E&E Seminar: “Alien Invaders! Studies on the ecology and evolution of invasive parasites” by Jennifer Koop (Northern Illinois University)
October 11, 2022
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Location
4289 SELE
Calendar
Download iCal FilePlease join us on Oct. 11, 2022 at 12:30 pm for "Alien Invaders! Studies on the ecology and evolution of invasive parasites" by Dr. Jennifer Koop (Northern Illinois University)
Host: Emily Minor
Abstract: Invasive species are one of today's greatest threats to global biodiversity. Understanding the process of invasion and predicting the impacts on native ecosystems when the invaders are also parasites has proven to be particularly challenging. Yet, with over half of all species on Earth likely being parasitic, the need to understand how parasitism adds to the dynamic of invasion is extremely important. My lab is using two very different biological systems and a multidisciplinary approach to address questions about the evolutionary processes and ecological factors that facilitate parasite invasions. I will discuss our ongoing investigations of an invasive snail-trematode system in which co-invasion and spill back may both be at play. We use this system to understand the ecological and evolutionary processes that may facilitate invasions of parasites with complex life cycles. I will also discuss our ongoing investigations aimed at describing the invasion pathway of a parasitic nest fly in the Galapagos that affects Darwin’s finches. We are using genomics tools to better understand the process of invasion and the mechanisms of evolution now acting on populations of the parasite established across the archipelago. Our lab aims to shed light on the complexities that accompany parasite invasions and move us toward a goal of better being able to predict the outcome or likelihood of future invasions.
Date posted
May 6, 2022
Date updated
Sep 16, 2022