معرفی
Moria Robinson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Utah State University, where she leads research on ecology and evolution of biotic interactions with emphasis on native plants, insect herbivores, and food web structure in western ecosystems.
Education
- PhD in Population Biology, University of California, Davis (2017)
- BS in Biology, Middlebury College (2011)
Her research integrates natural history with contemporary ecological questions, focusing on plant-insect coevolution, herbivory dynamics, and ecosystem stability. The lab prioritizes field-based studies examining how environmental gradients (soil, latitude, plant size) shape herbivore communities and defensive adaptations like protective coloration and physical defenses.
Analysis of her 12 publications (2011-2023) reveals consistent exploration of plant trait variability's role in ecological networks, with high-impact findings in Science, Nature, and PNAS. Key trends include macroevolutionary patterns in caterpillar coloration, resource limitation effects on generalist herbivores, and innovative applications of natural history data in network stability models.
Dr. Robinson actively mentors graduate researchers including Emily Burgess, Anna Goates, Jakob Palmer, Mia Stevens, and Ryan Stuart. Her teaching portfolio features Ecology Laboratory (BIOL 3085) and specialized courses on plant-animal interactions (ST 4750/6750), emphasizing hands-on learning and field research.
The Robinson Lab operates from Utah State's Biology Department (Logan, UT), combining rigorous scientific inquiry with stewardship values. Current projects include long-term studies of tritrophic interactions and investigations into novel plant defense mechanisms like sand entrapment, supported by volunteer networks and cross-disciplinary collaborations.
