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Evolutionary biology and ecology research program

These faculty bring their special expertise in the overlapping disciplines of behavioral ecology and genetics, population genetics, population biology, conservation biology, speciation, and physiological and community ecology to bear on the ecology and evolution of behavior and behavioral adaptations, as they combine theoretical modeling with field and laboratory studies. Their research interests include the evolution of communication and the evolutionary basis of phenotypic plasticity and behavior, and the effects of habitat fragmentation. Together with their students they carry out field and laboratory studies in a variety of sites in North America, the Caribbean, the Galapagos, the Colorado Rocky Mountains, and California coast ranges. MU is a member of the Organization for Tropical Studies. With much current evolutionary analysis focused on the generation and interpretation of DNA sequence data, these faculty members have built ongoing collaborations with our molecular geneticists.

Faculty

James Carrel	Conservation biology of spiders; biology of spiders; natural history
Reginald Cocroft	Animal social behavior and communication; behavioral ecology; mechanisms of behavior
Lori Eggert	Ecological and conservation genetics, intraspecific phylogeography
John Faaborg	Avian ecology, behavior and conservation
Candace Galen	Ecology and evolution in natural plant populations
H. Carl Gerhardt	Sound pattern recognition and localization in frogs and toads: neurobiology, sexual selection and speciation
Timothy Holtsford	Floral and mating system evolution; systematics; molecular evolution
M. Alejandra Jaramillo	Plant evolution: morphological innovations and diversification in the tropics.
J. Chris Pires	Plant systematics, phylogenetics, and genome evolution
Johannes Schul	Evolution and neuroethology of acoustic communication systems
Raymond Semlitsch	Amphibian population regulation; dispersal and persistence in fragmented landscapes; conservation of declining species
Gerald Summers	Invertebrate ecology

Research stories

Rex Cocroft and NPR's Radio Expeditions take a Journey to the Edge of the Amazon.

Lori Eggert and student study the status of black bears in Missouri.

John Faaborg research project tracks warblers through tail feathers.

Increased wetland protection is needed, say Ray Semlitsch and colleagues.

The new wildlife refuge: golf courses?

Fred vom Saal: Programmed for obesity - early exposure to common chemicals can permanently alter metabolic system.