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Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology | HARVARD.EDU
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Welcome to the Pierce Lab!
We study the behavioral ecology of species interactions, including insect–plant associations,
symbioses between ants and other organisms, and endosymbioses between ants and their
bacterial associates. We focus in particular on the evolution of mutualism, using field, laboratory
and theoretical approaches. We are engaged in analyzing the evolutionary history of a range of
insects (mostly Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera), and are using these phylogenies to investigate
life history evolution, biogeography, and patterns of community assembly. At a functional level,
we are also exploring the proximate mechanisms underlying a model genetic plant–pathogen–
insect interaction. This research is relevant to both biomedical models of host defense/pathogen
virulence, and agricultural models of insect/plant coevolution. We are also conservation
biologists, and as part of our work in the museum, we are collaborating with the Center for
Tropical Forest Science to survey insect biodiversity and natural history in the forests of
Southeast Asia.
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Evolution of mutualism
Phylogeny, biogeography and systematics
Functional analyses of plant–insect–pathogen interactions
Biodiversity and life history evolution of insects
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Pierce Lab Spotlight
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Maggie Starvish
Faculty Assistant
mstarvish@oeb.harvard.edu
Pierce Lab
Department of Organismic
and Evolutionary Biology
MCZ Labs
26 Oxford Street
Harvard University
Cambridge MA 02138
United States
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