Faculty Research Strengths : Department of Biology : Indiana University Bloomington

Faculty & Research

Water Sampling

Sampling fungal epidemics in Daphnia populations in a small lake using a net.

Mesocosms

An array of suspended aquatic mesocosms deployed in the IU Research and Teaching Preserve.

Water Sampling

Sampling fungal epidemics in Daphnia populations in a small rowboat.

Downing Lake

Downing Lake, one of many local sites used in a study of planktonic disease ecology.

Tallgrass Prairie

Native tallgrass prairie maintains very high plant species richness. The processes maintaining this diversity are central questions in ecology.

Mycorrhizal Fungi

Asexually produced spores of nine different species of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi. These beneficial soil fungi can exert controlling effects on terrestrial communities.

Root Pathogens

Accumulation of host specific root pathogens can contribute to the maintenance of plant diversity.

Mycorrhizal Fungi

Four new species of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi.

Beaver Dam

Beaver dam spanning a stream in Griffy Woods.

Brood X

IU Bloomington serves as an epicenter for research on periodic cidadas.

Field Lab

IU Bloomington supports several field research locations, including this 6000-square-foot IU Research and Teaching Preserve field lab on the Griffy Woods property.

Field Samples

Yellow Lady Slipper

Collection Expedition

Placing Markers

Surveying Crew

Open Field Survey

Sorting Specimens

Endophyte Bioassay

Native prairie switchgrass growth promotion by fungi colonizing the shoot.

Field Monitoring

Bush honeysuckle invasion in local forest.

Prairie Mesocosms

Mycorrhizal fungal identity and richness determine the diversity and productivity of a tallgrass prairie system.

Greenhouse Experiment

Interactions between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can range from parasitic to mutualistic depending on plant and fungal species identities and phosphorus source.

Research Strengths

Ecology

Indiana University’s Evolution, Ecology and Behavior program offers training in the ecology of populations, communities and ecosystems, as well as the bridge disciplines of evolutionary ecology, ecological genetics, behavior ecology, microbial ecology, and biogeochemistry. We have particular strengths in the ecology and evolution of species interactions, including the dynamics of diseases and mutualisms, consumer-resource interactions, and the role of microbes in community structure and terrestrial ecosystem function. Students and faculty develop basic ecological theory (mathematical, statistical, and conceptual) and test theoretical predictions, using experiments in the lab and field, and observations of natural systems. Moreover, our students and faculty apply basic ecological principles to anthropogenic problems such as species invasions, restoration ecology, global change biology, epidemiology, and ecotoxicology. Our students and faculty work in woodlands, prairies, ponds and lakes, with access to the nearby Research and Teaching Preserve. We also enjoy access to extensive environmental chambers and greenhouse facilities to conduct experiments, and we regularly tap into the tremendous molecular resources of our department.

Faculty Member	Contact	Description
Farrah Bashey-Visser Assistant Scientist Evolution, Ecology & Behavior	fbasheyv [at] indiana.edu 812-855-1962 Sycamore Hall 039	Evolutionary ecology of life-history and social strategies, evolution of virulence.
James Bever Professor of Biology Evolution, Ecology & Behavior	jbever [at] indiana.edu 812-855-0771/5-5969(lab) JH 149D / JH 149 (lab)	Ecology and evolution of plants and fungi.
Keith Clay Professor of Biology Evolution, Ecology & Behavior	clay [at] indiana.edu 812-855-8158/5-1674(lab) JH 159B / JH 159 (lab)	Microbial interactions: ecology, symbiosis, disease.
Lynda Delph Professor of Biology Evolution, Ecology & Behavior	ldelph [at] indiana.edu 812-855-1831/5-7597(lab) JH 119B / JH 116/121 (lab)	Evolutionary genetics and ecology; plant reproductive biology.
Greg Demas Professor, Assoc. Chair for Research Evolution, Ecology & Behavior	gdemas [at] indiana.edu 812-856-0158/5-6257(lab) JH 265 / JH 267 (lab)	Behavioral endocrinology; neuroendocrine-immue interactions; aggression; biological rhythms; seasonality.
Spencer Hall Associate Professor of Biology Evolution, Ecology & Behavior	sprhall [at] indiana.edu 812-855-6009/5-6013(lab) JH 239B/239(Lab)	Ecology of infectious disease and food web interactions in freshwater environments.
Ellen Ketterson Distinguished Professor of Biology and Gender Studies Evolution, Ecology & Behavior	ketterso [at] indiana.edu 812-855-6837/5-1096(lab) JH 033	Behavioral, physiological, and evolutionary ecology; hormones and behavior; avian biology, mating systems and parental care; physiological basis of trade-offs in life histories; adaptation and constraint; avian migration.
Jay T. Lennon Associate Professor Evolution, Ecology & Behavior	lennonj [at] indiana.edu 856-0962/6-7235(lab) JH 341/JH 343(lab)	Microbial Ecology and Evolution
Curt Lively Distinguished Professor of Biology Evolution, Ecology & Behavior	clively [at] indiana.edu 812-855-1842/5-3282(lab) JH 117B / JH 116/117 (lab)	Evolution and coevolution; sex, virulence and genetic diversity in host-parasite interactions.
Vicky Meretsky Associate Professor	meretsky [at] indiana.edu 812-855-3836 SPEA 455
Leonie Moyle Associate Professor of Biology Evolution, Ecology & Behavior	lmoyle [at] indiana.edu 812-856-7027/6-7051(lab) JH 325C / JH 325 (lab)	Genetics of speciation and adaptation, Comparative genomics, Evolutionary ecology, Plant reproduction.
Richard Phillips Assistant Professor of Biology Evolution, Ecology & Behavior	rpp6 [at] indiana.edu 812-856-0593/6-1563(lab) JH 247A/JH 245	Ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry: Consequences of human-accelerated environmental change on plant-soil-microbial Interactions.
P. David Polly Adjunct: Associate Professor of Geological Sciences	pdpolly [at] indiana.edu 812-855-7994 Geology Building, 513	Vertebrate paleontology, comparative morphological variation at the level of the metapopulation, and the effects of Quaternary climate change on vertebrate faunas.
Heather Reynolds Associate Professor of Biology Evolution, Ecology & Behavior	hlreynol [at] indiana.edu 812-855-0792/5-0841(lab) JH 155A	Plant community ecology; plant-soil-microbial interactions.
Loren Rieseberg Distinguished Professor of Biology Evolution, Ecology & Behavior	lriesebe [at] interchange.ubc.ca unlisted phone MY 330	Plant evolutionary genomics; speciation; domestication; invasiveness; Compositae genomics; conservation.
Gregory Velicer Adjunct: Associate Professor	gvelicer [at] indiana.edu 812-856-2586/5-9332(lab) JH 469 / JH A308 (lab)	Ecology and evolution of bacterial social behavior.
Maxine Watson Professor of Biology Evolution, Ecology & Behavior	watsonm [at] indiana.edu 812-855-5591 JH 263A	Plant developmental ecology.
Yuen-Tsu (Nicco) Yu Associate Scientist, Velicer Lab	nicyu [at] indiana.edu 812-856-2586/856-0062 JH 469 (office), JH 309 (lab)	Select Publication