Event

Abstract: Global environmental change is driving declines in insect populations worldwide, yet mechanisms underlying these patterns remain poorly understood, particularly when it comes to dispersal and range shifts. My research explores the eco-evolutionary processes that govern these dynamics, focusing on spatial sorting, adaptive radiations, and species resilience in the face of anthropogenic and climatic disturbances. Leveraging insights from field experiments, genetic analyses, and long-term monitoring, I demonstrate how dispersal-associated traits can drive both rapid adaptation and maladaptation in changing environments. For example, in studies of the red-shouldered soapberry bug (Jadera haematoloma), spatial sorting—a process where phenotypes enhancing dispersal accumulate along range edges—played a pivotal role in post-hurricane recovery, reshaping local trait distributions with significant consequences for population resilience and local adaptation. Complementary research on the fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) illustrates how hybridization and diet breadth evolution mediate species responses to habitat fragmentation and climate shifts. Together, these findings underscore the importance of considering evolutionary mechanisms such as spatial sorting and hybridization to predict biodiversity outcomes in human-altered landscapes. By integrating eco-evolutionary theory with practical applications, my work aims to inform conservation strategies that enhance ecosystem resilience and facilitate restoration efforts in a rapidly changing world.
 

Mattheau Comerford Website