Development, Evolution and the Environment

Changes in the environment profoundly shape developmental and behavioural responses in all organisms, a process known as phenotypic plasticity. We are, however, only beginning to understand the mechanisms that integrate information from the environment to coordinate this plasticity. In my laboratory, we seek to understand how environmental cues influence development and behaviour and how these interactions evolve to generate species-specific phenotypes. We approach this problem at multiple biological levels with the goal of understanding: 1) the mechanisms that allow the environment to modify the synthesis of hormones necessary for development; 2) how organs interpret hormonal cues to coordinate their development with that of the whole body, and; 3) how the choices animals make while foraging impact their development and life history.