Research

Animal Armaments

The Causes and Consequences of Weapon Evolution

Weapon Evolution insect legs

What are the evolutionary mechanisms that underlie the morphological diversification of sexually selected weapons among closely related species? Do lineages with sexually selected weapons have higher rates of speciation and net diversification compared to their weaponless relatives? What factors constrain weapon evolution?

The Role of Defense in Sexual Selection

insects with armor

How common are sexually selected defensive traits (i.e. traits that can decrease the effectiveness of sexually selected weapons)? To what degree do these defensive traits influence weapon evolution and fighting behavior?

Anti-Predatory Traits

The Ecology and Evolution of Autotomy

Insects one without a leg

How does sacrificing a limb to escape predation evolve? Does autotomy facilitate limb elaboration and diversification? Should the frequency of autotomy be used to infer predation pressure? What factors influence a predator's decision following an autotomy event?