Mercedes Burns

Mercedes Burns is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where she conducts research on the evolutionary ecology of reproductive traits and behaviors, particularly in arthropods such as harvestmen (Opiliones). She is based in the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building and leads the Burns Lab, which integrates genomics, functional morphology, and ecological data to study sexual conflict, reproductive polymorphism, and mating systems.

• Ph.D. in Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, & Systematics, University of Maryland, College Park (2014)
• B.A. in Biology, Macalester College (2006)

Her research focuses on sexual conflict, reproductive evolution, and genomic determinants of reproductive mode in arthropods. Using next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, and morphological analysis, her lab investigates how evolutionary pressures shape reproductive anatomy and behavior. A central model system is the leiobunine harvestmen, known for diverse reproductive strategies including parthenogenesis and sex ratio biases.

The trends in her recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on reproductive biology in non-model arachnids, particularly exploring nuptial gift evolution, spermathecal diversity, and genomic mechanisms of parthenogenesis. Her work frequently appears in integrative journals such as Integrative and Comparative Biology and Ecology & Evolution, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach that bridges molecular biology with organismal evolution.

While no formal scientific awards are listed in the provided text, her collaborative and independent research outputs demonstrate significant scholarly contributions to evolutionary biology.

• Principal Investigator, Burns Lab – studies sexual conflict and reproductive evolution in harvestmen
• Collaborator with Dr. Sarah Stellwagen (UNCC) on biomaterials in spider glue
• Teaches undergraduate courses including BIOL 142 (Foundations of Biology: Ecology & Evolution) and advanced evolution topics

The Burns Lab combines macroevolutionary and population-level methods to understand arthropod biodiversity, with active projects in the United States and Japan. The lab investigates reproductive armaments, endosymbionts, and sex ratio biases, contributing to broader understanding of mating system evolution.