Dr. Valerie Peters | Peters Lab

Bio:
Dr. Valerie Peters is an associate professor of Community Ecology in the Department of Biological Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University. Her research focuses in the areas of agroecology, conservation biology, insect community ecology, plant-animal interactions and tropical ecology. Dr. Peters current research is supported by an NSF CAREER grant, with five years of funding to conduct research and educational outreach in Costa Rica that focuses on the conservation of >700 species of native tropical bees and the pollination services they provide. Dr. Peters is originally from Pennsylvania and graduated with her B.S. in Biology from Pennsylvania State University. After graduating, she wanted to gain a better understanding of real-world issues in conservation biology before deciding on a specific topic for her PhD research. To reach this objective, she decided to combine her passion for ecological science with poverty eradication, and worked for five years, first as an Americorps Volunteer and later, as a Peace Corps Volunteer. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, her work pioneered the successful protection of over 20,000 hectares of land leading to a reserve now known as the La Botija National Park which represents one of the few protected areas in southern Honduras. After Peace Corps, she received her PhD in Ecology from the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia. Her PhD work focused on understanding how to best manage diverse coffee agroforests for bird and bee communities, and was conducted in Costa Rica with funding from the Earthwatch Institute.

Abstract:
Land-maxing in cultivated ecosystems will require a science-based selection of tree species in order for the land to be effective in achieving its multiple goals; e.g. biodiversity conservation and ecosystem integrity, alleviating malnutrition and global inequalities of wealth, and the mitigation of climate change. Plant species are not all equivalent in the number of species they support, and land managers have hundreds or thousands of plant species to choose among. The analysis of ecological networks can be used to quantitatively identify species that are posited to have the strongest impacts on network structure and stability based on their topological role. Once identified, experimental tests of these species’ efficacy in conservation and restoration applications are needed to confirm theory. 

Tropical bees and the pollination services they provide are a critical conservation target yet remain relatively understudied. We empirically quantified tropical bee/butterfly-plant and bee-plant interaction networks and identified the topological roles of all plant species. These networks were constructed across home gardens in a lowland tropical rain forest life zone (years 2017-2019), in 10 agroforestry systems in a tropical premontane life zone (year 2022), and across 30 home gardens spanning an elevational gradient from 200-1500m elevation encompassing three life zones: tropical dry forest, tropical premontane and tropical montane (year 2023). Plant species identified as holding core topological roles from these previous studies are now planted in an experimental restoration study, with data expected to be collected over the next two years.

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Valerie Peters | Peters Lab

Bio:
Dr. Valerie Peters is an associate professor of Community Ecology in the Department of Biological Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University. Her research focuses in the areas of agroecology, conservation biology, insect community ecology, plant-animal interactions and tropical ecology. Dr. Peters current research is supported by an NSF CAREER grant, with five years of funding to conduct research and educational outreach in Costa Rica that focuses on the conservation of >700 species of native tropical bees and the pollination services they provide. Dr. Peters is originally from Pennsylvania and graduated with her B.S. in Biology from Pennsylvania State University. After graduating, she wanted to gain a better understanding of real-world issues in conservation biology before deciding on a specific topic for her PhD research. To reach this objective, she decided to combine her passion for ecological science with poverty eradication, and worked for five years, first as an Americorps Volunteer and later, as a Peace Corps Volunteer. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, her work pioneered the successful protection of over 20,000 hectares of land leading to a reserve now known as the La Botija National Park which represents one of the few protected areas in southern Honduras. After Peace Corps, she received her PhD in Ecology from the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia. Her PhD work focused on understanding how to best manage diverse coffee agroforests for bird and bee communities, and was conducted in Costa Rica with funding from the Earthwatch Institute.

