The Spring 2023 Biology Seminar Series commences with a talk from Dr. Stephanie Birnbaum, "Evolution Under Chemical Warfare: Lessons Learned from Insect Systems." The seminar is on Tuesday, February 7th, at 12:00pm.
Insect interactions with host plants and other organisms provide unique and powerful models for understanding the evolutionary ecology of species interactions and molecular responses to stressors including host plant toxins, pathogens, and pesticides. I will present work investigating 1) the effects of plant toxins on specialist insect fitness and gene expression, and 2) the interactive effects of evolved pesticide resistance, pesticide exposure, and pathogen infection on insect fitness, immunity, and gene expression.