novel techniques and experimental manipulations in the field with greenhouse and laboratory experiments to dissect aspects of this complex empirical question, and involves studies in both basic and applied systems.
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Leaf herbivory increases floral fragrance in male but not female Cucurbita pepo subsp. texana (cucurbitaceae) flowers (with Nina Theis and Karen Kesler), American Journal of Botany (2009)
Mutualisms are key interactions that affect population dynamics and structure communities, but the extent to...
The Effect of Larval Diet and Sex on Nectar Nicotine Feeding Preferences in Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) (with D. N. Sharp, A. K. Lentz-Ronning, and A. J. Barron), Florida Entomologist (2009)
Nectar secondary compounds affect self-pollen transfer: Implications For female and male Reproduction (with Rebecca E. Irwin), Ecology (2008)
Pollen movement within and among plants affects inbreeding, plant fitness, and the spatial scale of...
Correlations among traits associated with herbivore resistance and pollination: implications for pollination and nectar robbing in a distylous plant (with Rebecca E. Irwin), American Journal of Botany (2006)
Plants interact simultaneously with a diversity of visitors, including herbivores and pollinators. Correlations among traits...
Ecological costs and benefits of defenses in nectar (with Rebecca E. Irwin), Ecology (2005)
The nectar of many plant species contains defensive compounds that have been hypothesized to benefit...