Laboratory of Evolutionary EcologyOur laboratory has a broad conceptual focus on trying to understand how extant diversity has been driven through ecological interactions over evolutionary time. We mostly work on model systems comprising plants and their associated insects, as the majority of described terrestrial species fall into these groups. Our work often includes the use of molecular and metabolomics tools to provide a baseline onto which we add layers of complexity in the form of detailed ecological measurements on communities and trophic interactions. We combine field collections with manipulative experiments and work collaboratively with others to achieve our goals. For more, see Research Projects.
NEWS |
NEW PUBLICATIONSMezzomo P., Leong J.V., , Pokorny V., Jorge L..R., Volfova T., Kozel P., Vodrazka P.,Seifert C. L., Aurová K., Moos M., Engström M.T., Salminen J.P., Volf M. (2025) Effects of pronounced seasonal turnover and intraspecific variation in leaf traits on specialization of insect herbivores associated with six Salicaceae hosts. Oecologia 207 : article number: 34.
DOI: 10.1007/s00442-025-05672-w Leong J., Matos Maravi P. F., Núñez R., Nunes R., Liang W., Braby M.F., Doleck T., Aduse-Poku K., Inayoshi Y., Hsu Y.-F., Wahlberg N., Peggie D., et al., Kawahara A.Y., Pierce N., Lohman D. (2025) Around the World in 26 Million Years: Diversification and Biogeography of Pantropical Grass-Yellow Eurema Butterflies (Pieridae: Coliadinae). Journal of Biogeography Early View : DOI: 10.1111/jbi.15107 Aubona G., Mezzomo P., Sedio B.E., Staab M.,Volf M. (2024) Neighbourhood effects on herbivory damage and chemical profiles in short-rotation coppice willows and their ybrids, Phytochemistry, 228, 114249, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2024.114249 Ogutcen E., de Lima Ferreira P., Wagner N.D., Marinček P., Leong J.V., Aubona G., Cavender-Bares J., Michálek J., Schroeder L., Sedio B.E., Vašut R.J., Volf M., (2024) Phylogenetic insights into the Salicaceae: The evolution of willows and beyond. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 108161, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108161 Mezzomo P., Leong J.V., Vodrážka P., Moos M., Jorge L.R., Volfová T., Michálek J., de L. Ferreira P., Kozel P., Brian E. Sedio B.E., Volf M., (2024) Variation in induced responses in volatile and non-volatile metabolites among six willow species: Do willow species share responses to herbivory? Phytochemistry, 114222, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2024.114222 Marinček P., Léveillé-Bourret É. , Heiduk F., Leong J.V , Bailleul S.M., Volf M., . Wagner N.D. (2024) Challenge accepted: Evolutionary lineages versus taxonomic classification of North American shrub willows (Salix). the American Journal of Botany, https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.16361 |
