David L. Ferrell
M.S., The Florida State University,
2002
Department of Biological Science
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1100
126C Conradi Hall
Telephone: 850.645.1195
FAX: 850.644.9829
Email: ferrell@bio.fsu.edu
Major professors: Janie L. Wulff & Don R. Levitan
Site: Cape Beale, British Columbia
My research interests lie in the evolutionary biology and ecology of clonal marine invertebrates, including recognition systems, intraspecific competition, life history strategies, and variable growth forms. Thus far, my work has focused upon clonal cnidarians, such as colonial hydroids (genus Hydractinia) and the aggregating anemone Anthopleura elegantissima.
A central goal of evolutionary biology is to understand the nature of genetic variation in traits with close ties to fitness and how that variation is maintained. In this context, I am currently studying the variable growth forms present in natural Hydractinia populations. Several species in this genus exhibit extensive variation in growth form despite the demonstrated superiority of one phenotype in space competition, growth rate, and reproductive effort. Growth form appears to have a significant genetic component yet our understanding of the genetics underlying this conspicuous trait remains rudimentary. Moreover, although much has been learned from laboratory studies in this system, surprisingly little is known about natural interactions and the expression of life history and other fitness-related traits in the field. I aim to fill in these significant gaps in our knowledge of this system.
Levitan, D.R., and D.L. Ferrell. 2006. Selection on gamete recognition proteins depends on sex, density, and genotype frequency.
Science 312: 267-269. PDF Online supplement
Ferrell, D.L. 2005. Competitive equivalence maintains persistent inter-clonal boundaries. Oecologia 142: 184-190. PDF
Ferrell, D.L. 2004. Fitness consequences of allorecognition-mediated agonistic interactions in the colonial hydroid Hydractinia [GM]. Biological
Bulletin 206: 173-187. PDF
Ferrell, D.L. 2004. Gastropod shell size and morphology influence conspecific interactions in an encrusting hydroid. Marine Ecology Progress
Series 275: 153-162. PDF
Ferrell, D.L., N.J. Negovetich, and E.J. Wetzel. 2001. Effect of temperature on the infectivity of metacercariae of Zygocotyle lunata (Digenea:
Paramphistomidae). Journal of Parasitology 87: 10-13. PDF