Dietmar Schwarz

Dietmar Schwarz is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Western Washington University, located within the College of Science and Engineering. His office is in BI 411, and he can be reached at Dietmar.Schwarz@wwu.edu. His research focuses on ecological and evolutionary processes, particularly in marine mammals and insects, using molecular and morphological approaches.

Research interests include molecular diet analysis in marine predators, sex-specific foraging behaviors, host plant adaptation in insects, and evolutionary mechanisms driving speciation. He employs DNA barcoding, stable isotope analysis, and functional morphology to study feeding ecology and ecological speciation.

His recent work highlights studies on Steller sea lions, harbor seals, and apple maggot flies (Rhagoletis), emphasizing conservation concerns, invasive species dynamics, and the role of environmental factors in shaping feeding strategies. Collaborative projects explore prey preference, local adaptation, and genetic introgression in both marine and terrestrial systems.