Mariana Abarca

Dr. Mariana Abarca is an Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at Smith College. She holds a Ph.D. from George Washington University and studies insect ecology with focus on plant-insect interactions under global change pressures. Her research examines how anthropogenic threats like climate change, habitat loss, and pollution impact insect populations through field experiments and ecological modeling.

Research explores thermal stress impacts on Lepidoptera development, phenological mismatches in trophic interactions, and conservation strategies for declining pollinators. Current projects investigate evolutionary trade-offs in herbivore diet breadth across urbanization gradients and thermal performance curves in insects.

Her publications demonstrate consistent focus on climate change impacts (60%), plant-insect interactions (30%), and conservation applications (10%). Recent works increasingly incorporate meta-analytical approaches and multi-stressor frameworks.