Lynn Adler
Professor, Biology
Research Area: Plant Environment Interactions
Field of Study: Ecology and evolution of insect-plant interactions
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. In turn, both attractive and defensive plant traits may affect herbivores and pollinators, including their interactions with a third trophic level. My research integrates plant-animal interactions across mutualisms and antagonisms, including floral, foliar, and belowground tissues, to arrive at a more complete understanding of the ecology and evolution of resistance and attractive traits in both basic and applied systems. Currently, my work focuses on how floral traits and resources affect bee-pathogen dynamics.
Education
- B.S., Brown University, 1993
- Ph.D., University of California at Davis, 2000
- Postdoctoral, University of Arizona, 2000-2001