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: Associate Professor U. of Central Florida)
Maria Adreani
Nicole Fogarty
Kathleen Lotterhos
Andres Plata Stapper
Casey terHorst
Gregory S. Farley (current position: Assistant Professor, Chesapeake College)
David Ferrell (current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, FSU)
Tamara McGovern (current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Clemson U.)
Katherine McGhee (current position: Ph.D. student, FSU)
Pablo Munguia (current position: postdoctoral fellow, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center)
Cheryl Swanson (current position: Florida Dept of Environmental Protection)
