Dan Hare's Field and Laboratory Research
Research and Publications: As an evolutionary biologist, I am primarily interested in the process of adaptation. The interactions between plants, their insect herbivores, and the natural enemies of herbivores are ideal to study adaptation because of the short generation times, small size, and short dispersal ranges of all of the participants. Genetic changes can be seen in as little as a few seasons in these systems, making them unsurpassed as model systems for evolutionary studies. Some of the plants and herbivores are important to human welfare, and my research on the interaction between crops and pests applies the principles learned from natural systems to the development of ecologically sound pest management programs. The sections below contain a short description of my research in three different areas and a list of relevant publications. Some of the more recent publications are available for viewing on-line.
Plant Herbivore
Interactions and Chemical Ecology
Tritrophic
Interactions and Insect Behavior
Pest Management
Recent Federal Grant Support
National Science
Foundation: $260,000 “Cost and benefits of plant defense against herbivores in
maintaining a resistance polymorphism.”
1997 – 2000.
National Science
Foundation: $270,000 “Interactions between plant competition and resistance in
maintaining a plant defense dimorphism” 2001-2004.
National Science
Foundation: $480,000 “Tritrophic Interactions in Datura” 2004 – 2009.
Recent Teaching
Biology 5C, Introductory Evolution & Ecology
Biology 117, Population and Community Ecology
Biology 216, Theory of Evolution
Entomology 203, Ecology, Population Genetics, and Pest Management
Entomology 241, Insect-Plant Interactions
For Prospective Graduate Students and
Postdocs:
Graduate Students: I am most interested in sponsoring students who have a strong interest in the study of plant-insect interactions from an evolutionary point of view and who are interested in the chemical mediation of those interactions. I can sponsor graduate students in either the Evolutionary Biology Graduate Program or in Entomology Graduate Program, and I invite prospective students to contact me before applying to best determine which program is most appropriate for their interests and prior training.
Postdoctoral research appointments: Postdoctoral vacancies occur at various times in my laboratory and often can be filled on short notice. Those interested in my research are encouraged to contact me and outline their interests for future consideration when postdoctoral vacancies may arise.