Abstract:
Land-maxing in cultivated ecosystems will require a science-based selection of tree species in order for the land to be effective in achieving its multiple goals; e.g. biodiversity conservation and ecosystem integrity, alleviating malnutrition and global inequalities of wealth, and the mitigation of climate change. Plant species are not all equivalent in the number of species they support, and land managers have hundreds or thousands of plant species to choose among. The analysis of ecological networks can be used to quantitatively identify species that are posited to have the strongest impacts on network structure and stability based on their topological role. Once identified, experimental tests of these species’ efficacy in conservation and restoration applications are needed to confirm theory. 

Tropical bees and the pollination services they provide are a critical conservation target yet remain relatively understudied. We empirically quantified tropical bee/butterfly-plant and bee-plant interaction networks and identified the topological roles of all plant species. These networks were constructed across home gardens in a lowland tropical rain forest life zone (years 2017-2019), in 10 agroforestry systems in a tropical premontane life zone (year 2022), and across 30 home gardens spanning an elevational gradient from 200-1500m elevation encompassing three life zones: tropical dry forest, tropical premontane and tropical montane (year 2023). Plant species identified as holding core topological roles from these previous studies are now planted in an experimental restoration study, with data expected to be collected over the next two years.

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Denis Walsh

Bio:
Denis Walsh is Professor in the Department of Philosophy and the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Toronto. He completed a PhD in Biology at McGill University, Montreal and a PhD in Philosophy at Kings College, University of London. He is author of Organisms, Agency and Evolution (2105 Cambridge University Press)

Abstract:
Philosophers of biology and evolutionary biologists have recently begun to propound the view that organisms are agents and that understanding their agency should have a substantial impact on our understanding of the dynamics of evolution. This suggestion has been met with a fair degree of scepticism and consternation. The objective of this talk is to offer an overview of organismal agency. Questions to be discussed include: In what sense are organisms agents? In what ways might organismal agency alter our conception of evolution? How does organismal agency relate to proposals for an extended evolutionary synthesis? Is the agential perspective consistent with gene-centred modern synthesis thinking about evolution?

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Denis Walsh

Bio:
Denis Walsh is Professor in the Department of Philosophy and the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Toronto. He completed a PhD in Biology at McGill University, Montreal and a PhD in Philosophy at Kings College, University of London. He is author of Organisms, Agency and Evolution (2105 Cambridge University Press)

Abstract:
Philosophers of biology and evolutionary biologists have recently begun to propound the view that organisms are agents and that understanding their agency should have a substantial impact on our understanding of the dynamics of evolution. This suggestion has been met with a fair degree of scepticism and consternation. The objective of this talk is to offer an overview of organismal agency. Questions to be discussed include: In what sense are organisms agents? In what ways might organismal agency alter our conception of evolution? How does organismal agency relate to proposals for an extended evolutionary synthesis? Is the agential perspective consistent with gene-centred modern synthesis thinking about evolution?

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Denis Walsh

Bio:
Denis Walsh is Professor in the Department of Philosophy and the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Toronto. He completed a PhD in Biology at McGill University, Montreal and a PhD in Philosophy at Kings College, University of London. He is author of Organisms, Agency and Evolution (2105 Cambridge University Press)

Abstract:
Philosophers of biology and evolutionary biologists have recently begun to propound the view that organisms are agents and that understanding their agency should have a substantial impact on our understanding of the dynamics of evolution. This suggestion has been met with a fair degree of scepticism and consternation. The objective of this talk is to offer an overview of organismal agency. Questions to be discussed include: In what sense are organisms agents? In what ways might organismal agency alter our conception of evolution? How does organismal agency relate to proposals for an extended evolutionary synthesis? Is the agential perspective consistent with gene-centred modern synthesis thinking about evolution?

