David W. Pfennig

David W. Pfennig is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research focuses on the interplay between evolution, ecology, and development, with a particular emphasis on phenotypic plasticity, biodiversity, and Batesian mimicry. He leads the Pfennig Lab, which studies spadefoot toads as model organisms to explore how environmental cues shape traits and drive evolutionary innovation.

His research interests include: (1) the causes and ecological consequences of developmental plasticity, (2) the role of competition in generating biodiversity, and (3) the evolution of mimicry systems. He has contributed to understanding how plasticity influences diversification and how genetic mechanisms underpin adaptive traits.

His lab’s work integrates field studies, experimental evolution, and genomic approaches. They investigate topics such as the genetic basis of plasticity in spadefoot toads, the evolutionary stability of mimicry, and the impacts of environmental stressors on organismal development.

Dr. Pfennig collaborates widely, including with the Amphibian Genomics Consortium, and his research has implications for conservation biology and evolutionary theory. He is based in Wilson Hall, Chapel Hill, and actively engages in outreach and mentoring students in ecological and evolutionary research.