Robert Ricklefs

Robert Ricklefs is a Curators' Professor of Biology at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. His research focuses on evolutionary ecology, community ecology, and biogeography, particularly in avian systems. He has explored topics such as avian life histories, speciation processes, and the interplay between ecological communities and historical factors. His work integrates comparative analyses, phylogenetics, and experimental studies to address questions about biodiversity patterns and ecological constraints.

Education: PhD in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania (1967), A.B. in Biology from Stanford University (1963). Formerly held academic positions at the University of Pennsylvania (1968–1995), including Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor roles. He has conducted postdoctoral research at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (1967–1968).

Research interests include evolutionary mechanisms shaping avian life histories, the historical assembly of ecological communities, and the role of pathogens (e.g., avian malaria) in host populations. His recent work examines host-parasite interactions, biogeographical patterns in plant and animal species, and the impacts of environmental factors on biodiversity.

Ricklefs has received the Brewster Award (1982) and has supervised numerous research projects, including studies on avian demography and phylogenetic relationships. His research has been published across 392 articles, with a focus on avian ecology, biogeography, and parasitology.