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Research Interests
Chemical defenses are among the most complex adaptations organisms use to deter predators, yet many aspects of their ecological and evolutionary origins remain poorly understood. Animals employ a remarkable diversity of defensive chemicals that play fundamental roles in predator-prey interactions and broader ecological communities. While some species produce these compounds themselves, others acquire them from their diet through a process known as sequestration. Although sequestration of chemical defense has been extensively studied in plant-feeding (phytophagous) arthropods, it remains comparatively understudied in vertebrates.
Our labs research explores the ecology, evolution, and function of chemical defenses, with a particular interest in how sequestered defenses interact with visual warning signals. Many chemically defended animals display conspicuous colors or patterns—a strategy known as aposematism—that advertises their unpalatability or toxicity to potential predators. These warning signals help predators learn to associate distinctive appearances with negative experiences, reducing the likelihood of future attacks. Aposematism is widespread across the animal kingdom, occurring in diverse groups and provides a powerful framework for understanding the evolution of defensive strategies and species interactions.
The majority of our research investigates brightly colored poison frogs and their alkaloid-based chemical defenses, and incorporates a variety of comparative and experimental approaches in both the lab and field, including ecology, evolutionary biology, animal behavior, physiology, natural history, and frog/arthropod chemistry.
Our labs research explores the ecology, evolution, and function of chemical defenses, with a particular interest in how sequestered defenses interact with visual warning signals. Many chemically defended animals display conspicuous colors or patterns—a strategy known as aposematism—that advertises their unpalatability or toxicity to potential predators. These warning signals help predators learn to associate distinctive appearances with negative experiences, reducing the likelihood of future attacks. Aposematism is widespread across the animal kingdom, occurring in diverse groups and provides a powerful framework for understanding the evolution of defensive strategies and species interactions.
The majority of our research investigates brightly colored poison frogs and their alkaloid-based chemical defenses, and incorporates a variety of comparative and experimental approaches in both the lab and field, including ecology, evolutionary biology, animal behavior, physiology, natural history, and frog/arthropod chemistry.
