Research

The purpose of our research is to figure out the causes and consequences of the distribution of insects in the environment. There are many patterns in the world - some of which are not yet detected - that are unexplained. Working on these is a lot more fun than a jigsaw puzzle, and some of them are of real consequence for our future. As my pal Rob puts it better than I could, "mystery still lurks around ordinary corners."

Biodiversity, ecology and natural history of litter-nesting ants

Ecologists seek to understand the phenomena and processes that drive patterns of density and diversity. In tropical rainforests, hundreds of ant species occupy what appears to be roughly identical niches. Looking closely, I am finding out how this community is put together, by focusing on social behavior, nutritional ecology, symbioses, physiology. We are putting these little pieces together to create a big picture about the ants of rainforests and how they respond to, and dictate, environmental conditions.

Arthropods, decomposition, and the cycling of carbon and nutrients

The detrital food web - mainly the thin layer between the air and the soil - is where the action truly lies in a tropical rainforest. Nearly all terrestrial primary production ends up as detritus. One of my principal goals is to document how ants mediate ecological processes of the detrital food web, and in turn how the composition of this resource base structures ant communities. I am conducting observational and manipulative research to understand the interactions community composition, decomposition rates, and the abiotic environment.

Nesting biology of rainforest ants

We are investigating the nesting biology of several species of ants, most of which are in Central America. These species exhibit some cool idiosyncracies, which may in fact represent the norm. Some of these ants move their nests very frequently, some steal food from one another, and some plug their nests to keep out marauding army ants.These idiosyncracies are convenient ways to see gain insight into the diversification of life histories and collective organization.

Current collaborators

Michael Branstetter (UC Davis)

Benoit Guénard (NCSU and beyond)
Deborah Clark (U. Missouri - St. Louis)
Rob Dunn (North Carolina State Univ.)

Dorit Eliyahu (University of Arizona)

Shana Goffredi (Occidental College)

Michael Henshaw (Grand Valley State University)

Jennifer Jandt (University of Arizona)

Corrie Moreau and Steffi Kautz (Field Museum)
Steve Oberbauer (Florida International Univ.)

Ralph Saporito (John Carroll University)