Associate Professor, The University of Oklahoma, Department of Zoology
Ph.D. 1993, University of Michigan
RESEARCH INTERESTS Ecology, Animal Behavior, Freshwater Biology and Evolution
RESEARCH STATEMENT My research examines how qualities of the environment, such as predation, competition and resources, influence the course of species evolution and resultant patterns in the development of biological diversity. I investigate these questions through studies of a group of small freshwater crustaceans, amphipods in the genus Hyalella, that originated in South America and invaded North America roughly eight million years ago. I use a variety of approaches, including ecological and behavioral studies, molecular phylogenetics, population genetics, and evolutionary studies. More broadly, I have interests in a number of sub-disciplines in biology predator-prey interactions, competitive interactions, habitat selection, population genetics, mating behavior, and sexual selection.