Biology Seminar Series: Saul Speaker- Marjorie Weber

The Evolutionary Ecology of Plant-Bodyguard Defense Mutualisms

As a way to defend themselves against attack from herbivores and pathogens, some plants recruit bodyguards: animals that defend the plant against its enemies in return for food or shelter that the plant provides. This talk will discuss the evolution and ecology of plant bodyguard defense strategy, evaluating hypotheses about why some plants have traits that attract bodyguards and others do not.

Bio: Marjorie Weber is an Assistant Professor at University of Michigan. Weber’s research focuses on understanding how ecological interactions have shaped the striking diversity of life that has evolved over the history of our planet. To do this, she studies cooperative interactions between plants and insects, and their implications for the generation and maintenance of biodiversity. Her work lies at the nexus of ecology and evolutionary biology, and seeks to understand the role these species interactions have played in shaping branches of the tree of life. She also likes dogs, painting, and hanging out with her kids!

Sponsored by the George B. Saul II Lecture Fund