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Denis Walsh

Bio:
Denis Walsh is Professor in the Department of Philosophy and the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Toronto. He completed a PhD in Biology at McGill University, Montreal and a PhD in Philosophy at Kings College, University of London. He is author of Organisms, Agency and Evolution (2105 Cambridge University Press)

Abstract:
Philosophers of biology and evolutionary biologists have recently begun to propound the view that organisms are agents and that understanding their agency should have a substantial impact on our understanding of the dynamics of evolution. This suggestion has been met with a fair degree of scepticism and consternation. The objective of this talk is to offer an overview of organismal agency. Questions to be discussed include: In what sense are organisms agents? In what ways might organismal agency alter our conception of evolution? How does organismal agency relate to proposals for an extended evolutionary synthesis? Is the agential perspective consistent with gene-centred modern synthesis thinking about evolution?

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Denis Walsh

Bio:
Denis Walsh is Professor in the Department of Philosophy and the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Toronto. He completed a PhD in Biology at McGill University, Montreal and a PhD in Philosophy at Kings College, University of London. He is author of Organisms, Agency and Evolution (2105 Cambridge University Press)

Abstract:
Philosophers of biology and evolutionary biologists have recently begun to propound the view that organisms are agents and that understanding their agency should have a substantial impact on our understanding of the dynamics of evolution. This suggestion has been met with a fair degree of scepticism and consternation. The objective of this talk is to offer an overview of organismal agency. Questions to be discussed include: In what sense are organisms agents? In what ways might organismal agency alter our conception of evolution? How does organismal agency relate to proposals for an extended evolutionary synthesis? Is the agential perspective consistent with gene-centred modern synthesis thinking about evolution?

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Denis Walsh

Bio:
Denis Walsh is Professor in the Department of Philosophy and the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Toronto. He completed a PhD in Biology at McGill University, Montreal and a PhD in Philosophy at Kings College, University of London. He is author of Organisms, Agency and Evolution (2105 Cambridge University Press)

Abstract:
Philosophers of biology and evolutionary biologists have recently begun to propound the view that organisms are agents and that understanding their agency should have a substantial impact on our understanding of the dynamics of evolution. This suggestion has been met with a fair degree of scepticism and consternation. The objective of this talk is to offer an overview of organismal agency. Questions to be discussed include: In what sense are organisms agents? In what ways might organismal agency alter our conception of evolution? How does organismal agency relate to proposals for an extended evolutionary synthesis? Is the agential perspective consistent with gene-centred modern synthesis thinking about evolution?

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Sangeet Lamichhaney | Lamichhaney Lab

Bio:
Dr. Sangeet Lamichhaney's career has spanned various academic institutions and research topics. After earning his bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine from Nepal, he completed an Erasmus Mundus Master's program in Molecular Genetics & Bioinformatics in Sweden. His doctoral work at Uppsala University in Sweden under Prof. Leif Andersson focused on the genetics of adaptation in natural populations, studying birds and fish. This work laid the foundation for his future research in adaptive evolution. Following his PhD, Lamichhaney joined Prof. Scott Edwards' lab at Harvard University as a Wenner-Gren research fellow. In 2019, he became an Assistant Professor at Kent State University, where his current research focuses on the genetic basis of adaptation to changing environments, with a particular emphasis on understanding how species evolve in response to environmental stressors. A major highlight of his work is his research in the Galápagos Islands, where he studied Darwin’s finches and their genetic adaptations to diverse food sources, climates, and other ecological factors. By integrating genomic data, he identified key genetic changes in traits such as beak morphology and diet, which are essential to their survival and speciation. Dr. Lamichhaney's research has been published in top-tier journals like Nature and Science and has been featured in prominent media outlets such as the BBC, The New York Times, and National Geographic. He has received several awards, including the Young Investigator Award for Evolutionary Studies and the Hwasser Prize.

