I am interested in the ecology and evolution of marine invertebrates. My work examines the interactions between ecological processes, natural and sexual selection, and molecular evolution. For example, how does population density influence selection on gamete recognition proteins with cascading effects on reproductive isolation and speciation (Levitan and Ferrell 2006)? I enjoy integrating field and laboratory studies into a theoretical framework. I use a diverse array of tools to answer questions including field experiments on gamete fertilization and reproductive isolation, molecular studies of paternity, hybridization and protein evolution, phylogenetic analysis of trait evolution and theoretical explorations of sexual selection and gamete evolution. Click on the pictures below to see my ongoing projects.
Elke Franke (current position: maternity leave, Germany)
Mike McCartney (current position: Associate Professor, U. of North Carolina, Wilmington)
Linda Walters (current position: Professor, University of Central Florida)
Maria Adreani
Zachary Boudreau
Kathleen Lotterhos
Andres Plata Stapper
Gregory S. Farley (current position: Associate Professor, Chesapeake College)
David Ferrell (current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, FSU)
Nicole Fogarty (current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Smithsonian Institution)
Tamara McGovern (current position: Assistant Professor, Limestone College)
Katherine McGhee (current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Illinois)
Pablo Munguia (current position: Assistant Professor, University of Texas, Austin)
Cheryl Swanson (current position: Florida Dept of Environmental Protection)
Casey terHorst (current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Michigan)
