Fossil and molecular evidence indicates that the first insects arose approximately 479 million years ago during the Early Ordovician period. Since then, the abundance and diversity of insects, as well as their contributions to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems have grown significantly. This course examines the abiotic and biotic processes that drive patterns of insect abundance, distribution, and diversity. We will use this understanding to explain the where, when, and why of insect occurrence. Altogether, we will connect our knowledge of insect ecology to real world scenarios in conservation and management of insects in natural and artificial habitats.
Fall 2023 Syllabus & Insect Ecological Theory Assignment
Thirty-one percent of the world, and 54.3% of state of Louisiana (~15 million acres) is covered by forests. These ecosystems which occur across a variety of biomes (e.g., temperate, subtropical, tropical) are habitat to diverse organisms, and provide considerable direct (e.g., timber industry) and indirect (i.e., ecosystem services) economic benefits to humanity. Within forests, insects play a variety of roles and can positively or negatively impact the functioning of the ecosystem and the services it provides. Historically, courses in forest entomology have focused on insects that are pests and the techniques used to minimize damage to natural and managed forests. This course has a similar focus. There are three major goals of this course. First, to provide students with an understanding of the proximate (e.g., attack by pests) and ultimate (e.g., global change) factors that influence the health of forests. Secondly, give students a framework and set of tools to identify and solve ongoing and novel problems related to forest health. Lastly, acknowledge that forest entomology does not work in a vacuum, by providing students with information about how varying social and cultural contexts can impact if choose to manage forests, what we choose to manage within them, and if so, which tools are used.
Note: This course is in the process of transitioning from a four credit insects and diseases of forest ecosystems course to a three credit course that focuses solely on insects in forest ecosystems. Please email me if you'd like to see a sample syllabus.
A central goal of the field of ecology is to identify and characterize the processes that explain patterns observed in nature. In his book the Geographic Mosaic of Coevolution, evolutionary biologist John Thompson hypothesizes that adaptation to local abiotic and biotic conditions leads to different outcomes for species across the heterogeneous landscape. Differences in species outcomes has numerous implications for our fundamental understanding of the ecology and evolution of organisms, as well as applications to management and conservation of ecosystems. During this special topics course we will read and discuss the Geographic Mosaic of Coevolution book and connect it to our own ongoing and developing research at LSU.
Syllabus TBA. Students will be expected to lead or co-lead (depending on class enrollment) at least one class meeting.
In his book Phytochemical Landscape, Mark Hunter hypothesizes that differences in species interactions across the geographic mosaic can be explained largely by bottom-up effects. Differences in soil chemistry impact the chemistry of plants, which alters interactions with herbivores, and ultimately their natural enemies. During this special topics course, we read the Phytochemical Landscape and connect it to our ongoing and developing research at LSU. While not required, it is suggested that interested students have taken the previous special topics course, "Reading the Geographic Mosaic of Coevolution".
Syllabus TBA. Students will be expected to lead or co-lead (depending on class enrollment) at least one class meeting.