Abstract:
Island ecosystems serve as natural laboratories for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying key evolutionary processes such as adaptive evolution, speciation, and biological invasion. Darwin’s finches, inhabiting the Galápagos Islands, represent one of the most iconic systems for studying these evolutionary processes. As a part of our long-term research in the Galápagos Islands, we have conducted population-scale whole-genome re-sequencing for > 400 individuals of Darwin’s finches and have identified two major genetic mechanisms key to their evolution (1) Two transcription factors, ALX1 and HMGA2, affecting craniofacial development, have driven beak diversification, enabling the finches to utilize a broader range of food resources (2) Extensive interspecific gene flow has been critical in maintaining genetic diversity both within and between species, including a documented case of rapid hybrid speciation. Furthermore, recently, the invasive avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi) has become one of the greatest threats to the Darwin’s finches in Galápagos, that parasitizes their chicks and cause high mortality. We have generated a high-quality reference genome and conducted population-scale whole-genome re-sequencing of P. downsi populations from the Galápagos Islands and mainland Ecuador. Our findings have revealed reduced genetic diversity in Galápagos (indicative of a recent bottleneck), ongoing gene flow among island populations, and positive selection in genes involved in neural signaling, muscle development, and metabolism, traits that have likely facilitated the fly’s successful invasion in Galápagos. Our study offers a framework for investigating the genetic mechanisms underlying species colonization, local adaptation, and dynamics of invasive species within island ecosystems.

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Sangeet Lamichhaney | Lamichhaney Lab

Bio:
Dr. Sangeet Lamichhaney's career has spanned various academic institutions and research topics. After earning his bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine from Nepal, he completed an Erasmus Mundus Master's program in Molecular Genetics & Bioinformatics in Sweden. His doctoral work at Uppsala University in Sweden under Prof. Leif Andersson focused on the genetics of adaptation in natural populations, studying birds and fish. This work laid the foundation for his future research in adaptive evolution. Following his PhD, Lamichhaney joined Prof. Scott Edwards' lab at Harvard University as a Wenner-Gren research fellow. In 2019, he became an Assistant Professor at Kent State University, where his current research focuses on the genetic basis of adaptation to changing environments, with a particular emphasis on understanding how species evolve in response to environmental stressors. A major highlight of his work is his research in the Galápagos Islands, where he studied Darwin’s finches and their genetic adaptations to diverse food sources, climates, and other ecological factors. By integrating genomic data, he identified key genetic changes in traits such as beak morphology and diet, which are essential to their survival and speciation. Dr. Lamichhaney's research has been published in top-tier journals like Nature and Science and has been featured in prominent media outlets such as the BBC, The New York Times, and National Geographic. He has received several awards, including the Young Investigator Award for Evolutionary Studies and the Hwasser Prize.

Abstract:
Island ecosystems serve as natural laboratories for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying key evolutionary processes such as adaptive evolution, speciation, and biological invasion. Darwin’s finches, inhabiting the Galápagos Islands, represent one of the most iconic systems for studying these evolutionary processes. As a part of our long-term research in the Galápagos Islands, we have conducted population-scale whole-genome re-sequencing for > 400 individuals of Darwin’s finches and have identified two major genetic mechanisms key to their evolution (1) Two transcription factors, ALX1 and HMGA2, affecting craniofacial development, have driven beak diversification, enabling the finches to utilize a broader range of food resources (2) Extensive interspecific gene flow has been critical in maintaining genetic diversity both within and between species, including a documented case of rapid hybrid speciation. Furthermore, recently, the invasive avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi) has become one of the greatest threats to the Darwin’s finches in Galápagos, that parasitizes their chicks and cause high mortality. We have generated a high-quality reference genome and conducted population-scale whole-genome re-sequencing of P. downsi populations from the Galápagos Islands and mainland Ecuador. Our findings have revealed reduced genetic diversity in Galápagos (indicative of a recent bottleneck), ongoing gene flow among island populations, and positive selection in genes involved in neural signaling, muscle development, and metabolism, traits that have likely facilitated the fly’s successful invasion in Galápagos. Our study offers a framework for investigating the genetic mechanisms underlying species colonization, local adaptation, and dynamics of invasive species within island ecosystems.

Watch the seminar here!