Nina Theis

I am broadly interested in the ecology and evolution of plant-insect interactions. My current focus is understanding the effects of the simultaneous selection pressures by mutualists and antagonists on phenotypic patterns of floral traits, and specifically their effect on floral fragrance. Below are links to some of my recent and future work.

In my dissertation work at Stony Brook University with Manuel Lerdau I investigated the role of herbivory in the evolution of floral traits in thistles. I did much of this work in the lab of Robert Raguso down in Columbia, South Carolina- though my research took place at the Belle Baruch Hobcaw Barony in Georgetown, SC as well as an incredibly beautiful field site at Wallkill River Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Sussex, New Jersey.

During my post-doc at the Arnold Arboretum I used molecular phylogenetics to investigate the evolution of fragrance in honeysuckle. Because of the incredible collection of Lilacs at the Arboretum- I couldn’t leave without extending my fragrance survey to include Lilacs.

Most recently I have been conducting research on integrated pest management in the Cucurbitaceae. In Lynn Adler’s lab we are exploring the components of floral characters that attract pollinators as well as detrimental specialist beetles to squash. Our goal is to find a species or cultivar that attracts the beetles but not the critical pollinators in this system. By using this species as the perimeter trap crop (PTC), pesticide use can be reduced.

In the future I plan to continue to investigate the role of detrimental insects in the evolution of floral characters. I intend to extend the current work on squash to attack a persistent question in evolutionary biology: Bateman’s principle which predicts that male flowers will be more fragrant than female flowers in order to attract pollinators. I intend to test Bateman’s principle in squash, which is monoecious. By increasing the floral display with synthetic fragrance, I can determine the fitness effects of an enhanced floral phenotype. If there are costs associated with attracting pollinators via inadvertent attraction of herbivores, then increasing apparency may result in diminishing returns with regard to fitness.