معرفی
James Fordyce is a Professor and Head of Undergraduate Affairs in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His research focuses on evolutionary ecology, particularly plant-insect interactions, aiming to understand microevolutionary processes and their macroevolutionary implications. He explores how factors like local adaptation, gene flow, and host plant fidelity drive diversification in butterflies and other insects.
Education: Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of California, Davis (2003).
Research Interests:
- Evolutionary mechanisms shaping biodiversity
- Plant-herbivore co-evolution (with a focus on butterflies)
- Genetic and phylogenetic approaches to ecological questions
- Climate change impacts on insect communities
Key Research Systems:
- Pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor) life-history adaptations
- Lycaenid butterfly diversification (Lycaeides species complex)
- Host plant shifts in Melissa blue butterflies
Labs/Teams: His research group uses integrative methods combining field experiments, phylogenetics, and chemical ecology. The lab is located in 569 Dabney Hall, Knoxville, TN.
